During 2022, IAG strengthened its partnership with the World Food Programme (WFP). WFP is the largest humanitarian agency in the world. Partnering with them enables us to make a significant contribution to improving the inclusion of people with disabilities in crisis response as well as with longer-term recovery and resilience programmes.
Our partnership has been framed around the provision of technical assistance for developing and implementing WFP’s Disability Inclusion Road Map. It began with early technical assistance we provided through the DID4All Helpdesk IAG runs with our mutual partner – the Australia Department for Foreign Affairs and Trade (DFAT). Subsequently, a direct global partnership between WFP and IAG began in June 2021. The centrepiece of the partnership is a bespoke Disability Inclusion Helpdesk developed and implemented by IAG which enables WFP employees around the world to access timely, tailored, practical advice on disability inclusion.
As of December 2022, IAG advisors have served 63 helpdesk requests from WFP offices in 26 countries. Reflecting our rights-based team approach and commitment to quality, tailored advice, these requests are resolved by a team of advisors that includes global and national staff, as well as associates, consultants and partners from the disability movement. A learning brief summarises key lessons from the helpdesk operation.
A survey showed high levels of user satisfaction with over 90% of users surveyed saying they would use the helpdesk again and recommend the service to colleagues. Specifically, users have appreciated the high levels of responsiveness from helpdesk advisors; the precision and practicality of the written advice products; as well as the tailored, capacity-building approach of the helpdesk.
For example, WFP Philippines requested support to assess disability inclusion in a simulation exercise for an Anticipatory Action programme. With remote support from global and Australian colleagues, the CBM Global Philippines country team used an observation checklist to monitor the exercise in real time and then provided a written summary of feedback and recommendations.
The WFP Country Office in Nepal requested support to implement their Disability Inclusion Action Plan. Alongside OPD representatives, our Nepal team ran tailored training sessions for WFP staff. WFP Nepal subsequently developed a direct in-country partnership, where IAG advisors in Nepal and Australia collaborated to conduct a gap analysis and produce a set of programme guidance and tools.
IAG is committed to collaborating with and enabling the disability movement
Through our WFP partnership, we help link WFP to local OPDs and support representatives from the disability movement to contribute their expertise to helpdesk responses. For example, IAG advisors supported WFP Indonesia to develop a partnership with an OPD called OHANA and then supported OHANA to implement a scoping study to inform WFP’s programming.
Proactively supporting WFP is also a feature of the partnership. These pieces often address strategic priorities and build institutional capacity for disability inclusion in programming. This includes, for example, facilitating workshops with WFP and partners to help develop annual and post-Road Map workplans.
At the end of 2022, IAG’s global partnership with WFP was extended for an additional 12 months. This will enable IAG to support WFP’s regional rollout of disability inclusion action plans and resources.
“The WFP Helpdesk is so valuable because the IAG advisors can react quickly with practical and tailored written advice to WFP’s programme teams as well as provide capacity building support over a longer period. The Helpdesk is a crucial part of WFP’s efforts to implement the UN Disability Inclusion Strategy and IAG is an essential partner.” – Kavita Brahmbhatt, Senior Disability Inclusion Advisor, WFP