Our Global Disability Summit Commitments

CBM Global with our OPD partners will promote diversity, pursuing practical strategies in the countries where it works that strengthen the involvement of people from diverse backgrounds and impairments, including under-represented groups facing intersectional discrimination.

GDS Reference: Promote underrepresented groups and address intersectionality 

Over the last two years, country teams have continued to develop strategies and programmes that seek more involvement of marginalised and underrepresented groups. We have established small grants and one-off grant facilities that enable more funding towards underrepresented groups. For instance, in Kenya, grassroots organisations of persons with psychosocial and intellectual disabilities and women-led OPDs are receiving funding through a County grassroots network OPD.

Status: On Track

Percentage: 60%

CBM Global will increase the levels of funding flowing to OPD partners, including budget provisions for organisational strengthening plans that best suits their priorities and requirements and with a recognition of core running costs as a necessary component of project management.

GDS Reference: Increase funding to support OPDs’ priorities 

The number of OPDs in a funding relationship with CBM Global has increased from 18 OPDs in 2021 to 35 OPDs in 2023. In 2023, 17% of funding allocated to CBM Global partners was channeled to OPDs. In addition to OPD partnerships at a country level, CBM Global continues long term partnerships with regional and global OPDs including the International Disability Alliance, World Blind Union and World Federation of the Deaf. 

Status: On Track

Percentage: 60%

CBM Global will revise its existing partner assessment processes, moving beyond only compliance requirements associated with specific projects to an overarching focus on long term organisational sustainability and effectiveness and more considered approaches to understanding risk and opportunity.

GDS Reference: Adapt funding conditionalities to OPD support 

Work on the new Partner Assessment Tool is taking longer than expected, due to heavy workloads for the different functional and technical experts who must define assessment criteria for their specialist areas of work. We are now close to concluding a first version of the tool which we intend to pilot for 3 months, before finalising it and rolling it out across all teams, tentatively by mid-year 2024. As a next step we plan to add a ’partnership assessment’ component to the tool, to support a formal, mutual evaluation of how we have worked as partners at regular intervals (minimum every 3 years).  

Status: Delayed

Percentage: 80%

CBM Global will advocate to donors for flexible and longer-term funding to OPDs that facilitates organisational strengthening.

GDS Reference: Mainstream OPD engagement across funding 

Advocacy to government donors continues to be undertaken by CBM Global Federation Members. For example, in 2023 CBM Ireland presented to the Irish parliament in October, proposing Irish Aid adopt a clear disability inclusion strategy for its development and humanitarian actions in the Global South. CBM UK had two successful Parliamentary events in which there were able to showcase the voices of people with disabilities giving their perspectives as well as experiences of lives being transformed, as well as in the Scottish Parliament – again with videos and participation of partners. CBM UK were also called upon twice to give evidence to the UK Parliament International Development Committee on disability inclusive approaches. Disability inclusion featured prominently in the UK Govt’s white paper, where CBM UK had been heavily involved in advocacy.  CBM Australia engaged with the Australian Government and the development sector throughout 2023 on this issue within the context of a forthcoming new ‘International Disability Equity and Rights strategy’ for DFAT. CBM Australia was part of ultimately successful advocacy efforts to DFAT for a thorough and inclusive consultation process on the new strategy to included strong participation of OPDs throughout the region. CBM Australia also developed a comprehensive policy submission on the strategy which featured calls to increase investment in flexible and long terms funding for OPDs, including additional investment to support greater representation for under-represented groups. CBM Australia worked with the peak body to promote and socialise these policy calls with DFAT and other ANGOs.

Status: On Track

Percentage: 60%

CBM Global will ensure that OPDs actively shape and contribute to the development and monitoring of CBM Global country strategies, including identifying key legal, social and other barriers to participation which need addressing in the country context.

GDS Reference: Remove legal, social and other barriers to participation of persons with disabilities and their organisations. 

Country strategy development processes routinely involve in the consultation process both national and local OPDs representing persons with varying disabilities. Their views are then integrated into the plans. Country level Advisory Panels have been established and include OPD representative to advise and guide the country team in their work. We have also developed guidelines to support OPD organisational strengthening activities.

Status: On Track

Percentage: 80%

CBM Global in its communications will challenge negative perceptions of persons with disabilities and will model and promote the strategic role of OPDs in achieving locally led inclusive development and inclusive humanitarian action.

GDS Reference: Support awareness-raising to combat attitudinal barriers, either OPD-led or with the active involvement of OPDs 

Communications from CBM Global and Federation Members highlighted the voices and roles of persons with disabilities and OPDs in our content. Our publications and channels showcased positive and empowering messages about the strategic roles of OPDs. Examples include the launching of ‘Data and persons with disabilities’ and ‘Climate and persons with disabilities’ web pages, publishing localisation/power shift journey blogs, and featuring representatives from OPDs in various communications content.

Status: On Track

Percentage: 60%

Where aligned with disability movement priorities, CBM Global will invest in strengthening the capacity of the disability movement to influence mainstream agencies through technical advisory roles, including through building OPD roles, resources, and associated budget into advisory contracts. Initially, the focus will be in the Asia Pacific region

GDS Reference: Support partnerships with other social movements

Roll out was undertaken of our Advisor Capacity Development and Exchange programme in partnership with national, regional and global OPD partners, including running a fellowship programme in Asia. This included on the job coaching and mentoring for mainstream advisory work. Resources to support disability movement engagement in advisory work have been developed and trialled in the Pacific. OPD partnership have been built into longer term contracts (e.g. with WFP).

Status: On Track

Percentage: 70%

CBM Global will strengthen disability inclusion in the Humanitarian Programme Cycle by systematically integrating disability inclusion considerations in all needs assessments, project vetting procedures, and monitoring and reporting. We will ensure that all complaints and feedback mechanisms are fully accessible to and inclusive of persons with disabilities, and involve persons with disabilities, including women and those from under-represented groups, in their design, and use. 

GDS Reference: Make humanitarian action inclusive of persons with disabilities throughout the humanitarian programme cycle 

Disability inclusion is central to CBM Global’s Humanitarian and DRR projects. In 2023, CBM Global activated a Turkana response in Kenya, earthquake response in Nepal and five large DRR projects in Bangladesh, Nepal and Indonesia, the Pacific. All projects ensured disability inclusion and partnered with OPDs to bring in lived experience and expertise to shape design, monitoring and learning. In 2023, CBM Global continued humanitarian preparedness plans in Burkina Faso, Madagascar, Nepal, Indonesia and Philippines. As part of the plans, mainstream partners were trained on disability inclusive humanitarian action. OPD partners continued to play a key resource role in these capacity strengthening efforts. A final evaluation of the Turkana response was carried out and OPD partners contributed to this evaluation. A large cash study was conducted in Burkina Faso that highlighted the significance of the extra cost of disability. This is important evidence to support disability inclusive cash work in humanitarian assistance.

Status: On Track

Percentage: 60%

CBM Global will establish and support intersectoral disability working groups in humanitarian coordination, allocate dedicated staff for disability inclusion in emergency preparedness and response in all high-risk countries and invest in building the capacity of humanitarian staff and partners to implement a rights-based approach to disability inclusion in all aspects of their work.

GDS Reference: Strengthen capacity on a rights-based approach to disability inclusive humanitarian action including in situations of armed conflict 

In 2023, CBM Global continued coordinating the Age and Disability Working Group in Bangladesh and maintained its membership to disability working groups in the Philippines, Nepal and Kenya. In 2023, at the global level, CBM Global continued co-chairing the Disability Reference Group and one of its working groups on OPD capacity strengthening. During the earthquake response in Nepal, CBM Global, along with OPD partners promoted disability inclusion in post disaster response and recovery efforts.

Status: On Track

Percentage: 60%

CBM Global will establish meaningful operational and strategic partnership with OPDs, including those led by women and under-represented groups of persons with disabilities. This will include investment in institutional strengthening of OPDs to build their capacity to effectively prepare and respond to humanitarian crises.

GDS Reference: Build strong partnerships with organisations of persons with disabilities (OPDs) 

In 2023, CBM Global concluded both global projects supporting the engagement of OPDs in humanitarian action. The USAID supported project developed learning briefs and hosted webinar showcasing the work of DRG fellows in promoting and influencing disability inclusive humanitarian action. The project with IOM, funded by CBM Australia, implemented in Nigeria, Bangladesh and Fiji was also concluded with important learning briefs produced. All briefs focused on bringing out disability inclusive humanitarian action practice.

Status: Completed

Percentage: 100%

CBM Global commits to support the provision of accessible platforms for OPDs to participate and influence climate decisions at global and regional level including by facilitating their access to climate action negotiations and processes.

GDS Reference: Include persons with disabilities in climate action 

CBM Global continues to partner with OPDs and other allies for advancing disability inclusive climate action. In 2023, we published a climate advocacy road map highlighting our key areas of focus for the coming years and doing so in partnership with OPDs. For COP28 we supported an OPD from the Philippines to attend and we worked in partnership with disability and climate activist from Nepal at a Nepal government side event on disability inclusive climate action. In 2023, as a member of the Global Greengrants Fund Disability Rights & Climate Justice Board we celebrated our first year of grant making of over $300k USD to 31 OPDs in Sub-Saharan Africa, South-East Asia, the Pacific Islands, Latin America and the Caribbean, and Europe. In addition to grant making the board is focused on connecting with policy officials, experts and the climate movement for powerful collaboration on disability and climate.

Status: On Track

Percentage: 50%

CBM Global will take measures to ensure that Gender Based Violence risk mitigation and response are inclusive of and accessible to women and girls, as well as men and boys, with disabilities. This includes removing physical, communicational, attitudinal, and institutional barriers to access, and taking measures to ensure that child protection interventions are fully inclusive of children with disabilities, including through review and adaptation of policies and procedures; making physical spaces and activities safe and accessible; and ensuring that reporting and referral mechanisms are inclusive.

GDS Reference: Protect persons with disabilities from violence, exploitation, and abuse 

CBM Global continued to support the inclusion of women and girls, men and boys with disabilities in the Gender Based Violence mitigation and response in CBM Global’s humanitarian interventions in Cox’s Bazar, Bangladesh. In addition, we continued supporting members of the Age and Disability Working Group through appropriate trainings, facilitation of meaningful participation of women with disabilities in coordination mechanisms and influencing the Joint Response Plan to be gender responsive. Finally, CBM Global worked closely with GBV/Protection actors to develop IEC materials on GBV prevention and referral pathways as well taking support from them in receiving referrals and making them inclusive for persons with disabilities. Humanitarian response and recovery work in Kenya and Madagascar supported removing barriers that limited participation of women in cash programming and livelihood activities. While CBM Global continues to make progress in making GBV mitigation and response inclusive of persons with disabilities, clearer programme guidance is being developed to ensure that this is institutionalised across all our work and learning is documented and shared to build confidence, expertise and develop experience.

Status: On Track

Percentage: 50%

CBM Global will contribute to the WHO’s revised guidance on rights-based mental health legislation, due for completion in 2022. We will advocate for the repeal of discriminatory laws and continue to support national and regional organisations of persons with disabilities to be able to have an increasingly strong voice in the process of such reform.  

GDS Reference: Review legal frameworks to promote inclusive health systems 

The WHO’s Mental health, human rights and legislation: guidance and practice was published in 2023, which has a strong alignment to CRPD and is already being used by countries in reviewing their mental health legislation. CBM Global contributed to its development and is promoting its use across countries.

Status: On Track

Percentage: 50%

CBM Global will implement the Accessibility GO! process in hospitals as part of new Inclusive Eye Health Projects. During this process, we will train in hospital settings about disability inclusion and the prevention of discrimination in the health sector.

GDS Reference: Address multiple and intersecting discrimination in the health sector and build capacities on inclusive health in the health workforce and in service delivery 

In partnership with the World Blind Union (WBU) and the World Federation of the Deaf (WFD), Accessibility GO! was piloted in Laos at the National Ophthalmology Center and the Chamasak Provincial Eye Center. Lessons learned are being collated. A sign video has been created by the WFD and an Easy-to-Read version is being finalised. Preparations for implementation this year in Nepal at the EREC-P eye and ear centres are underway, using the lessons learned from Laos.

Status: On Track

Percentage: 50%

CBM Global’s approach to mental health is based on the principles of the Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities. We will ensure that all programme and advocacy work is aligned to the CRPD, in particular seeking to engage with service providers to promote a paradigm shift in services, an end to institutionalisation and coercion and a holistic, rights-based and recovery-orientated approach to much-needed reform.

GDS Reference: Incorporate a mental health approach in line with the principles of the Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities 

In addition to WHO’s Guidance on rights-based mental health legislation, CBM Global contributed to the mental health components of the WHO Global Report on Health Equity for Persons with Disabilities the main ambition of which is to fulfil the CRPD Article 25 – Right to Health. We supported Bridge training with IDA in Africa and Asia and carried out QualityRights ToT training in Nepal in December 2023.

Status: On Track

Percentage: 60%

CBM Global works closely with the Inter-Agency Standing Committee Disability Inclusion and Mental Health and Psychosocial Support Reference Groups. We will continue to promote and advocate for universal use of inclusive approaches to health components of preparedness and response in the sector, through coordination systems, collection of disaggregated data, and promoting dedicated disability focal points to ensure inclusive approaches.

GDS Reference: Make disability inclusion an integral part of health emergency preparedness and response 

In January 2024, IASC launched its Information Note on Inclusive MHPSS, a landmark formally approved recommendation to incorporate inclusive approaches in MHPSS work globally. CBM Global is now working to finalise the associated training materials, and begin the application of this work across major agencies.

Status: On Track

Percentage: 70%

CBM Global commits to include disability data during national assessments of avoidable blindness, to help guide the development of inclusive national eye health plans.

GDS Reference: Optimise the use of data on disability inclusion to inform health policies and investments 

As there were no surveys performed in our programme areas this year, there was no opportunity to move forward with data collection. However, in order to help OPDs advocate for inclusiveness in national eye health strategies, we performed an assessment of the current national eye health strategies and scored those against the recommendations from the new WHO’s World report on health equity for persons with disabilities and used the outcome to develop an advocacy tool for inclusive national eye health strategies.

Status: On Track

Percentage: 40%

CBM Global will seek to engage with national and regional OPDs as central actors in all our health work, for example ensuring that health programmes engage with persons with disabilities in all parts of the Programme Cycle, that OPDs are the main vehicle for community engagement in anti-stigma campaigns (like Time To Change), and are promoted as trainers (for example in Bridge training) and are the main actors in our advocacy work.

GDS Reference: Engage OPDs in health-related policy design, planning, implementation, monitoring and evaluation 

CBM has completed a comprehensive 2-year programme of psychosocial OPD engagement across Africa and Asia to understand the means by which we can most effectively fulfil our commitment to work closely with the disability movement. Our Good Practice Guide on OPD Organisational Strengthening, co-produced during this process, was launched in February 2024. As we develop more and more holistic health programmes and ensure a continuum of care, the central role of OPDs is essential and features both in our Global Strategy and health and wellbeing frameworks.

Status: On Track

Percentage: 50%

CBM Global will build on existing and bring new Pacific partnerships to scale up its program investment in the Pacific region from 2022. This will be done in collaboration and alignment with the Pacific disability movement and to support the implementation of both the Pacific Framework on the Rights of Persons with Disability and the PDF Five Year Strategic Plan 2021-2025.

Implementation of the CBM Global Pacific Strategy is well underway, with increased efforts to coordinate activities across advocacy, advisory and field programs. We are increasing program investment in the region in alignment with already existing priorities such as those referenced in the outcomes of the 7th Pacific Regional Disability conference (2023) which we provided technical support to deliver. CBM Global is supporting the Pacific Disability Forum to undertake analysis, design and implementation of a region wide program for institutional strengthening of OPDs known as the “Growing stronger together” initiative. The inaugural program aims to strengthen governance, leadership capacity and organisational systems. The program is mid-way through a 3-year initiative which will cover 14 countries and 26 OPDs. Several new field program investments are also in design with both OPD partners and service providers in PNG, Vanuatu, Solomon Islands and Fiji across a range of program areas including Organisation strengthening of OPDs, Inclusive education, Inclusive eye health, women’s empowerment, early intervention, community mental health, DRR and climate action. In line with our strong commitment to a partnership approach, a stakeholder Pacific advisory forum will be launched in 2024 to ensure we’re kept accountable and inform strategic direction.

 Status: On Track

Percentage: 60%

CBM Global in partnership with OPDs will advocate for the disaggregation of quality data by disability, gender and age in data collection and statistics by governments and also to improve gaps in our programmes.

As an advocacy outcome, CBM Global, in partnership with the International Disability Alliance (IDA) and the Stakeholder Group of Persons with Disabilities (SGPwD), is on the steering committee of the UN-led Collaborative on Citizen Data and is ensuring disability data and OPDs are leading this process. CBM Global is a member of the Strategic Advisory Group of UNICEF’s Centre of excellence on data for children with disabilities, on the steering committee of Fordham University’s Disability Data Initiative, involved in the refresh of the Disability Data Portal, and continues to co-chair and co-lead data advocacy efforts in the SGPwD’s disability data working group.

Status: On Track

Percentage: 60%

CBM Global commits to supporting persons with disabilities and their representative organisations in capacity building in data advocacy to gather, understand and use data for advocacy and to advocate for better data.

CBM Global developed a strategy for organisational strengthening of OPDs and other partner organisations. The topic of data advocacy is included within this strategy. It is also a key topic in BRIDGE training which we support. Also, CBM Global finalized its Inclusive Data Charter action plan. CBM Global co-developed the disability data advocacy toolkit in partnership with the International Disability Alliance (IDA) and the Stakeholder Group of Persons with Disabilities and uses this toolkit as a guide to build the data capacity of OPDs. With IDA, we supported a consultant to assess the toolkit and gather OPD-led data case studies. We also developed a disability data advocacy workshop for OPDs that was carried out in 2023 with OPD partners in the Democratic Republic of the Congo and Laos, and a summary version was presented at the Data for Development Festival in Uruguay.

Status: On Track

Percentage: 60%

CBM Global will advocate in partnership with OPDs for disability data to measure the Sustainable Development Goals via the Stakeholder Group of Persons with Disabilities, the Inclusive Data Charter and the Leave No One Behind Partnership.

In partnership with the International Disability Alliance, the Stakeholder Group of Persons with Disabilities, the Leave No One Behind Partnership, the Inclusive Data Charter, and the Global Partnership for Sustainable Development Data (GPSDD), we presented, supported OPD partners, and engaged in various UN, SDG data processes, including at the 14th session at the IAEG-SDGs and an expert group meeting on citizen data. As an outcome, CBM Global presented and supported OPD partners to present in various UN events around SDG data, such as GPSDD’s Data for Development Festival, at the 16th session of the Conference of States Parties to the CRPD, and is (via the SGPwD) a steering committee member of the UN-led Collaborative on Citizen Data to ensure persons with disabilities are measured in the implementation of the SDGs.

Status: On Track

Percentage: 60%

CBM Global commits to an intersectional approach to collect, analyse, and disseminate reliable inclusive data, including community-driven data. 

CBM Global’s impact framework is now being rolled out. The roll out will happen in several phases. Initially, quantitative, output/outcome level indicators will be incorporated into all new projects. Further research is required to determine how best to measure some of the more qualitative, impact level indicators, before they are rolled out. By default, data is disaggregated by age, gender and disability. A working group is now being established to review how data is disaggregated by disability, to determine whether further improvements are possible.

Status: On Track

Percentage: 50%