In a world where emergencies and disasters are all too common, ensuring the safety and inclusion of every member of society becomes paramount. Recognizing this, the World Food Programme (WFP) Regional Bangkok Bureau commissioned a study aimed at understanding the extent of inclusion and participation of persons with disabilities in its emergency preparedness and response programming in Indonesia and the Philippines as a basis to develop a practice guide for WFP offices globally. This study, co-led by esteemed researcher Dr. Alex Robinson from Nossal Institute, University of Melbourne, and Dr. Pradytia Pratiwi from the Center for Indigenous and Cultural Psychology (CICP), Faculty of Psychology Universitas Gadjah Mada, marks a significant step towards creating more inclusive and disaster-resilient communities.
The study was conducted between February – August 2023 by engaging with relevant stakeholders within WFP offices and their external stakeholders, including the participation of persons with disabilities and their representative organization themselves. Drawing on this comparative study, A practice guide was developed to provide a contextual approach to disability inclusion in WFP’s emergency preparedness and response programming, thus contributing to better practices in delivering aids and services to persons with disabilities in terms of crisis. It is also used in a wider context, such as the WFP’s EPR program across Asia and the Pacific. Core materials were used to formulate this guideline, for instance, the Inter-Agency Standing Committee (IASC, 2019) Guidelines on Inclusion of Persons with Disabilities in Humanitarian Action and the Humanitarian Inclusion Standards (HIS). The Guide was launched on the 13 of March 2024 in an online webinar involving members of WFP’s Emergency Preparedness and Response Unit globally.
CICP’s participation as a co-lead in the study aligns with the Faculty’s Research Roadmap on the theme of Changing Society, specifically on the topic of disruption, change, and behavior. It is also instrumental in supporting UGM’s collective work in contributing to achieving Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), especially Goal 2 on Zero Hunger, goal 13 on Climate Change, and Goal 10 on Reduced Inequalities. As a follow-up event, CICP will hold a Research Dissemination Seminar on “Disability, Preparedness, and Social Relations”, in which learnings from this study will be discussed. The event will be held on 16 May 2024 10. 00 – 12.30 pm Jakarta time. We have the honour to welcome our esteemed partner Dr Alex Robinson to this event, so be sure to attend!
