Leonard Cheshire Disability and Inclusive Development Centre
University College London
DFID Crosscutting Disability Research Programme
Report of Participatory Research Workshop held in Bangkok, Thailand
28th- 29th March 2010
INTRODUCTION
This report outlines the proceedings and discussions on the participatory research
workshop that was held at the Swissotel Le Concorde, Bangkok, Thailand, between
the 28 and 29 March, 2010. The overall objective of this workshop was to actively
engage with disabled people’s organisations, mainstream and disability-specific
NGOs, universities and research institutions, as well as the international donor
community, in assisting in determining the research priorities for the DFID
Crosscutting Disability Research Programme. It was also hoped that this meeting
would provide a catalyst for disabled people's organisations and academic and
research institutions to begin to make collaborative partnerships in the future. It is
also anticipated that the new knowledge generated through this research programme
will inform and influence DFID and other bilateral and multilateral donor agencies of
including disability issues within their core development programmes.
Senior representatives from Thailand, Cambodia, Malaysia, Vietnam, the Philippines,
Papua New Guinea, China and Indonesia were in attendance. The list of participants
is provided in Appendix A to this report.
CROSS-CUTTING DISABILITY RESEARCH PROGRAME OVERVIEW
The workshop began with Dr Lang outlining the strategic objectives, core
components, research activities and proposed communications strategies of the
programme, as well as providing a brief introduction to the Leonard Cheshire
Disability and Inclusive Development Centre. Dr Lang stated that this three year
research programme was still in its inception phase, and that it has come at a very
appropriate time, given that policy-makers and development practitioners are now
giving serious consideration regarding the future architecture of international aid,
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under what will happen in the aftermath of the Development Millennium Goals post2015. At the outset, it was emphasised that priority will be given to working with other
DFID-funded research programme consortia, both within Southeast Asia and more
globally. Hence, a disability component would be incorporated into other mainstream
development research. Furthermore, it was stated that this was the first of a series of
four regional participatory research programmes, that will be held in South Asia,
West Africa and East Africa. It was also highlighted that during the first year of the
three-year programme, up to 6 pilot projects would be commissioned during the first
year, and the subsequent more in-depth research project will be commissioned in
both the second and third years. It was also emphasised that, where at all feasible, a
priority would be given to utilising the skills of disabled people in conducting the
research that will be commissioned under the auspices of this programme.
Following the initial presentation, participants were invited to ask questions. There
was concern that all research outputs generated through this programme might not
be disseminated as effectively as possible. In response Dr Lang assured participants
that dissemination activities were of a high priority for the Leonard Cheshire
Disability and Inclusive Development Centre, and that they are very keen to ensure
that a whole plethora of target audiences, including policy-makers, development
practitioners, disabled people's organisations and bilateral and multilateral donor
agencies. Questions were also asked about how research outputs were going to be
disseminated at regional level. It was therefore stated that it was the intention to
establish four regional hubs, including one in South-East Asia, that would provide a
mechanism by which researchers and disabled people's organisations are able to
network with each other, and where all research outputs relating to a particular
region would be posted on a specifically designed regional website. There were also
concerns that the Asia-Pacific region was not adequately represented within the
workshop. It was explained that, due to finite financial and human resources, the
Pacific would be managed under the South-East Asia region.
Concern was expressed by all participants that in the past research on disability
issues funded by donor agencies, such as the Asian Development Bank, have not
really made any impact on policy and programming within these agencies. This
reflects a generic challenge of how quantitative and qualitative research can
influence policy-making and development practitioners. This is not just the case with
disability issues, but it is also common in the field of mainstream international
development.
GROUP DISCUSSIONS
During the afternoon of the first day of the workshop, participants were divided into
three groups, with care being taken to ensure that representatives from disabled
people's organisations, NGOs and academic institutions were represented within
each group. During a 1 1/2 session, participants were asked to address the following
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questions. Firstly, what were the key issues with regard to disability and international
programme, both within their respective countries, and also more broadly throughout
the South-East Asia region. Secondly, what were the key issues that needed further
research in the field of disability and international development, again both within
their respective countries, and throughout South East Asia.
At the preliminary feedback session, the following key issues were highlighted:
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The attitudinal, physical and institutional barriers that are encountered by
disabled people on a daily basis.
The linkages between disability, vulnerability and poverty. This in turn has the
additional cost incurred by disabled people as a direct result of their
impairment.
The lack of appropriate mechanisms and monitoring and evaluation
frameworks to ensure that the United Nations Convention on the Rights of
Persons with Disabilities, as well as domestic legislation, are effectively and
efficiently implemented in respective countries.
The potential impact of climate change on the livelihoods of poor people.
The paucity of robust statistical data regarding the livelihoods of disabled
people, and the need for more comparative analysis to be undertaken by,
within and between countries.
The impact of the global economic crisis on the lives of disabled people in
developing countries.
The lack of understanding of a rights-based approach to disability issues by
senior policy-makers working in government ministries in developing
countries.
Whether social protection programmes, (including cash transfers and
vocational rehabilitation initiatives) actually do benefit disabled people.
Issues regarding gender, disability and development. There is a great deal of
evidence to suggest that women with disabilities are subjected to violence and
discrimination, over and above that encountered by men with disabilities.
How much Overseas Development Assistance was actually being spent by
bilateral and multilateral donor agencies with regard to disability?
The need to compare different models of inclusive education, in order to
analyse the strengths and weaknesses of each.
The need for the private sector to become more involved in disability issues,
particularly in developing countries.
The role of NGOs effectively play in the empowerment of disabled people.
Whether employment quota systems for disabled people are actually in
alignment with the UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities.
There was also a general discussion regarding what were the most appropriate
research methods that should be utilised when undertaking both quantitative and
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qualitative research in the field of disability and international development. It was
strongly emphasised that it was vitally important to include disabled people in every
stage of the research process, and that took into account gender and impairment
disparities. Dr Lang stated that "participation" has over the past 40 years been a key
issue within mainstream development studies research, this being pioneered by
Robert Chambers at the Institute of Development Studies. Moreover, the Leonard
Cheshire Disability and Inclusive Development Centre were very mindful of the
importance of including disabled people in all aspects of the research, and indeed in
all programme activities.
SUMMARY OF GROUP DISCUSSIONS
On the second day of the workshop, Dr Lang summarised the key points that arose
from the previous day’s proceedings. It was again highlighted that this was the
beginning of an ongoing process, and that this was the first of four regional
workshops, that will assist in determining the priorities for the research that will be
commissioned under the auspices of this programme. Dr Lang also stated that there
was limited financial resource to undertake the research that will be commissioned,
and that priorities for the six pilot projects and the further six more in-depth research
projects, (undertaking in years two and three), would be decided after all the four
participatory research workshops have been completed. In the light of this,
participants were then asked to prioritise what issues they considered to be most
important when commissioning the research. The consensus was as follows:
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Quantitative research regarding the linkages between disability, poverty and
vulnerability. This includes employment and social protection.
The ability of DPOs to influence policy markers.
Different forms of disabilities by region and type, education (inclusive versus
special) benefits and disadvantages of the two, employment and training for
livelihoods and formal education.
The relationship of education and employment.
Employment, resource allocation by budgeting by government and NGO and
coordination, roles and abilities of DPO to influence policy makers and
undertake research
Effectiveness for proving inclusive education, policy and practices of
mainstreaming disability in other sectors, understand better the linkages
between poverty, disability and vulnerability (incl. Gender based violence),
evidence-based for successful mainstreaming
Capacity building for people with disabilities, how to include participation of
people with disabilities in the research process.
Education, employment and social protection and inclusive education
Economic impact of mainstreaming disability: cost and benefit analyses.
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NEXT STEPS
Dr Lang concluded the meeting by outlining next steps. The proceedings and
deliberations from the workshop will feed directly into the future planning and
strategic direction of the DFID Crosscutting Disability Research Programme.
Furthermore, a report will be sent to each of the participants within four weeks of the
meeting. It was also highlighted that there was an intention to establish four regional
hubs, including one in South-East Asia. Dr Lang also stated that a website for this
programme was being currently developed, and that all future developments
regarding the programme's activities, including calls for future research will be
posted there. It was also suggested that the participants could form an e-mail group
in order to facilitate networking between each other, particularly with regard to
disability and development research.
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APPENDIX A: List of Participants
Name
Vo Thi Hoang
Yen
Emanuela Pozan
Noor Yasmin
Abdul Karim
Gufroni Sakaril
Shi Yu
Huong Nguyen
Naoko Ito
Ulrike Last
Mimi Lisli
Irma Coronel
Katsuji Onoda
Aiko Akiyama
Stephen
Kassman
Smiley Wang
Richard Arceno
Bernard Ayieno
Lauro Purcil
Organisation
Disability Resource and
Development
ILO
CBR Asia Pacific Network
E-Mail
yenvo@drdvietnam.com
Indonesia Disabled People's
Association (PPCI)
CDPF RLRC
Vietanamese Assistance for
the Handicapped (VNAH)
JICA / NCDA
Handicap International
Mimi Instititute
PhilCOCHED
JICA
UNESCAP
Leonard Cheshire Services
gufroni@indosiar.com
Leonard Cheshire Disability
South Easia
PhilCOCHED
Leonard Cheshire Services
Government Union for the
Integration of the Differently
Abled
smileylci@gmail.com
pozzan@ilo.org
shimin62@yahoo.com
jadeshiyu@gmail.com
huongnguyen76@gmail.com
naoko1024@gmail.com
ulrike.una@gmail.com
mimilusli@gmail.com
coronelirma@yahoo.com
onoda@apcdfoundation.org
akiyama@un.org
skassman@online.net.pg
richard@philcoched.com
lauro.purcil@samobile.net
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