Disability and development in the World Bank : FY2000-2007

The objectives of this paper are: i) to present the record of World Bank's involvement in disability as part of its overall development strategy; ii) to share with development partners some of the good practices the Bank has discovered; and iii) to stimulate new ways to address the problems of people with disabilities through partnerships, better practices and the further mainstreaming of disability into the work of the Bank. The Bank's comparative advantage in supporting disability interventions lies in its capacity to address complex, multi-sectoral issues in a consistent, coordinated, fiscally responsible and operational manner. The Bank's strengths lie in the following areas: (i) helping countries understand the economic reasons/advantages for pursuing inclusive development; (ii) providing the analytical work in order to develop policies, programs and targeted safety nets; and (iii) ensuring that Bank programs and projects help with incremental implementation of the Convention. A three-pronged approach to pursue the disability and development (D&D) objectives include continuing the work the Bank has undertaken in the last several years to mainstream disability into existing programs and work through promotion; improve the evidence base through data measurement, collection and program and policy analysis; and continue outreach and awareness building of disability as a development issue that is crucial for sustainable reduction of poverty as well as reaching some key Millennium Development Goals (MDGs).