Box 6. Development of the Age and Disability Working Group

In 2018, the Age and Disability Working Group (ADWG) started as a loosely coordinated group of four age- and disability-focused organizations without a clear action plan. In 2019, these organizations started discussions with the Protection Working Group on positioning the ADWG as a part of the Protection Working Group. Moreover, other organizations increased their engagement with the ADWG. In 2019, the ADWG managed to secure funding for a full-time coordinator and a consultant from an organization of persons with disabilities (OPD). To streamline their work, the ADWG members also developed a joint action plan and successfully started collaborative work in some humanitarian sectors (water, sanitation and hygiene, education, health, and protection). The water, sanitation and hygiene sector, for example, developed easy-to-access guidelines, with support from the ADWG, that were approved in 2020. Some organizations also benefitted from joint training courses with ADWG members. In 2020, the ADWG member organizations also formalized their cooperation with the Protection Working Group, which further increased demands from mainstream actors for technical support and capacity-building. Simultaneously, mainstream actors became involved in the work of the ADWG. While some joined as active members (for example, the International Committee of the Red Cross), others regularly attended the meetings (for example, the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) and Save the Children). At present, the ADWG is revising its terms of reference to further improve the group’s effectiveness and publishes a monthly newsletter to inform the humanitarian community in Cox’s Bazar about its activities, present good practice examples and advocate for a more inclusive response. All these steps have contributed to its recognition as a firm advocate of age and disability inclusion in Cox’s Bazar.