2.2 Data Collection Methods

Research was carried out remotely for ten weeks between June and August 2021. It involved 15 key informant interviews with representatives from United Nations agencies, international NGOs, including disability inclusion organizations, and OPDs. All but one interviews were conducted via Zoom or Skype and lasted for about 30 to 60 minutes. One interview partner, who had serious problems with the internet connection, answered the questions in writing. All interview partners on Skype or Zoom gave permission for their interviews to be recorded and transcribed. To ensure confidentiality, the names and affiliations of the informants are kept anonymous in this report, unless, prior to the interview, they gave permission to mention their names. HI and CBM staff in South Sudan contacted their partners in advance to inform them about the research project and the purpose of this case study.

Interviewees were first asked general questions about the mission of their respective organization, the length of their presence in South Sudan and their fields of operation. Moreover, they were asked to comment on the humanitarian situation in South Sudan and the main needs and protection gaps as well as ongoing barriers for persons with disabilities. Following this, questions centred on measures or actions that organizations have taken to include persons with disabilities, with a focus on the four ‘must do’ actions: 1) participation; 2) removal of barriers; 3) empowerment and capacity-building; and 4) disaggregation of data. Moreover, questioning aimed to uncover whether normative frameworks or standards inform the work of the organizations and if so, how and to what extent. Disability inclusion organizations were asked additional questions regarding their role in capacity-building of partner mainstream organizations and the empowerment of OPDs.

Moreover, as mentioned previously, HI organized two focus group discussions with a total of 21 representatives from organizations of persons with disabilities in Yei and Yambio (five women and five men in Yei; four women and seven men in Yambio). A discussion guide was shared with the facilitators in advance. Participants were asked to comment on possible challenges in accessing protection and assistance services and the role of OPDs in promoting the inclusion of persons with disabilities through the removal of barriers, fostering of participation, and empowerment of persons with disabilities. Participants could also give suggestions to representatives from the government and the humanitarian community on how to improve the situation for persons with disabilities on the ground.

Finally, this study also included a review of internal HI and CBM documents, including reports, barriers and facilitators assessments, project proposals and project information sheets.