Based on a semi-structured questionnaire focusing on the four ‘must-do’ actions and the South Sudanese context, the interviews reveal that humanitarian actors in South Sudan are committed to disability inclusion. In relation to the first action, inclusion-focused NGOs encourage the establishment of OPDs and support the participation of persons with disabilities in community structures and project implementation. In relation to the second action, mainstream actors remodel the infrastructure to make their services accessible for persons with physical impairments, participate in awareness-raising sessions of inclusion-focused NGOs to reduce misconceptions and hence attitudinal and institutional barriers, and revise internal policies. Moreover, in partnership with inclusion-focused NGOs, they address the third action, investing in the empowerment of persons with disabilities to raise awareness on their rights. Simultaneously, they support capacity-building at all levels. Many humanitarian organizations have also begun to tackle the fourth action by collecting disability-disaggregated data that can inform the countrywide needs assessments. Nonetheless, important gaps remain.
Our research shows that more efforts are necessary to increase the visibility and influence of persons with disabilities in the cluster system, particularly those with an intellectual and psychosocial disability. They should be involved from the very beginning of the programme development and have access to accountability mechanisms.
The humanitarian needs assessments do not yet approach data collection and analysis in a systematic manner and organizations did not indicate how they use disability data for inclusive programming. Moreover, disability inclusion is not yet an integral part of the cluster coordination structure; national and local OPDs must become more involved in all clusters and sectors, and inclusion can be further fostered by appointing a dedicated focal point on disability inclusion for each cluster. Clearly, in addition to the efforts of individual organizations, a broader approach is needed.
Inclusive humanitarian action will become easier the better the humanitarian system and the government function. This is especially the case for humanitarian action in remote areas outside Juba. As long as corruption, violence and instability exist, persons with disabilities remain at a high risk of being excluded in the society. Importantly, humanitarian organizations have taken crucial steps to include persons with disabilities in needs assessments and humanitarian programmes, but the road towards their meaningful participation, full protection and unhindered access to humanitarian services is still long.