CBM Supports the Launch of the Disability Working Group in Northeast Nigeria

Category

General Pilot Countries
Group photo of members of DWG from Borno, Yobe & Adamawa states.

© CBM

On October 31st, a Disability Working Group (DWG) for North-East Nigeria was launched at the Pinnacle Hotel in Maiduguri, Borno State (Nigeria).

Over 70 participants took part in the launch-event, representing a bright field of different organizations consisting of Nigerian Organisations of Persons with Disabilities like JONAPWD (Joint National Association of Persons with disabilities) Borno branche and the sub-clusters, international Organisations (ICRC), UN-OCHA and several national organizations. CBM’s Humanitarian staff from the Maiduguri office supported the launch of the event as part of the Phase 3-Leave no one behind! activities.

Different actors came together to discuss the objectives of the DWG and disability inclusion, taking into account various perspectives like the view of children with disabilities. Moreover, the DWG coordinator presented the strategy. Questions regarding resource mobilization and capacity strengthening were addressed as well.

The Disability Working Group provides strategic direction and guidance to the work of disability groups, organisations and forums for inclusion in humanitarian response in northeast Nigeria. Its main goal is to mainstream disability in humanitarian action. In addition, it guides the Humanitarian Sectors, clusters and working groups to facilitate timely and effective decision-making specifically on persons and children with disabilities.

Also, the group plans to track implementation and funding directed toward persons with disabilities in the humanitarian and developmental sphere and foresees collecting disability-disaggregated data that will inform disability programming. 

UN-OCHA takes the lead in coordinating the DWG. CBM is proud of supporting such an important working group in the humanitarian field and hopes to contribute successfully to its aims with capacity building of its members and contribution to coordination and functioning.

Text by Annika Fuchs and Laura Masuch, CBM