North West: CUAPWD launches phase four of Leave No One Behind disability-inclusion project.

Present during the launching ceremony was the Commissioner for Health and Social Development at the North West Regional Assembly, Dr. Yaa Sakah Lydia, representative from the North West Public Independent Conciliator, journalists, leaders of associations of Persons living With Disabilities, and others.

This phase of the project, which runs until 2027, aims to implement the Inter-Agency Standing Committee, IASC, guidelines on the Inclusion of Persons with Disabilities in Humanitarian Action through side-scaling and localisation. The project, which is sponsored by the Christian Blind Mission, Cbm, is expected to significantly improve the lives of persons with disabilities in the conflict-affected North West Region.

In the North West Region, where access to services is already strained by conflict, persons with disabilities face additional barriers from mobility restrictions to exclusion from humanitarian aid. Phase 4 of the project brings renewed hope by focusing on removing these barriers and integrating disability inclusion into all levels of humanitarian programming. 

Through strengthened coordination mechanisms and the empowerment of local organisations, the project promises to ensure that persons with disabilities are not only recipients of aid but also active participants in shaping it.

The IASC guidelines, which were endorsed in 2019, will serve as the core framework for this phase. These guidelines promote a rights-based and inclusive approach by outlining “must-do” actions for humanitarian actors. These include; promoting meaningful participation of persons with disabilities and their organisations, removing systemic and physical barriers, empowering PWDs through capacity development, and disaggregating data to ensure inclusive planning and monitoring.

According to the North West Coordinator of CUAPWD, Sama Chick, phase 4 will strengthen the uptake of these guidelines by enhancing coordination, developing inclusive tools, and facilitating pilot programming in key sectors, with special attention on ensuring that PWDs in the region receive tailored support that addresses the compounded challenges they face due to gender, age, and socio-economic status.

“We want everybody to be part of the humanitarian setting, given that the North West Region is facing a crisis. The importance of this project comes to leverage what the humanitarian actors have been doing in order to accommodate persons with disabilities, but also, that persons with disabilities take their responsibility in seeing that other persons with disabilities are part of the entire humanitarian system,” Sama said.

Project objectives

Phase 4 of the “Leave No One Behind” project aims to build the capacity of humanitarian actors to understand and support the diverse needs of PWDs. It challenges the notion that persons with disabilities are a homogenous group and instead promotes intersectional responses.

It was also revealed during the launching ceremony that humanitarian staff will be trained to recognise and address the unique needs of people with intellectual, psychosocial, and multiple impairments. 

The project also seeks to strengthen the capacities of Organisations of Persons with Disabilities so they can meaningfully engage in and shape humanitarian response strategies.

According to Nogning Armelle, Board chair of CUAPWD, they have been working tirelessly to ensure the security and humanitarian aid for PWDs. She added that a lot is still needed to be done. 

While officially launching the project, the North West Regional Delegate of Social Affairs, Nkwate Rebecca, commended CUAPWD for changing the narrative and leading in the prioritisation of PWDs. Nkwate urged the organisation to continue in the same way, as she pledged government’s support to them.

Expected outcomes of project 

Phase 4 of the “leave no one behind” project sets ambitious and achievable outcomes, including strengthening mechanisms to support disability-inclusive coordination, increased participation of PWDs in humanitarian decision-making, expanded inclusive programming to reach marginalised populations.

The management of CUAPWD also said the project will address systemic barriers, institutional barriers, and environmental barriers faced by persons with disabilities.

The project equally aims to foster the localisation and sustainability of disability-inclusion efforts through engagement with Sub-divisional, Divisional regional actors.

This article was first published in The Guardian Post Edition No:3510 of Monday July 21, 2025