The Road to Inclusion: Advancing Disability-Inclusive Protection Programming and Coordination in North-East Nigeria

The ongoing humanitarian crisis in north-east Nigeria is shaped by protracted conflict and insecurity, recurrent flooding, large-scale displacement, and poverty, all of which create severe challenges for vulnerable populations. Persons with disabilities who are already confronted with attitudinal, environmental, and institutional barriers face heightened risks at home, in camps, and in host communities. Often, they are excluded from basic services due to poor physical access and a lack of specialized support. Against this backdrop, this report addresses the following questions: How and to what extent have humanitarian organizations integrated disability inclusion in (1) protection-related humanitarian coordination processes; and (2) Nigeria Humanitarian Fund (NHF)-funded protection activities, as recommended by the Inter-Agency Standing Committee (IASC) Guidelines on Inclusion of Persons with Disabilities in Humanitarian Action? Where do gaps persist?

Within this complex environment, the IASC Guidelines aim to facilitate the inclusion of persons with disabilities and address their needs in humanitarian responses. Despite the growing attention to disability inclusion, the path to consistent application of the IASC Guidelines throughout the humanitarian program cycle (HPC) remains marked by both progress and ongoing constraints. Some organizations and local partners have integrated the IASC Guidelines into their operations, demonstrating a genuine commitment to the four “must-do” actions: meaningful participation, removal of barriers, capacity building, and disaggregated data for monitoring disability. Nonetheless, implementation is uneven. Larger organizations may have established disability inclusion policies but do not always tailor them to local contexts; others lack the funding to fully adapt activities, such as the distribution of food, water, and shelter materials, or to track how many persons with disabilities actually receive assistance consistently. Moreover, managerial issues, such as high staff turnover, tight deadlines, and resource constraints, can result in important
measures – such as sign language interpretation or wheelchair-accessible latrines – being inadequately addressed.

Organizations of persons with disabilities (OPDs) play a central role in promoting the interests of persons with disabilities, yet they often operate with limited resources and influence. Some national-level OPDs have secured stronger political recognition over the years but lack financial resources. Local chapters continue to grapple with even more pronounced financial challenges. Capacity-building initiatives – such as training in proposal writing and improved governance – have improved the visibility of OPDs in sector meetings, but these positive steps are not uniform. Some OPDs are only consulted when donor priorities explicitly mention disability, limiting their ability to shape long-term strategies. High-level commitments to include OPDs must therefore translate into institutional support that fosters their full and consistent engagement at community, state, and national levels. Protection programming exemplifies the larger inclusion dynamic, highlighting both breakthroughs and stumbling blocks. Some organizations conduct targeted outreach to raise awareness among women and children with disabilities about gender-based violence (GBV) services and to create safer spaces adapted to mobility impairments. Others embed accessible feedback channels, for example, enabling persons with visual or hearing impairments to lodge complaints or seek help. Nonetheless, accessibility at distribution points remains mixed, and disaggregated data – particularly for children with psychosocial disabilities – are scarce. This uneven integration reveals a broader concern: while the increase in awareness has placed disability inclusion at the forefront of humanitarian dialogue, it remains a work in progress.

As part of the inter-agency promotion of attention to disability inclusion, the Disability Working Group (DWG) and the Nigeria Humanitarian Fund (NHF) have advanced efforts to institutionalize disability inclusion through robust technical guidance and dedicated funding envelopes. The DWG, launched in 2023 and comprising United Nations (UN) organizations, international non-governmental organizations (INGOs), local non-governmental organizations (NGOs), and OPDs, offers a cross-cutting platform that encourages every sector – protection, water, sanitation, and hygiene (WASH), shelter, and health – to integrate inclusive practices from the outset. Meanwhile, the NHF has started ring-fencing resources for “Breaking Down Barriers” grants, thereby helping local and international NGOs to develop accessible infrastructure, disseminate inclusive guidelines, and engage trained professionals who can respond to specialized needs. These efforts, however, continue to depend on donor interest and available funding and do not always cover the full range of requirements in the field.

The report’s findings reveal that although the humanitarian community has made strides in promoting disability-inclusive action, a significant effort is still required to reach consistent and comprehensive implementation. Stigma, resource shortages, and an array of environmental, institutional, and attitudinal barriers reinforce the vulnerability of persons with disabilities. OPDs, the DWG, the NHF, and disability-focused organizations, such as Christian Blind Mission (CBM), are all working to bridge these gaps, but their work needs sustained commitment across the entire humanitarian system. The report concludes with a set of recommendations aimed at strengthening these initiatives to ensure that inclusive practices become the norm rather than the exception.

Suggested Citation

Khaled, A.F.M and Dijkzeul D. (2025) “The Road to Inclusion: Advancing Disability-Inclusive Protection Programing and coordination in North-East Nigeria.” IFHV Working Paper, Volume 15, No. 1

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