Australia has long championed disability equity on the global stage. And with the release of the International Disability Equity and Rights Strategy being imminent, we will soon see what ambition Australia has for the future.
But not all agree that Australia’s globally recognised leadership is matched by the development program’s day-to-day operations in Southeast Asia. Indeed, some members of the disability movement are concerned that Australian support on disability may be diluted by pressure in the development program to re-prioritise gender, climate change and other social inclusion issues.
So we put it to the experts: Disability equity in Southeast Asia – a mixed report card on Australia’s assistance?
DFAT is at a disability equity juncture. Globally, the conversation has shifted from ‘seeking disability inclusion’ to striving for ‘equity.’ This comes with greater ambition and commitment to ensuring people with disabilities can realise all their rights. DFAT is onboard, adopting this shift in language when they announced their International Disability Equity and Rights Strategy (IDEARS). DFAT has long championed the disability movement, this strategy ought also reflect the movement’s ambition.
Looking at Southeast Asia, the latest Performance of Australian Development Cooperation Report 2022-23, shows performance on disability equity was the highest of any region. 64 per cent of development investments over $3 million performed satisfactorily on addressing disability equity in implementation, higher than the three-year average of 59 per cent and the whole-of-program outcome of 50 per cent.
This means there are positive lessons to learn from programs in Southeast Asia. But it also means that high performance on disability equity is far from universal when it comes to Australian development and humanitarian assistance. DFAT faces a choice as we await the release of IDEARS: remain satisfied that these positive results and mixed report card are ‘good enough’, or strive to reach its potential when it comes to supporting people with disabilities globally. The most important next step is improving integration and coordination of disability efforts, including the commitment to drive advancing disability equity into all parts of DFAT’s portfolio.
Kerryn Clarke is a long time disability equity advocate whose patience and careful consideration is a trademark of her engagement with both policymakers and the disability movement. At the Lab, we have long admired the way the disability movement works collaboratively via the ADDC and enjoy learning about their work whenever they come through Canberra.
There are positive signs, but the report card remains mixed. Take Vietnam for example. Australia's successes in promoting disability equity in Vietnam include impactful investments in capacity building, particularly through scholarships and programs, for example the "Women in Leadership Journey." This initiative provides training on gender equality and inclusion, empowering women to assume leadership roles and advocate for policy changes in their communities and workplaces. In particular, it includes female participants with disabilities. Elsewhere, Australia has partnered with local organisations to equip people with disabilities with the skills needed to integrate into the workforce, thus expanding opportunities for many who would otherwise be excluded. Furthermore, Australian support has played a key role in shaping Vietnam’s policy on disability rights, helping shift government perceptions and advancing legal recognition of the rights of people with disabilities.
Several challenges remain including the limited reach of Australian programs in rural and remote areas of Vietnam. People with disabilities in these regions face additional barriers in accessing education, healthcare, and employment due to inadequate infrastructure and services. Additionally, the sustainability of Australian-funded initiatives is a concern. While short-term projects have shown success, maintaining and scaling these programs after funding ends has proven difficult, limiting their long-term impact.
Australia could expand its focus on rural areas for marginalised people through mobile units or stronger partnerships with local NGOs. Developing leadership programs specifically designed for people with disabilities would also be beneficial, empowering them to drive social change within their communities. Additionally, increasing capacity-building efforts for disabled leaders, especially in foundational education, is essential. Given that only 19.5% of disabled individuals in Vietnam have completed secondary or higher education, targeted training would enable them to fully participate in higher-level opportunities. Furthermore, involving disabled participants as co-creators in program design would ensure that their perspectives shape the content, making initiatives more relevant and impactful.
Quyen is the co-founder and CEO of We-Edit, a Hanoi-based graphic design company that employs many people with disabilities. She is a proud advocate for disability rights in Vietnam and is an alumna of the Young Southeast Asian Leaders Initiative Professional Fellows Program. At the Lab, we are inspired by her personal story and ongoing dedication to championing inclusivity in Vietnam.
Over the past eight years, disability equity in Indonesia has benefited from Australia-Indonesia cooperation programs. These programs use two strategies: direct government support and strengthening the role of civil society groups. However, how effective has Australia’s approach on disability equity been to date?
In certain Indonesian sectors, such as access to justice, Australia's support programs have targeted not only the government through technical assistance for policy change, but also facilitated disability organisations together with other civil society groups in advocating for meaningful participation. As a result, as can be seen in various reports and policy documents, many improvements have occurred in the justice sector and several public services, both at the policy, program, and service levels.
However, meaningful participation and inclusion of persons with disabilities in many sectors is not consistent across Indonesia. There are many gaps for donors like Australia to support, for example by better supporting disability equity in poverty alleviation, agriculture and economic sector activities.
Why is this happening? Development program governance tends assume consistent levels of education amongst program actors. However access to education remains a significant barrier for people with disabilities and their organisations. The failure to recognise this situation will not only reduce the impact of change on disability equity and the effectiveness of Australian support, but will also justify tokenistic practices regarding the roles and involvement of people with disabilities and their organisations in development program implementation.
Muhammad Joni Yulianto is the Executive Director at Sasana Inklusi dan Gerakan Advokasi Difabel (SIGAB Indonesia), also known as the Institute for Inclusion and Advocacy of People with Disabilities. He has advised a range of development programs and was the co-author of ‘Disability Rights: A Guide to Monitoring Compliance.’ At the Lab, we love following his ongoing work to ensure disability equity in Indonesia.
