The Horizons of Disability inclusive Budgeting in Zimbabwe.
Taurai Chako
RESULTS | STRATEGIST | GENDER & DISABILITY | CLIMATE ANTHROPOLOGIST | EQUITY-BASED MEL | INTERSECTIONAL FEMINISMS | ACCESSIBILITY AUDITS | UNIVERSAL DESIGN TOOLS | "My work place inclusion at the heart of development!"
Disability inclusive budgeting or CRPD compliant budgeting? So many conundrums are seen permeating in this discourse. It is now 4 years since the Center for Inclusive Policy has submitted critical questions for this subject.
Clarification needed: Inclusive, Disability Responsive or
CRPD compliant budgeting?
In recent years, as many countries have adopted new legislation to implement the Convention on Rights of Persons with Disabilities (CRPD), interest has been growing on the role of public budget in supporting the inclusion of persons with disabilities. The terms inclusive budgeting, disability and disability responsive budgeting, CRPD compliant budgeting are somehow used interchangeably, but can mean different things. To disentangle them, three basic questions are important, all of which are preconditions for inclusive budgeting.
Inclusive budgeting entails that government revenue generation and expenditures involve and benefit all people in their diversity. It includes persons with disabilities among others and pays attention to the impact of revenue generation and expenditures on gender equality and the most marginalized groups. It ensures that all stakeholders are meaningfully consulted in budget processes. Important as an overarching concept, such a broad approach alone might miss the specific requirements of different groups, particularly the most marginalized among persons with disabilities. The answers may be YES to the three fundamental questions, but there is no guarantee.
Disability budgeting and disability responsive budgeting concepts are an echo of gender responsive and child responsive budgeting, with a focus on persons with disabilities. Such approach might be more inclusive of all groups but still, may not be specific enough. Indeed governments, in good faith might consider as disability responsive, public expenditures on programs that are:?
While they offer an entry point for stakeholders to engage with budget processes and public financial management (PFM), inclusive or disability responsive budgeting might not provide the comprehensive guidance required to ensure that maximum available resources are used to implement the CRPD.
领英推荐
CRPD compliant budgeting
Why CRPD compliant budgeting? This addresses all three questions, by building on the comprehensive standards of the CRPD to assess and plan public resource generation and allocation. It contributes to inclusive budgeting which encompass broader groups and issues. While the CRPD Committee has not yet developed specific guidance on the subject, few basic elements can be elaborated based on the CRPD Standards and the experience of DPOs from Philippines, India and the Pacific on budget analysis and advocacy:
Any non-compliant programs must be reformed in line with the CRPD or resources must be reallocated towards CRPD compliant policies, services, and programs. This may be realized progressively but a deadline should be set. This applies to all ?services that are fully or partially funded and/or regulated by public authorities, including those delivered by private entities.
Disability & Development Pathways provides technical support in achieving disability inclusive/ CRPD compliant budgeting programs.