Including
Women and
Girls with
Disabilities
in World Bank Operations


Julia C. Braunmiller | March 8, 2023


       1
Who are Women and Girls with
Disabilities?
▪ One in every 5 women—20 percent of the female population—has a disability.

▪ Prevalence rates of disability are higher among women than among men.

▪ They face multiple discrimination and environmental barriers due to their gender and
  disability status.

▪ Women with disabilities are NOT a homogenous group!




                                         Including Women and Girls with Disabilities in World Bank Operations   2
A History of
Invisible Multiple
and Intersectional
Discrimination


International and national laws and policies on disability have
historically neglected aspects related to women and girls with
disabilities. In turn, laws and policies addressing women have
traditionally ignored disability. This invisibility has perpetuated the
situation of multiple and intersecting forms of discrimination
against women and girls with disabilities.”
(CRPD Committee 2016, para. 3)




                                      Including Women and Girls with Disabilities in World Bank Operations   3
What are the World Bank Group’s
Commitments to Women with
Disabilities?

 ▪ Environmental and Social Framework (ESF)
   • ESF Good Practice Notes (Nondiscrimination and Disability; Gender)

   • ESF Guidance Note for Borrowers 10 on Stakeholder Engagement
     and Information Disclosure

   • Bank Directive: Addressing Risks and Impacts on Disadvantaged or
     Vulnerable Individuals or Groups

 ▪ Disability and Inclusion Accountability Framework (2022)
 ▪ WBG Gender Strategy (FY 2016–23)
 ▪ 10 Commitments on Disability-inclusive Development (No. 4: “Women
   and Girls with Disabilities”)

 ▪ Policy commitments under IDA 19 and IDA 20



                                                                          Including Women and Girls with Disabilities in World Bank Operations   4
The Inclusion of Women with
Disabilities Throughout the
World Bank Project Cycle

▪   Who is at the table?

▪   What data are being reviewed?

▪   What are the main principles to follow?

    •   Inclusive project design considers accessibility and reasonable
        accommodation

    •   Stakeholder engagement allows for meaningful participation of
        women with disabilities




                       Including Women and Girls with Disabilities in World Bank Operations   5
Seven Key Issues for Project
Teams to Examine through the
Lens of Gender and Disability




                                → Sample Solutions

                                     Including Women and Girls with Disabilities in World Bank Operations   6
                                  Include women with a range of disabilities in the design of
                                  data collection efforts and their implementation
1. Disaggregated Data Can         Use international standardized questions (Washington Group
   Inform Policies and Projects   Short Set on Functioning)

                                  Make all data collection efforts accessible for a diversity of

  Dos and Don’ts of Data          women

  Collection:
                                  Do No Harm: guarantee the safety and security of women with
                                  disabilities and ensure data confidentiality

                                  Don’t forget the diversity of disability




                                                       Including Women and Girls with Disabilities in World Bank Operations   7
                                          Only one-quarter of economies worldwide explicitly protect and
                                          promote the rights of women with disabilities.




2. Laws and Policies Can
Promote the Rights of
Women with Disabilities
Read about the dataset and
policy briefs:
https://wbl.worldbank.org/en/disability




                                             Source: Women, Business and the Law database




                                                                        Including Women and Girls with Disabilities in World Bank Operations   8
                                                                  → Three Key Questions to Ask
                                                                  on Women and Girls with
                                                                  Disabilities during the Project
                                                                  Cycle

Project examples across WBG Sectors:
                                                                  → Sample Project Indicators to
▪   Education                                                     Measure Inclusion of Women
▪   Employment and entrepreneurship
▪   Social protection                                             and Girls with Disabilities
▪   Gender-based violence
▪   Health
▪   Digital development
▪   Water and sanitation
▪   Transportation and urban planning
▪   Fragility, conflict, violence, and disaster risk management




                                                                  Including Women and Girls with Disabilities in World Bank Operations   9
Thank you!
     https://wbl.worldbank.org/en/disability
 https://www.worldbank.org/en/topic/disability

         jbraunmiller@worldbank.org