Author: Dylan Walker, University of Sydney.
Co-Author: Aliya Hamida, ASB South and South-East Asia.
How can we ensure that no one is left behind when disaster strikes, especially those who may face invisible barriers?
In the chaos of a disaster, how can we make sure that the most at risk, including people with disabilities, receive the help they need?
In the immediate aftermath of a crisis, rapid data collection is vital for an effective humanitarian response. It enables humanitarian organisations to quickly assess needs, identify at-risk groups, and gauge the scale of the emergency. This data is critical for prioritising interventions, allocating resources, and ensuring assistance reaches those most in need. However, effective data collection requires more than just speed; it demands insightful and inclusive methods.
The Importance of Disaggregated Data
One essential method is data disaggregation, which involves breaking down information by variables such as age, gender, and disability. This approach allows humanitarian workers to identify groups most at risk, such as people with disabilities, and tailor interventions to their specific needs. By doing so, it ensures that those who are often overlooked receive the appropriate support at the right time and aren’t left behind.
As highlighted in the DiDRRN 2024 report, understanding the diverse needs of people with disabilities—including those with intersecting disabilities—is crucial. By identifying the barriers people with disabilities face when disasters strike, such as compromised infrastructure, data disaggregation helps ensure the provision of accessible shelters, assistive devices, and appropriate communication strategies. For humanitarian aid to be effective and inclusive, it is essential to include the perspectives and experiences of people with disabilities in data collection and analysis.
Though the Asia Pacific Ministerial Conference on Disaster Risk Reduction (APMCDRR) 2024 has officially ended, the insights and discussions it sparked continue to resonate, emphasising the need for inclusive and data-driven approaches in humanitarian responses. One of our sessions during the event was a learning lab focused on data-driven humanitarian response for social inclusion and accountability.
Benjamin Bernardino (Jun), a person with a disability and member of the Philippine Coalition on UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities, emphasised the significance of disability data: “Having data on persons with disabilities allows us to plan, allocate resources, and monitor impact. Disability data helps us understand how people with disabilities are impacted in comparison to people without disabilities. It also helps us identify priorities and needs.”
This underscores the necessity of tools that go beyond basic identification, exploring the immediate needs of people with disabilities. Without such understanding, data-driven humanitarian responses risk neglecting the unique challenges faced by this group, leading to exclusion and inequitable aid distribution.
Tools for Disability-Inclusive Data Collection
During the Learning Lab, Benjamin Bernardino and Dr Alex Robinson, Head of Disability, Inclusion and Rehabilitation at the Nossal Institute for Global Health, introduced the Humanitarian Disability Needs Estimation Screening Tool (HD-NEST) to address the limitations of existing tools like the Washington Group Questions (WGQ). Designed for the early stages of crisis response, HD-NEST provides a detailed understanding of the specific needs of people with disabilities, ensuring their inclusion in humanitarian efforts.
Dr Alex Robinson elaborated on HD-NEST’s components and functionality. Developed through consultations with humanitarian workers and organisations of people with disabilities in Indonesia and the Philippines, HD-NEST focuses on rapid assessments in the acute stages of disaster. Dr Alex Robinson emphasised the importance of gathering data directly from people with disabilities when possible, recognising the challenges of training data collectors in the aftermath of a crisis. To address time constraints, HD-NEST uses broad categories—such as reliance on others for daily activities, medication and equipment needs, and assistive product requirements—allowing the identification of people in need with the fewest questions.
Identifying people with disabilities during crises is complex, due to inconsistent definitions of disability, hidden disabilities, stigma, and communication barriers. The Washington Group Short Set of Questions (WGQ) provides a standardized and culturally adaptable tool for identifying functional limitations, but it requires careful training and is better suited for later stages of a response. In contrast, tools like HD-NEST are designed for quick and simple use during the acute phase of a crisis (the first 72 hours). By combining HD-NEST for rapid initial assessments and the WGQ for more detailed follow-ups, responders can ensure a comprehensive and inclusive approach to identifying and supporting individuals with disabilities.
To further promote social inclusion and accountability, the learning lab also introduced open-source software by Mapakalamidad.ph, a platform developed by a in the Philippines. Elton Pierre Evidente, Geospatial Data Coordinator, highlighted the importance of integrating diverse voices into the platform’s technology. Accessible, open-source data is key to building trust, inclusivity, and collaboration among stakeholders, from government officials to humanitarian workers. This approach enables innovative solutions such as using satellite data to predict floods and deploy resources efficiently.
Mapakalamidad.ph enhances disaster preparedness, response, and recovery by providing real-time data to communities affected by disasters. It leverages open-source information, co-designing methodologies with primary stakeholders, and applies this on a live web map for visualisation. By strengthening communities with actionable data, Mapakalamidad.ph fosters collaboration and promotes resilience.
In conclusion, the critical role of data in ensuring social inclusion and accountability in humanitarian responses cannot be overstated. Effective data collection, especially disaggregated data, is essential for understanding the diverse needs of affected populations, including people with disabilities. Tools like HD-NEST, visualisation platforms like what Mapakalamidad.ph developed are shaping the future of disaster risk reduction, promoting inclusivity, transparency, and collaboration. By harnessing the power of data, we can build a #ResilienceForAll.
