Background

According to the 2019 General Population Census,  4.9% of Cambodia’s population aged five years and above experience some difficulty in performing basic functions. In Cambodia, persons with disabilities face multiple challenges such as inequality and discrimination in access to education, healthcare, employment, social protection, and justice, public transport and  are particularly vulnerable to violence and other violations of their rights. Women and girls with disabilities face additional discrimination and barriers when accessing services compared to men with disabilities. They are also vulnerable to violence because of their gender and disabilities. Cambodia has a strong commitment to disability rights, evidenced by the ratification of the United Nations Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (UNCRPD) and its Optional Protocol, and the signing of the Marrakesh Treaty. Cambodia instituted a law on the Protection and Promotion of the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (National Disability Law) and the National Disability Strategic Plan 2019-2023 (NDSP2) that provide a strong framework for action across all ministries and agencies at the national and sub-national levels. The National Disability Law is being revised to  reflect the rights-based approach of the UNCRPD.  UNDP is working in partnership with the Disability Action Council (DAC) at the national and sub-national level, Disabled People's Organisations (DPOs), and NGOs to contribute to the implementation of the NDSP2, with a focus on capacity development, sustainable solutions, quality of services and improved coordination mechanisms especially at the sub-national level in collaboration with Provincial DAC, DPOs, CSOs, and sub-national authorities.

Key Expected Outputs

In order to contribute to the advancement of the rights of persons with disabilities, the project will focus on building the capacity of key actors and networks while  improving legal framework and planning. Specifically, the project will deliver the following three outputs:

1. Disability Action Council (DAC) effectively provides advice, coordinates, and monitors the implementation of NDSP2;
2. Commune Investment Plan (CIP), budget, and its development process are disability-inclusive through active involvement of DPOs/CDPO and provincial DAC mechanisms;
3. DAC, Disability Action Working Groups (DAWG), and Provincial DACs have the capacity to develop and implement disability-inclusive policies and budgets.

Main Activities

• Support national and sub-national coordination mechanisms for the NDSP 2 implementation.
• Provide technical support to the amendment of the disability law, and develop/review the national legal frameworks related to disability.
• Support DPOs to engage in CIP development, including develop/update and train in Disability and Inclusive CIP.
• Promote disability-inclusive CIPs in selected communes and document lessons learnt for replication.
• Build capacity of DAC, DAWG, and Provincial DAC in disability inclusion and inclusive planning and budgeting.

Achievements to Date

As a result of technical support from UNDP, the project has been progressing well in terms of policy development, capacity development, and service delivery, as highlighted below:

• Disability Action Council has the capacity to review and develop national policies related to disability that demonstrates their leadership and ownership to ensure persons with disabilities enjoy their rights. For instance, under DAC leadership, the national disability law has been revised in consultation with relevant line ministries, UN agencies, development partners, DPOs, and civil society organizations.
• The Inter-Ministerial Prakas on Driving License for Persons with Disabilities was endorsed by the Ministry of Social Affairs Veterans and Youth Rehabilitation (MoSVY), the Ministry of Health (MoH), and the Ministry of Public Works and Transport (MoPWT). It is the first time that persons with disabilities can access driving licenses which has the long-term potential to improve the socio-economic status of persons with disabilities.
• DAC significantly improved their capacity to provide advice, coordinates with other line ministries and Provincial DAC. For instance, Provincial DACs have the capacity to coordinate quarterly meetings with their members to discuss the key concerns of persons with disabilities by addressing them in the action plan and budget for 2022.
• The disability inclusion (DI) manual has been finalised. The DI manual will be an effective tool to build the capacity of DAC and line ministries at  national and sub-national to roll out the NDSP2 and to raise awareness on disability inclusion and how to include disability into the policy and programme.
• CDPO can facilitate a regular meeting with provincial DAC and government line ministries by ensuring that the voices and needs of persons with disabilities at  national and sub-national levels have been heard and provided effective responses to those needs. In addition to this, CDPO and DPOs were invited to be part of the technical working group to monitor the progress of disability service at the sub-national level.
• DPOs improved their capacity to advocate with local authorities. As a result, 2,734 persons with disabilities (1,266 women with disabilities) access the national social protection cash transfer programme. 180 persons with disabilities (74 women with disabilities) actively participated in the commune investment plan (CIP) consultation at the commune offices.

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