We hosted the event launching our report, “No Time to Lose: Assessing European Assistance for Disability Inclusion from 2018 to 2030” on 23 April.
The event brought together representatives from the European Commission, the OECD Development Assistance Committee, civil society organisations, and organisations of persons with disabilities to discuss how disability inclusion is reflected in EU development cooperation.
The report finds that while progress has been made since the introduction of the OECD DAC Disability Marker in 2018, significant gaps remain.
The majority of EU-funded development activities are still not reported as disability inclusive. In 2023 and 2024, nearly two-thirds of activities funded by the European Commission were not marked as having disability inclusion as a significant or principal objective.
This raises concerns that disability inclusion is still not being systematically considered in the design, implementation and monitoring of development programmes.
As researcher Polly Meeks explained, when disability is not explicitly addressed, there is a risk that persons with disabilities are excluded from investments intended to benefit the wider population, potentially reinforcing existing inequalities.
Slowdown in progress
A key discussion during the event focused on how to interpret recent trends. While our report points to a slowdown in progress after several years of improvement, the European Commission highlighted more recent data suggesting that disability inclusion continues to increase across new international cooperation programmes. Despite differing interpretations of the figures, participants agreed that current levels of disability inclusion remain insufficient.
Speakers repeatedly stressed that disability inclusion cannot be treated as an afterthought. Several participants highlighted that projects which appear disability-neutral may still create barriers or unintentionally exclude persons with disabilities if accessibility and inclusion are not deliberately addressed.
Strengthening the marker
The event also highlighted ongoing efforts by the OECD to strengthen the DAC Disability Marker through updated guidance and new minimum standards for reporting. The revised handbook, expected to be adopted in the coming months, aims to improve consistency in how donors report disability-inclusive development assistance and strengthen the marker’s role as an accountability tool.
At the same time, speakers emphasised that better reporting alone will not be enough. Research presented during the event highlighted persistent gaps in disability-inclusive climate and gender-related funding, demonstrating the need for stronger implementation and more ambitious action across development cooperation.
Accountability
A recurring theme throughout the discussion was accountability. Participants stressed the importance of reliable data, meaningful engagement with organisations of persons with disabilities, and stronger monitoring mechanisms. As development financing increasingly shifts towards investment and infrastructure projects, including through the EU’s Global Gateway strategy, ensuring that disability inclusion is a core consideration will become even more important.
The discussion concluded with a clear message: progress has been made, but there is no room for complacency.
As the international community moves closer to the 2030 deadline for the Sustainable Development Goals, disability inclusion must become a standard feature of development cooperation rather than an exception.