“The right to the city is far more than the individual liberty to access urban resources: it is a right to change ourselves by changing the city”

-David Harvey

The previous blog delved into the methodology used to collect disaggregated disability data under the ‘Good Governance for Urban Inclusion Through Data and Empowerment of Persons with Disabilities’ (GUIDE) of NIUA and UNESCO. A quick recap for first-time readers, the GUIDE initiative aims to identify pathways for designing inclusive policies and programs for a more accessible and equitable urban environment. It does so by engaging persons with disabilities and incorporating their perspectives in policy-making and implementation. GUIDE proposes a methodology prioritising citizen-centric, disaggregated data collection, and engaging stakeholders, including Disabled People's Organizations (DPOs) and local experts, in all stages of this process.

This blog focuses on the process and outcomes of two exercises that were crucial to the effort of participatory data collection - the expert consultation and city stakeholders’ consultations. These consultations were pivotal in shaping data-driven initiatives that cater to the diverse needs of vulnerable groups, mainly persons with disabilities. They helped to refine the methodology and focus of the study by providing critical feedback on the practical challenges and constraints in the use of the participatory methods, identifying key service delivery gap areas, and strengthening the process of localising and contextualising the methodology at the city level.

Expert Consultation

The roundtable convened 11 experts with diverse backgrounds, representing various governmental departments, academia, civil society, and the private sector. They included representatives from the UN-Habitat, UNICEF, IIT-Roorkee, IIT-Kharagpur, Sagar Smart City, Diversity and Equal Opportunity Centre, City Connect, and subject matter experts from NIUA. The discussion revolved around the importance of interlinking data with existing programmes and policies, capturing lived experiences of disabilities and integrating disability-inclusive data into urban governance. The scope of the initiative and the need for identifying the right stakeholders to ensure visibility for marginalised groups were also discussed. The consultation also reaffirmed and laid strong emphasis on the adoption of a participatory approach, involving persons with disabilities throughout the planning process, and incorporating monitoring and evaluation components for continual feedback. Additionally, capturing both the basic needs and aspirations of persons with disabilities, the need for hyperlocal data and widening the scale of data collection to capture intersectionalities and challenges was deemed necessary.

City Stakeholder Consultation

In order to establish confidence in the initiative and identify gaps in the service delivery and existing data systems related to essential services for persons with disabilities and other marginalised groups, active engagement with local stakeholders and user groups was of paramount importance. Hence, a city stakeholder consultation was conducted in Varanasi to ensure the relevance and applicability of the proposed methodology. This consultation brought together a diverse cohort of 40 participants spanning various sectors, including city administration, intergovernmental organisations, disability rights organisations, academic institutions, and persons with disabilities themselves. This inclusive approach led to a comprehensive understanding of the challenges faced by the identified groups in the city. It also led to the recognition of the specific needs and aspirations of persons with disabilities and other marginalised groups, highlighting the intersecting challenges of gender and age. Key stakeholders important to assess the accessibility of city-level services were identified, thereby establishing the groundwork for informed decision-making. The correlation between multi-layered vulnerabilities (education, livelihoods, gender, age) and the deprivation of needs and aspirations for persons with disabilities was another important highlight from the consultation.

Key takeaways from these consultations:

1. Identify and engage with critical stakeholders: ​​The key lesson learned is the critical role played by involving a diverse range of stakeholders from various sectors. This not only lends a holistic perspective but also bolsters the credibility and relevance of the chosen methodology, particularly in participatory studies. The incorporation of suggestions and active involvement from these stakeholders ensures a meaningful and well-rounded approach. As in the case of the GUIDE initiative, where contributions from private entities, academia, government bodies, disabled people's organisations, and policy think tanks were sought. This collaborative effort yielded insights spanning theoretical frameworks to the actual implementation of the initiative.

2. Encourage Localization and Contextual Relevance: The consultations underscored the significance of involving local city stakeholders to guarantee the initiative's appropriateness and success at a local level. Fostering partnerships with local governmental bodies, NGOs, community organisations, and disability rights groups is imperative. This collaboration facilitates the tailoring of data collection and policy application to align with the unique context of each city or region.

3. Adopt a Replicable and Participatory Methodology:  The expert consultation especially highlighted the need for the development of a participatory data methodology that is easily comprehensible and easy to use by city officials and even local NGOs. To ensure that the data collection processes are valued and adopted with complete ownership across stakeholders and regional context, the participation of local communities, city officials, and decision-makers such be emphasised and necessitated.

4. Enhance Data Dimensions: While these consultations focussed on keeping the scope of the project well-defined, and led to the identification of priority sectors, they laid a vital importance on the need to go beyond the bare necessities.  Data points that encompass not only needs and requisites but also capture lived experiences and aspirations hold great value. Such comprehensive data is indispensable for the integrated and progressive development of individuals with disabilities residing in urban areas.

The progression towards fortifying urban inclusion through participatory data systems, as examined in the previous blog, has been enriched by valuable expert and city stakeholder consultations. The expert consultation harmonised a range of perspectives from diverse sectors, highlighting the need for the integration of data into existing policies and the capture of lived experiences related to disabilities. Complementing this, the city stakeholder consultation held in Varanasi deepened the comprehension of challenges confronted by marginalised groups, particularly persons with disabilities, within the local context. This concerted effort ensures that the initiative evolves into a transformative force for the inclusion of persons with disabilities and also other vulnerable communities in cities. In the upcoming blog, we will delve into the insights and lessons garnered from the Focus Group Discussions (FGDs), Informant interviews, and Co-Design Workshop, all of which were conducted with city officials and persons with disabilities as part of the GUIDE initiative.

Author: Veronica Q Wijunamai, Program Officer- Learning and Outreach, Inclusive Cities Centre, NIUA