Disability is a risk factor for malnutrition, but childhood malnutrition can also lead to disability
Research shows that malnutrition and disability are closely interrelated. Children with disabilities are often at a greater risk of malnutrition, and in emergencies face significant barriers to accessing life-saving relief when they need it most. Additionally, childhood malnutrition can also lead to disabilities later in life. For instance, disabilities that appear in adulthood may be the result of being malnourished as a child. More needs to be done to prevent and treat malnutrition among persons with disabilities during emergencies.
The Disability Inclusion Working Group provides technical support, knowledge and resources to nutrition practitioners in order to more adequately and appropriately address nutrition needs among children and adults with disabilities in emergencies and helps them to create more inclusive nutrition programs. The group aims to create a safe space for interactive dialogue between professionals from different fields (Nutrition in Emergencies (NiE), Disability Inclusion, Development etc.) to ensure frontline practitioners are equipped to improve nutrition outcomes for infants and children with disabilities and feeding difficulties. In operation since 2023, active GNC partners meet once a month and include ACF, ENN, Save the Children, UNICEF, IFE Core Group. New members always welcome.
Key Activities
- Provide technical support and advice to nutrition practitioners upon request
- Develop a Frequently Asked Questions guide for practitioners (available under additional resources section below)
- Curate resources on disability and nutrition in humanitarian action for practitioners
- Review Humanitarian Needs Overviews (HNOs) and Humanitarian Response Plans (HRPs) for disability inclusion and develop guidance and resources for practitioners to help create more inclusive plans
- Disseminate the newly created tool for field practitioners to better manage infant under 5 with disabilities who also suffer from acute malnutrition with no medical complications
Useful Links
- Nutrition: Including Children With Disabilities in Humanitarian Action - Designed by UNICEF for in-country staff, this guide provides practical tips and offers entry points for making sure that nutrition in emergencies takes children with disabilities into account
- Humanitarian Inclusion Standards For Older People and People With Disabilities - This useful resource provides nutrition inclusion standards (p. 164) designed to help address gaps in understanding the needs, capacities and rights of older people and persons with disabilities, and promote their inclusion in humanitarian action
- IASC Guidelines on Inclusion of Persons with Disabilities in Humanitarian Action
