The prevalence of disability is projected to increase from 15 percent to 20 percent in Latin America and the Caribbean according to Inter-American Development Bank’s (IDB) estimations. As a multilateral organization focused on improving lives regionally, the IDB works with countries to remove barriers to the participation of the more than 80 million people with disabilities in the region. A recent publication, “Seeds to Inclusion: What we know and don’t know about disability policy,” examines the effectiveness of disability inclusion policies.
In this context, the IDB joined civil society, governments, and other organizations in Berlin at the Global Disability Summit (GDS) The event brought together stakeholders around the world to promote disability-inclusive development through international cooperation. Almost four thousand individuals assembled to advance the disability agenda, bringing energy, expertise, and expectations.
Partners Committing to Inclusion
Before the event, the organizers encouraged countries, government agencies and non-governmental organizations to submit concrete pledges that advance disability inclusion. The IDB pledged that at least 25% of all public loans it approves in 2025 would support disability inclusion. IDB’s commitment was featured on-stage at the Summit as one of the most impactful from the over 800 submitted by over 80 countries and organizations.
The strategic alignment framework ensures that projects appropriately address barriers to inclusion. By focusing on gaps, actions, and indicators, the IDB embeds disability inclusion into the core of its lending operations, making it a measurable and intentional part of development.
Launching the Resilient and Inclusive Cities Hub (RICH)
The Resilient and Inclusive Cities Hub (RICH) is a new initiative funded by the German Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development (BMZ) and implemented by the Global Disability Fund. The objective of the initiative is to promote innovative solutions to advance disability inclusion and risk resilience in cities.
Six proposals were selected for funding in the first round, including a proposal by the IDB to address disability inclusion and climate resiliency in the context of the renovation of the historic center of Lima — the Rímac district. The project focuses on inclusive disaster risk-management and the accessibility of infrastructure and services for persons with disabilities during and after disasters.
Some of the obstacles that people with and without disabilities commonly encounter in this World Heritage Site are:
- Uneven pavement
- Poor lighting
- Lack of tactile or high contrast signage
- Scarcity of auditive information
Moreover, the district is prone to dangerous flooding from the Rímac River as well as earthquakes. This places persons with disabilities at disproportionate risk. According to studies, the mortality rate among people with disabilities during disasters tends to be at least twice as high as for those without disabilities.
The project will directly benefit approximately 184,000 residents of the historic center, which includes more than 35,000 persons with disabilities. Activities will indirectly benefit around 1.8 million people who pass through the historic center annually, including residents, workers, and national and international visitors.
The new project funded by the RICH HUB complements an existing investment loan financed by the IDB and the Spanish Development Promotion Fund (FONPRODE) that renovates and promotes cultural heritage in the Rímac district. The new project will contribute an important example to the HUB that can be scaled to other cities and regions.
Engines for Disability Inclusion
Through partnerships, the IDB reinforces its focus on cities as engines of inclusion and resilience. Urban areas concentrate both opportunities and barriers for persons with disabilities — from access to transportation and housing to digital services and public spaces. Building inclusive cities requires cross-sectoral efforts and shared tools, and the RICH is designed to help foster that exchange.
In addition to these efforts, the GDS used its convening power to establish joint goals to be broadly endorsed by the different partners. The IDB is among the 92 organizations or countries that supported the summit declaration that directs development financing for disability inclusion. It is vital not to overlook “how” these commitments are attained. It bears underscoring that the IDB will continue to be guided by the principle “nothing about us without us”.
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