Eighteenth International Conference on Interdisciplinary Social Sciences

Abstract

The shift to and connection between short-term humanitarian aid and long-term development assistance has been a matter of focus for some time. In the context of displacement, academics and practitioners argue for the need for all concerned parties including host communities and donors to search for new approaches that support sustainable solutions for all displaced and host communities alike (Zetter, 2014). This call for new approaches comes as the international community has recognized that humanitarian assistance which does not address the core root causes of poverty is inadequate in long-term crises. As a result, the humanitarian-development nexus has received huge uptake in research, policy, and practice since the World Humanitarian Summit (WHS) in 2016 (Sande, 2020). However, despite the increasing efforts to link humanitarian and development agendas to address the needs, rights, and inequalities faced by the most vulnerable groups in humanitarian and development programmes; youth with disabilities are excluded from participating in these efforts which affect their life choices and aspirations. It is still vague how youth with disabilities participate in humanitarian programming in long-term displacement (Pearce, 2014; Skeels and Sandvik-Nylund, 2012). Youth with disabilities are often neglected by humanitarian and development actors. They are excluded from participating in peer activities that could enhance the progression of their social and protection networks against violence, harm, and abuse (Pearce, 2014). Policy frameworks, such as UNCRPD, provide unique guidance to disability inclusion, nevertheless, there is a sufficient research gap on youth with disabilities’ role in humanitarian development actions.