There is growing recognition of inequalities that arise from marginalisation: people in excluded situations rarely have their voices heard. This invisibility is compounded by a lack of relevant data.
Between 2012 and 2016 Sightsavers conducted the Voices of the Marginalised research study in partnership with HelpAge International and ADD International. It aimed to share the experiences of people with disabilities and older people living in developing countries.
The study covered the areas of social, political and economic inclusion, and aimed to influence national and global policymakers and strengthen efforts to provide accessible quality services at a local level. The study was conducted in Bangladesh and Tanzania. Bringing partners together, bridging research and policy, along with tangible recommendations, is essential to improve the quality of life and participation of the most excluded people.
This research comes at a time when governments are reevaluating their priorities as well as their spending and accountability mechanisms in the light of the 2030 Agenda and the Sustainable Development Goals.
In India, community peer researchers, including people with disabilities, older people and representatives of local NGOs working on disability or ageing, collected more than 70 stories. The stories were analysed and key emerging issues were identified that particularly affect people with disabilities and older people in Bangladesh. Common issues included lack of access to education, exclusion and mistreatment, mobility problems, rape and sexual abuse, and the role of grassroots community-based organisations.
The issues are interrelated, and the stories gathered illustrated how earning an income, for example, can transform a person’s independence, status and self-esteem.
In Tanzania, peer researchers collected 106 stories from people with disabilities, older people and staff working in local NGOs on disability (physical, visual, hearing, intellectual, albinism and mental health) or ageing.
The peer researchers were asked to identify the main issues faced by people with disabilities and older people, why they thought these issues occurred and how they were connected. They analysed these stories in a workshop and identified poverty, income and dependence, witchcraft and albinism mistreatment, sexual violence and gender issues, poor treatment from family and taking advantage of people with disabilities as some of the emerging issues.
A community-based participatory study gathering the lived experiences of persons with disabilities and older people in Tanzania
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Innovative and participatory research for better and inclusive policymaking
Piloting participatory research with persons with disabilities and older people in Bangladesh
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Marion Steff (December 2016)
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Bakar Fakih and Mwifadhi Mrisho (2016)
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Marion Steff and Margo Greenwood (February 2016)
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Marion Steff (April 2013)
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Marion Steff (March 2016)
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Marion Steff and Margo Greenwood (February 2016)
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Lipi Rahman and Fred Smith (August 2015)
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