Research Projects

This is a list of research projects undertaken by the Centre. These projects fall within the research themes of Poverty and Livelihoods, Education, Health and Rehabilitation, and Persons with Disabilities and Humanitarian Crises and Health.

DFID Cross-cutting Disability Research We believe that people with disabilities must be included in all international development policy and programmes, and the research that underpins them. Our three-year partnership with DFID (the UK government’s Department for International Development) supports this through four areas of disability and development research: Access to Water and Sanitation in Uganda and Zambia Disability and Urban Agriculture in Kenya Maternal Child Health for Women with Disabilities in Nepal Mental Disability, Stigma and Multidimensional Poverty in India This applied research is carried out collaboratively by our centre and four DFID-funded Research Programme Consortium (RPC) partners. Together we generate evidence to support full participation of disabled people within the broader framework of inclusive development. Our unique status as one of the world’s only academic research centres supported by a non-government organisation (NGO) and based at a major university puts us in a prime position to share and apply the consortium’s findings. The RPC is supported by a team of advisors and all our publications are available on this site. The research is also shared through R4D, a DFID free access online portal and Leonard Cheshire Disability. If you would like more information, please contact us.
ESRC-DFID Poverty Alleviation In October 2012, research commenced on an ESRC-DFID funded programme Social Protection and Disability: Policy Lessons from Vietnam. This 2-year research project will evaluate the efficacy of two government social protection programmes for persons with disabilities in Vietnam, including a cash transfer programme and a free health insurance programme. Professor Nora Groce will lead the research team, which will also comprise Dr Daniel Mont (University College London), Dr Sophie Mitra (Fordham University) and Dr Michael Palmer (University of Melbourne).
National Library of Medicine In September 2012, Dr Raymond Lang was awarded a very prestigious National Library of Medicine Grant for Scholarly Works in Biomedicine and Health. He will receive funding to write a book on “Global Institutions and the Politics of International Disability”
UNICEF Partnership Since December 2011, the Centre has been working in close partnership with UNICEF on a number of interconnected research projects concerning the issues surrounding children with disabilities. The partnership has generated a series of background papers, prepared for UNICEF Headquarters New York Early Childhood Development Guidance Note on Working With People with Disabilities Fact Sheet on Children with Disabilities Immunization and Disability Disability and Nutrition Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities, Convention on the Rights of the Child and the Convention on Elimination of Discrimination against Women.
Leonard Cheshire Disability The Leonard Cheshire Disability and Inclusive Development Centre is working on research to understand the aspirations and barriers faced by persons with disabilities within the UK. Funding for this research project has been provided by Leonard Cheshire Disability
Anglo-American Group Foundation Leonard Cheshire Disability’s Access to Livelihoods multi-sector programme has received funding from the Anglo American Group Foundation to support disabled people in Zimbabwe to access a sustainable livelihood of their choice. This support includes professional and vocational training, business development support and access to micro-finance schemes, which will enable persons with disabilities to earn their livelihoods through secure paid or self-employment. The Leonard Cheshire Disability and Inclusive Development Centre will introduce a research component into this programme and undertake crucial research which will help inform, deliver and evaluate the programme over the three years of delivery. This research will identify the motivations and aspirations of persons with disabilities, attitudes of employers, and monitor the progress of programme at all stages.
Sightsavers Leonard Cheshire Disability is overseeing an Inclusive Education project in Kenya, funded by Sightsavers. This project will support children with disabilities across ten schools to receive improved support to enrol and progress in mainstream primary education. High quality, standardised, participatory assessments will give all those who support each child the information they need to develop an effective, meaningful development and support plan for that child. This project will pilot ways of managing this process, considering the role of the parent in ‘owning’ their child’s support, and ways of convening the group and sharing information most effectively. The Leonard Cheshire Disability and Inclusive Development Centre is working with partners at Maseno University to undertake the research component of this programme.
AusAid Systematic Review In 2011, the Leonard Cheshire Disability and Inclusive Development Centre was awarded a grant by AusAid/3ie/DFID to conduct a systematic review on inclusive education, with particular focus on the evidence base for success in inclusive educational efforts and on how such educational efforts can be provided using available resources and expertise. This report synthesised the current literature regarding inclusive education, and aimed to supplement the evaluation of the evidence base for this rapidly growing field.
UCL/Harvard Law School International Research Project A new collaborative research project is underway between the Leonard Cheshire Disability and Inclusive Development Centre and the Harvard Law School examining the themes of Poverty, Disability and the Law. More information about this research project will follow soon.
ILO-Funded Research in Ethiopia In 2010, Professor Nora Groce conducted research on disability and poverty in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia. Data analysis of the results has now been completed and the final report will be available soon.
Mainstreaming Disability within the MDGs Project Professor Nora Groce chaired the 'United Nations Expert Group Meeting on Mainstreaming Disability in the Millennium Development Goals’ (MDGs) at the World Health Organization Headquarters in Geneva, April 2009. The Centre worked to draft a formal report and set of recommendations and guidelines for inclusion of persons with disabilities as part of the current review of the MDGs. The report can be found [here].
DFID-Funded Disability Scoping Studies Between 2007 and 2009, Dr Lang undertook DFID-funded Disability Scoping Studies in three African countries: Uganda, Nigeria and Zimbabwe. The objective of this studies was to provide a situational analysis of the current state of disability policy and practice within the country, as well as providing strategic recommendations on how to mainstream disability issues within their core programmes. DFID Disability Scoping Study Uganda final report [here] DFID Disability Scoping Study in Nigeria final report [here] DFID Disability Scoping Study in Zimbabwe final report [here]
SAFOD-funded Southern Africa Disability Policy Audit In June 2008, Dr Raymond Lang managed a team of researchers to undertake a Disability Policy Audit in Namibia, Swaziland, Mozambique and Malawi. This research, was financed through the Southern African Federation of the Disabled (SAFOD) Research Programme. The overall objective of this research was to undertake a comparative analysis between the four countries, as well as assessing to what extent each country was in a position to implement the UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities. SAFOD Southern Africa Disability Policy Audit final report [here]
Pilot Profiling Exercise - Darfur Drs Kett and Trani completed a pilot child protection and reintegration programme for war affected and excluded vulnerable children in South Western Darfur. Report forthcoming.
IDDC Research: Disability in Conflict and Emergency Situations In June 2005, Dr Maria Kett, Sue Stubbs, Rebecca Yeo, Shivaram Deshpande and Victor Cordeiro (as members of the International Disability and Development Consortium), carried out DFID-funded research in tsunami affected areas. The aim of the research was to promote the inclusion of disability in emergency, conflict and refugee programmes. The main objectives were to assess the extent of inclusion, the impact of networking and the role of resources in post-tsunami contexts. The final report generated by this research can be found [here]

DFID Cross-cutting Disability Research
We believe that people with disabilities must be included in all international development policy and programmes, and the research that underpins them. Our three-year partnership with DFID (the UK government’s Department for International Development) supports this through four areas of disability and development research:

This applied research is carried out collaboratively by our centre and four DFID-funded Research Programme Consortium (RPC) partners. Together we generate evidence to support full participation of disabled people within the broader framework of inclusive development.

Our unique status as one of the world’s only academic research centres supported by a non-government organisation (NGO) and based at a major university puts us in a prime position to share and apply the consortium’s findings.

The RPC is supported by a team of advisors and all our publications are available on this site. The research is also shared through R4D, a DFID free access online portal and Leonard Cheshire Disability.

If you would like more information, please contact us.

ESRC-DFID Poverty Alleviation

In October 2012, research commenced on an ESRC-DFID funded programme Social Protection and Disability: Policy Lessons from Vietnam.

This 2-year research project will evaluate the efficacy of two government social protection programmes for persons with disabilities in Vietnam, including a cash transfer programme and a free health insurance programme.

Professor Nora Groce will lead the research team, which will also comprise Dr Daniel Mont (University College London), Dr Sophie Mitra (Fordham University) and Dr Michael Palmer (University of Melbourne).

National Library of Medicine
In September 2012, Dr Raymond Lang was awarded a very prestigious National Library of Medicine Grant for Scholarly Works in Biomedicine and Health. He will receive funding to write a book on “Global Institutions and the Politics of International Disability”

UNICEF Partnership

Since December 2011, the Centre has been working in close partnership with UNICEF on a number of interconnected research projects concerning the issues surrounding children with disabilities.

The partnership has generated a series of background papers, prepared for UNICEF Headquarters New York

Early Childhood Development
Guidance Note on Working With People with Disabilities
Fact Sheet on Children with Disabilities
Immunization and Disability
Disability and Nutrition
Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities, Convention on the Rights of the Child and the Convention on Elimination of Discrimination against Women.

Leonard Cheshire Disability
The Leonard Cheshire Disability and Inclusive Development Centre is working on research to understand the aspirations and barriers faced by persons with disabilities within the UK. Funding for this research project has been provided by Leonard Cheshire Disability

Anglo-American Group Foundation

Leonard Cheshire Disability’s Access to Livelihoods multi-sector programme has received funding from the Anglo American Group Foundation to support disabled people in Zimbabwe to access a sustainable livelihood of their choice. This support includes professional and vocational training, business development support and access to micro-finance schemes, which will enable persons with disabilities to earn their livelihoods through secure paid or self-employment.

The Leonard Cheshire Disability and Inclusive Development Centre will introduce a research component into this programme and undertake crucial research which will help inform, deliver and evaluate the programme over the three years of delivery. This research will identify the motivations and aspirations of persons with disabilities, attitudes of employers, and monitor the progress of programme at all stages.

Sightsavers

Leonard Cheshire Disability is overseeing an Inclusive Education project in Kenya, funded by Sightsavers. This project will support children with disabilities across ten schools to receive improved support to enrol and progress in mainstream primary education. High quality, standardised, participatory assessments will give all those who support each child the information they need to develop an effective, meaningful development and support plan for that child. This project will pilot ways of managing this process, considering the role of the parent in ‘owning’ their child’s support, and ways of convening the group and sharing information most effectively.

The Leonard Cheshire Disability and Inclusive Development Centre is working with partners at Maseno University to undertake the research component of this programme.

AusAid Systematic Review

In 2011, the Leonard Cheshire Disability and Inclusive Development Centre was awarded a grant by AusAid/3ie/DFID to conduct a systematic review on inclusive education, with particular focus on the evidence base for success in inclusive educational efforts and on how such educational efforts can be provided using available resources and expertise. This report synthesised the current literature regarding inclusive education, and aimed to supplement the evaluation of the evidence base for this rapidly growing field.

UCL/Harvard Law School International Research Project
A new collaborative research project is underway between the Leonard Cheshire Disability and Inclusive Development Centre and the Harvard Law School examining the themes of Poverty, Disability and the Law.

More information about this research project will follow soon.

ILO-Funded Research in Ethiopia
In 2010, Professor Nora Groce conducted research on disability and poverty in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia. Data analysis of the results has now been completed and the final report will be available soon.

Mainstreaming Disability within the MDGs Project
Professor Nora Groce chaired the 'United Nations Expert Group Meeting on Mainstreaming Disability in the Millennium Development Goals’ (MDGs) at the World Health Organization Headquarters in Geneva, April 2009.

The Centre worked to draft a formal report and set of recommendations and guidelines for inclusion of persons with disabilities as part of the current review of the MDGs.

The report can be found [here].

DFID-Funded Disability Scoping Studies
Between 2007 and 2009, Dr Lang undertook DFID-funded Disability Scoping Studies in three African countries: Uganda, Nigeria and Zimbabwe. The objective of this studies was to provide a situational analysis of the current state of disability policy and practice within the country, as well as providing strategic recommendations on how to mainstream disability issues within their core programmes.

DFID Disability Scoping Study Uganda final report [here]

DFID Disability Scoping Study in Nigeria final report [here]

DFID Disability Scoping Study in Zimbabwe final report [here]

SAFOD-funded Southern Africa Disability Policy Audit
In June 2008, Dr Raymond Lang managed a team of researchers to undertake a Disability Policy Audit in Namibia, Swaziland, Mozambique and Malawi. This research, was financed through the Southern African Federation of the Disabled (SAFOD) Research Programme.

The overall objective of this research was to undertake a comparative analysis between the four countries, as well as assessing to what extent each country was in a position to implement the UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities.

SAFOD Southern Africa Disability Policy Audit final report [here]

Pilot Profiling Exercise - Darfur
Drs Kett and Trani completed a pilot child protection and reintegration programme for war affected and excluded vulnerable children in South Western Darfur. Report forthcoming.

IDDC Research: Disability in Conflict and Emergency Situations
In June 2005, Dr Maria Kett, Sue Stubbs, Rebecca Yeo, Shivaram Deshpande and Victor Cordeiro (as members of the International Disability and Development Consortium), carried out DFID-funded research in tsunami affected areas.

The aim of the research was to promote the inclusion of disability in emergency, conflict and refugee programmes. The main objectives were to assess the extent of inclusion, the impact of networking and the role of resources in post-tsunami contexts.

The final report generated by this research can be found [here]