Count Disability Nigeria Project

The CDN project aims to promote the use of Washington Group Questions (WGQ) by the Nigerian government in data collection to enhance the availability of data disaggregated by disability to aid inclusive planning, in line with CRPD Article 31 (Data) and Nigeria’s GDS 18 Commitment for Disaggregated Data.

It seeks to strengthen the capacity of persons with disabilities and duty bearers to understand, collect, analyze and report disability data using the Washington Group Questions. Not least, the project aims to advocate and engage with policymakers to commit to the collection, availability, and use of disability data for decision-making.

Owing to the lack of disaggregated data by disability in both private and public sectors that the project has been coined to have two objectives: (i) To strengthen the capacity of persons with disabilities and duty bearers to understand, collect, analyze and report disability data using the Washington Group Questions. (ii) To advocate and engage with policymakers to commit to the collection, availability, and use of disability data for decision-making.

The CDN project implemented by Disability Rights Advocacy Center (DRAC) in coalition with three other organizations of persons with disabilities – Disability Is Not A Barrier Initiative (DINABI), Joint National Association of Persons with Disabilities (JONAPWD) Anambra and Mimijean Foundation advocates for disability disaggregated data in Nigeria in order to enhance the inclusion of persons with disabilities in national development.

Some of the milestones achieved so far are: Development of a white paper that contains strategies for setting up of the National Disability Database and adoption of WGQ sets by Nigeria Government for the upcoming National Census and other national surveys; more government institutions and stakeholders are now aware of the need for the collection of disability disaggregated data; increased collaboration between government and CSOs for development of
tools for collection of disability disaggregated data within their institutions and organizations among others.

The Count Disability Nigeria project is funded by the Disability Rights Fund (DRF). The DRF, one of the top 15 human rights grantmakers by a number of human rights grants, and at the top in terms of a number of grants addressing disability rights, supports organizations of persons with disabilities (OPDs) around the world to build diverse movements, ensure inclusive development agenda, and achieve equal rights and opportunity for all.