Equity and inclusion are important principles in policy development and implementation [1, 2]. Equity refers to ensuring the absence of systemic and structural disparities between individuals or groups whereas inclusion entails the extent to which individuals or groups feel a part of an organization or process [2–4]. The UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (CRPD) highlights the importance of equity and inclusion for participation of persons with disabilities [5] Inclusive laws and policies are very important in safeguarding equity and inclusion of persons with disabilities and vulnerable populations in society [3].
In most societies, persons with disabilities and other vulnerable populations face overt and covert barriers which hinder their participation in processes affecting their lives [6]. These barriers are sometimes systemic, structural, and context dependent. Despite the recommendations of the CRPD for State Parties to safeguard the rights of persons with disabilities to public services such as education, health, and employment, the protection and guarantee of rights of persons with disabilities is often still perceived as charity and goodwill.[7] Even in settings with a high index of social inclusion, it is not uncommon for persons with disabilities to be denied participation in the decision-making processes that affect their lives [6]. These experiences of social exclusion mean important stakeholders with relevant experiential knowledge do not contribute to development processes or policy formulation. Consequently, policies may not address the realities faced by these individuals on a day-to-day basis and may even serve to further marginalize this already marginalized group.
The Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) suggests that in order to achieve equitable and inclusive outcomes, policies ought to adopt equitable and inclusive processes.[1] This is very important in policy development and, implementation and evaluation. Studies suggest laws and policies often abound; however, what is often lacking is their actual implementation [7]. However, policy implementation is not independent of the formulation processes and mechanisms set in place in an inclusive manner to ensure its acceptability. Huss and MacLachlan argue the inclusion process must entail procedural and substantive inclusion wherein there is a deliberate action of government to include the interests of vulnerable and marginalized groups in policy processes [2]. Hence, inclusion is more than mere participation but involves continuous engagement and coproduction with stakeholders in the policy process [2].
In Malawi, the government is committed to promotion of an inclusive society and this prompted their development of the National Disability Mainstreaming Strategy and Implementation Plan (NDMS&IP) in 2018 to bridge the gap between policy and practice [8]. The NDMS&IP was perceived as integral to eliminating discrimination against persons with disabilities and increasing their access to basic social services [8]. However, despite the NDMS&IP and other national policies on disability, access to services and assistive products continues to elude persons with disabilities in Malawi [9–11]. Considering the good intention for developing the NDMS&IP, it is not clear how inclusive the process of its development was and the extent persons with disabilities contributed.
The aim of this study was to explore equity and inclusion in Malawi’s National Disability Mainstreaming Strategy and Implementation Plan using the EquIPP (Equity and Inclusion in Policy Processes) tool. This study is part of the larger Assistive Product List Implementation Creating Enablement of inclusive SDGs (APPLICABLE) project that seeks to develop a framework for creating an effective national Assistive Technology (AT) policy and specify a system capable of implementing that policy, in Malawi [12]. The results from this study will guide and provide information on how to integrate equity and inclusion in the proposed development of an AT policy and or strategy for Malawi.