An Evaluation of the Effectiveness of Disability- Inclusive Social Protection in Zambia

Abstract

Social protection policies have evolved to encompass a broader spectrum of the population, with a growing emphasis on inclusivity and accessibility for PWDs. Despite the presence of social protection policies in Zambia, there remains a lack of comprehensive understanding regarding their effectiveness in addressing the needs of PWDs. Key issues persist in terms of awareness, accessibility, implementation, and impact of these policies. As such the research objective was to evaluate the effectiveness of disability-inclusive social protection policies in Zambia. Specifically, the study sought to assess the awareness levels and accessibility of existing social protection programs among PWDs; examine the extent to which social protection policies address the unique needs and challenges faced by PWDs, and evaluate the impact of social protection policies on the economic empowerment and well-being of PWDs. The study employed the descriptive mixed-method research method as it aimed to describe and understand a phenomenon by combining qualitative and quantitative data collection and analysis methods. Data collection was done by the use of structured questionnaires and Focus Group Discussions. The study sample size selected through stratified random sampling was 80. The results of the study were analyzed through Microsoft excel. The key findings of the study found that awareness of such programs remains a significant challenge, with information dissemination heavily reliant on government officials and community events, while media, NGOs, and personal networks play a lesser role. While Zambia's social protection policies demonstrate promise in advancing the economic empowerment and well-being of PWDs, critical gaps in awareness, access, tailored support, and responsiveness hinder their full effectiveness. The study concluded that while Zambia's social protection policies have potential, their effectiveness is significantly hindered by low awareness, limited accessibility, and insufficient alignment with the diverse needs of PWDs. The recommendation therefore was that the Government needs to intensify awareness campaigns, utilizing diverse dissemination channels, and redesigning benefit packages to reflect the specific needs of PWDs. Keywords: Disability inclusion, Awareness, Accessibility, Economic empowerment