Effectiveness of interventions for improving livelihood outcomes for people with disabilities in low‐ and middle‐income countries: A systematic review

Abstract

Background: People with disabilities-more than a billion people worldwide-are frequently excluded from livelihood opportunities, including employment, social protection, and access to finance. Interventions are therefore needed to improve livelihood outcomes for people with disabilities, such as improving access to financial capital (e.g., social protection), human capital (e.g., health and education/training), social capital (e.g., support) or physical capital (e.g., accessible buildings). However, evidence is lacking as to which approaches should be promoted.Objectives: This review examines whether interventions for people with disabilities result in improved livelihood outcomes in low-and middle-income countries (LMIC): acquisition of skills for the workplace, access to the job market, employment in formal and informal sectors, income and earnings from work, access to financial services such as grants and loans, and/or access to social protection programmes.Search Methods: The search, up to date as of February 2020, comprised of:(1) an electronic search of databases (MEDLINE, Embase, PsychINFO, CAB Global Health, ERIC, PubMED and CINAHL),(2) screening of all included studies in the instances where reviews were identified,(3) screening reference lists and citations of identified recent papers and reviews, and (4) An electronic search of a range of organisational websites and databases (including ILO, R4D, UNESCO and WHO) using the keyword search for unpublished grey to ensure maximum coverage of unpublished literature, and reduce the potential for publication bias Selection Criteria: We included all studies which reported on impact evaluations of interventions to improve livelihood outcomes for people with disabilities in LMIC. Data Collection and Analysis:We used review management software EPPI Reviewer to screen the search results. A total of 10 studies were identified as meeting the

Impact of a disability-targeted micro-entrepreneurship programme in Kenya: Study protocol for a randomised control trial of the InBusiness programme

“…Data on the effectiveness of InBusiness can therefore build a case for continued investment in the programme -including potential adaptations and expansion to other context -and/or indicate areas through which to improve the programme. Further, this study on the impact of the InBusiness programme will be one of the few trials of a livelihoods intervention that targets people with disabilities and caregivers of people with disabilities [11]. Findings from this research therefore have the potential to inform the design and delivery of not only the InBusiness programme, but also other disability-inclusive livelihood programmes.…”

“…Improving the management and pro tability of microenterprises run by people with disabilities and caregivers of people with disabilities can help to increase their livelihoods and nancial security [10]. However, a recent systematic review found a lack of evidence on the impact of interventions designed to improve livelihoods for people with disabilities and their households, and available evidence was often of poor quality [11].…”

Impact of a disability-targeted microentrepreneurship programme in Kenya: study protocol for a randomised controlled trial of the InBusiness programme

“…Data on the effectiveness of InBusiness can therefore build a case for continued investment in the programme — including potential adaptations and expansion to other context — and/or indicate areas through which to improve the programme. Further, this study on the impact of the InBusiness programme will be one of the few trials of a livelihoods intervention that targets people with disabilities and caregivers of people with disabilities [ 12 ]. Findings from this research therefore have the potential to inform the design and delivery of not only the InBusiness programme but also other disability-inclusive livelihood programmes.…”

“…Improving the management and profitability of microenterprises run by people with disabilities and caregivers of people with disabilities may help to increase their livelihoods and financial security. However, a recent systematic review found a lack of evidence on the impact of interventions designed to improve livelihoods for people with disabilities and their households, and available evidence was often of poor quality [ 12 ].…”

Creating Family-Centred Support for Preschoolers with Developmental Disabilities in Low-Income Countries: A Rapid Review to Guide Practitioners

“…Group action is also needed to alleviate the poverty experienced by many families [14,48]. In countries that provide social welfare payments, groups can ensure that their members know how to access these benefits as they play an important role in alleviating family poverty [49]. More often though, groups may need to create their own income generating activities for their members.…”