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This study uses literature reviews and interviews to investigate social assistance for disabled people in developing countries. It examines attitudes towards social assistance within the disability movement, and reviews the characteristics of mainstream and targeted social assistance programmes in order to understand their current scope and how best they can reach and benefit disabled people.

The study finds that evidence on the impact of social assistance for disabled people is extremely limited, and that there are many questions about the most effective approach to design of social assistance for disabled people. More research is needed to enable effective design of social assistance programmes.

However, three key principles for effective social assistance are clear from the research:
1. There must be strong legal foundations to make social assistance a right and entitlement, underpinned by legislation rather than a charity handout or political gesture.
2. Disabled people must be involved in design, implementation and evaluation of social assistance schemes, to ensure programmes are effective and relevant. This can also improve programme governance.
3. Social assistance must be developed as part of a wider system to empower disabled people, hand in hand with the development of more inclusive services (e.g. education, health), support for employment, and anti-discrimination legislation. The poverty often associated with disability cannot be dealt with through social assistance alone.

This resource would be useful for anyone with an interest in poverty reduction, social protection or disability and development.

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