The United Nations has introduced Minimum Standards and Guidance on Disability Inclusion Mainstreaming in United Nations Joint Programmes to help ensure that persons with disabilities are fully included in sustainable development initiatives implemented by UN country teams.
Developed by the Joint SDG Fund in collaboration with the Executive Office of the Secretary-General, the new standards provide practical guidance for integrating disability inclusion throughout the design, implementation, monitoring, and evaluation of UN joint programmes. The framework supports the implementation of the Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (CRPD) and aligns with the newly approved United Nations Disability Inclusion Strategy 2.0 (UNDIS 2.0).
The guidance emphasizes that disability inclusion should be systematically embedded across all areas of UN programming rather than addressed through standalone initiatives. By mainstreaming disability considerations, the United Nations aims to ensure that persons with disabilities benefit equally from sustainable development efforts and that no one is left behind in achieving the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).
Originally launched in 2019, the United Nations Disability Inclusion Strategy established a common framework for strengthening disability inclusion across the UN system. The updated UNDIS 2.0, approved in 2026, builds on earlier progress by introducing stronger requirements for disability inclusion in projects and programmes, particularly at the country level, where UN agencies work directly with governments and local partners.
The Joint SDG Fund, the UN’s flagship financing mechanism for accelerating progress toward the Sustainable Development Goals, has incorporated the principles of human rights and inclusive development throughout its funding model. According to the Fund’s 2022 report, its programmes helped expand access to social protection for more than four million persons with disabilities, while also promoting gender equality and increasing participation among young people and other marginalized communities.
The new minimum standards are expected to strengthen accountability, improve programme quality, and help UN country teams deliver more inclusive and equitable development outcomes for persons with disabilities worldwide.
