Design for all : implications for bank operations (English)

Today, inclusive development is a critical agenda at the World Bank as well as in international development circles. Inclusive and sustainable globalization is a core vision of the World Bank to overcome poverty, and to create individual opportunity and... See More + Today, inclusive development is a critical agenda at the World Bank as well as in international development circles. Inclusive and sustainable globalization is a core vision of the World Bank to overcome poverty, and to create individual opportunity and hope. Universal design supports this agenda by removing physical barriers - one of the major barriers to social inclusion. The purpose of this paper is to inform World Bank task team leaders about the benefits of universal design and to recommend ways in which universal design can be integrated as a component in Bank projects. This paper presents examples of universal design as found in the various sectors including transport, urban development, water and sanitation, education, health, and information and communications technologies (ICT), and also in the post-conflict and natural disaster situations. Universal design concepts can be gradually implemented into project proposals as a way of making the project of use for all people. However, it is essential that the World Bank should take first steps to ensure that its projects are usable by all people including groups such as people with disabilities, elderly people, parents with children, and other groups not previously considered as an influence on design factors.  See Less -