Situational analysis
Social protection entails all public and private interventions that address vulnerabilities associated with being or becoming poor. Social protection is a public investment in human capitals that facilitate risk taking endeavours and also enables the poor to prevent, cope with and mitigate risks. These intervention include provision of social assistance to the chronically poor, care for elderly, orphans and other vulnerable children, special needs education and training, community based rehabilitation services for PWDs. The need for social protection is motivated by two factors namely; poverty and vulnerability.

This describes the level of income or consumption below a normal human dignity.

Vulnerability refers to the risk of falling into poverty and perpetually living in a condition of impoverishment. Other people are disadvantaged by demographic characteristics like gender, disability, household composition, age, ethnicity and loss of bread winner which determines their control over productive assets access to basic services and livelihoods.
Lira District level of Vulnerability is still high as illustrated in the table below;

Disability and Elderly sub-sector is mandated with planning and implementing activities aimed at improving the welfare of persons with disabilities (PWDs) and the elderly in the district.

The section has one staff member at district level and seven other staff members attached to a rural vocation rehabilitation centre at Ogur.

Lira District has got many cases of persons with disabilities scattered in various sub-counties, parishes and villages that are unable to access essential social services. These people are faced with absolute poverty and negative attitude towards them from the communities.

Policy issues
In its effort to provide rehabilitation services to persons with disabilities and elderly, Lira District Local Government in line with the Ministry of Gender, Labour and Social Development develops the policy issues as follows:
– It promotes the provision of community based services for the rehabilitation, equalization of opportunities, full participation and social integration of persons with disabilities and elderly within the communities.
– Promote Community Based Rehabilitation (CBR) approaches and the provision of disability friendly services to the Persons With Disabilities (PWD) and the elderly
– Lobby and advocate for PWD and elderly.

POCC Analysis
Potential
– The sector has well trained staff at district level who can guide CDA and ACDO at sub-county.
– The sector has a link with the community through community based rehabilitation volunteer.
– There is a political will to help PWDs.
Challenges
– Lack of adequate funding, even the little resources available is not accessed throughout the year.
– Over dependency on local revenue which is never realised for funding sub-sector activities makes it difficult to implement plans.
– Poor means of transport (no vehicles or motorcycles).
– Low morale due to poor incentives and lack of promotion for staff.
– The sub-sector is a non PEAP area with no access to proper funding.
– Lack of equipment e.g., computer, etc.
– The social development sub-sector strategic investment plan tries to address the flight of the sub-sector.
– Some NGOs are interested in the activities of the sub-sector.

Opportunities
– Many CSOs are interested in assisting the elderly and disabled
– The communities understand the importance of integrating disabled people in the community
– The government policy towards PWD and elderly is good and conducive, e.g. establishment of disability council
– There is a political will towards rehabilitation of persons with disabilities and elderly.
– Persons with disabilities (PWDs) are organised into groups under their umbrella organisation NUDIPU which makes it easy to mobilise than provide rehabilitation services.

Constrains
– Continued insecurity in the district.
– Negative attitudes at district, community and household level towards PWD. This is shown in minimum resource allocation to the sub-sector.