DFID leads the world's efforts to push disability up the global development agenda.

The UK will lead the world's efforts to end extreme poverty by pushing disability up the global development agenda. The International Development Secretary, Priti Patel, recently announced its new focus on disability for 2017 on International Day for People with Disabilities.

The development community reacted with 'surprise and delight' at Priti Patel's promise that the UK 'will do the heavy lifting' to improve the lives of 800 million disabled people. The International Development department has made a strong commitment to disability rights in her role as secretary of state for international development. Firmly stating that UK aid will improve lives for disabled people in developing countries.

The International Development Secretary acknowledged that more than one billion people are living with disabilities globally - 80% of whom live in developing countries. Patel speaking on International Day for People with Disabilities said;

"I am determined to establish DFID as the global leader in this neglected and under prioritised area- people with disabilities must be at the heart of our work to build a more prosperous and secure future, which is in all of our interests."

This builds on the commitment put forward in the Bilateral Development Review 2016, for DFID to become a global leader on disability. DFID's focus areas on disability inclusion will include, upholding the United Nations Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities, to ensure people with disabilities systematically benefit from international aid and humanitarian assistance; ensuring people with disabilities access a quality education and productive employment; working with national governments and the private sector to ensure people with disabilities no longer face stigma and discrimination; pushing partners to collect crucial data to improve our understanding of disability in development, increase their internal expertise on disability; and design programmes that prioritise and deliver results for people with disabilities.

Patel wants the UK Department for International (DfID) to lead the world on this issue. She commented "Where we go, others will follow," she said adding that DfID will "do the heavy lifting." She wants the department to collect more data, gather evidence for effective programmes and involve disabled people more to achieve this.

 Patel said she wanted to make sure 'that disabilities are addressed both systematically and consistency through all our development objectives'. Education is another area in which DFID will focus building on existing projects. In Pakistan, DFID is helping children with mild to moderate disabilities attend mainstream schools. This echoes Patel's commitment to the sustainable development goal (SDG) promise to 'leave no one behind".

As well as more inclusive education, Patel voiced a commitment to giving more support to people in the refugee crisis affected by disability. Unicef estimates that for every child who dies in conflict three acquire a disability. This is an area in which DfID may need to lead the way on but the whole of the development community needs to be involved with.

Despite concern throughout the development sector at Patel's appointment after she said she plans to "overhaul aid based on "core Tory values" some NGO's are encouraged by her commitment to disability. In 2016 when she was employment minister, Patel pushed through a bill in the House of Lords that will affect disabled people in the UK by cutting and support allowance. For those of us who are sceptical about her words, we will wait in anticipation.