‘Leave no one behind’: Towards a religion and disability-inclusive development in Africa

Abstract

The 2015 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) encapsulate the idea of ‘leaving no one behind’ in development. Religion plays a crucial role in these development efforts. The promise and call to leave no one behind brings hope to previously marginalised and discriminated people, particularly those living with visible disabilities. The question in this case is: Is the central promise to leave no one behind realistic for Africans with visible disabilities living on the African continent? Is the idea and narrative of addressing disability under Global South discourses helpful for those living on the African continent? Are African religions embraced in this narrative? Drawing on previous literature on religion, disability, and development, this article explores these three intersecting questions by addressing the unique contribution of religion in achieving the inclusion of people with disabilities in Africa’s development agenda. Such an undertaking is premised on the realisation that ‘religion in Africa’ is at the heart of the African ontological experience and thus cannot be ignored in development efforts.

Contribution: This article contributes to advocating for the inclusion of Africans with disabilities in sustainable development, emphasising the pivotal role of African religions, particularly Christianity, in addressing marginalisation. It enriches discourse on disability, religion, and development in Africa by critically examining how Global South narratives align with indigenous African contexts and priorities.