The phrase "Nothing about us without us" has long served as a guiding principle in development work, aiming to ensure that marginalized voices are at the centre of decision-making. Yet, despite the global commitment to the Sustainable Development Goals’ mantra of “leaving no one behind,” the inclusion of people with disabilities in development initiatives remains inconsistent, often limited to token gestures rather than meaningful engagement.

Yayasan Wahana Visi Indonesia (WV Indonesia), through its ‘Increase the Leverage of Inclusive Market across Indonesia (INCLUSION)’ project, is working to change this dynamic. This session will share insights from the project’s efforts to open up market systems to small-scale farmers with disabilities, showcasing an inclusive maize business model in Central Sulawesi as a case study.

The INCLUSION project operates across three provinces (Central Sulawesi, East Nusa Tenggara, and North Maluku) in Eastern Indonesia, aiming to break down the barriers that often exclude small-scale farmers, particularly those with disabilities, from participating fully in the market. In Rompo Village, located in Lore Tengah, near the Lore Lindu National Park, Poso District, Central Sulawesi Province, the inclusive maize business model has made significant strides in doing just that.

Rompo’s success story is built on collaboration. Through the INCLUSION project, WV Indonesia has partnered with Syngenta to provide farmers with disabilities in the village with high-quality maize seeds and training on Good Agricultural Practices (GAP). The result is the Pastiwa (Petani Istimewa – Special Farmers), a group of farmers with disabilities who have not only entered the maize market but have also earned recognition from the village government for their achievements. This recognition has led to funding for the group to purchase quality seeds for future planting seasons, as well as the allocation of accessible land for the group’s farming activities.

The impact of Pastiwa’s success has rippled out to neighbouring villages. Inspired by Rompo’s progress, another group of farmers with disabilities, Rasti (Saudara Istimewa – Special Relatives), has formed in a nearby village. This ripple effect highlights the potential of inclusive market systems to empower marginalized communities and create lasting change.

The journey, however, has not been without its challenges. Implementing this inclusive business model required navigating complex relationships between various stakeholders, including Syngenta, local health workers, village authorities, and the Nipotowe Disability Centre in Palu. In this session, panellists will reflect on the key lessons learned from this three-year collaboration and share insights into the challenges and opportunities of fostering inclusion in the agricultural sector. Participants will learn practical strategies for engaging people with disabilities in development interventions, particularly within agriculture, and explore the incentives for private sector partners to participate in inclusive market systems.

Ultimately, this session will demonstrate that while inclusive development often requires more effort and innovative approaches, it can lead to significant progress for all involved. By highlighting the successes of the INCLUSION project, this session will encourage development practitioners to rethink their approach to inclusion and explore new ways to engage marginalized communities in their work.