Deciding how to spend the day, leaving the house, managing your own money, taking part in community life, working, studying, resting, or simply doing something for yourself.

These are everyday activities that we often take for granted. Yet being able to decide what to do, who to be, and how to live depends not only on our aspirations, but also on the opportunities and support available to turn those aspirations into real choices. This is where public policy can help expand those possibilities—or, conversely, reinforce existing inequalities.

For many people with disabilities, a lack of appropriate support can limit those possibilities. For many women, taking on caregiving and support responsibilities is not a choice, even when caring for a loved one, and can mean less time to work, study, rest, or look after themselves. In both cases, expanding agency means expanding people’s real opportunities to make decisions about their own lives and pursue a life path of their choosing.

This idea connects with one of Amartya Sen’s most important contributions to human development: understanding development not simply in terms of the resources people have, but also their real freedoms and opportunities to lead lives they have reason to value. His capabilities approach places people’s agency at the center.

Looking at care through this lens changes the question. It is no longer just about who needs care and support and who provides it. We must also ask: What capabilities, choices, and life paths can we make possible by creating and expanding more inclusive care and support systems?

In Colombia, this question was at the heart of the Joint Programme on Unpaid Care, Disability and a Gender-Transformative Approach, implemented by UNDP, UNICEF, UNFPA, and UN Women in partnership with national and local institutions and organizations of persons with disabilities, with funding from the Global Disability Fund. Taking a human rights-based and intersectional approach, the programme addressed gender inequalities associated with care work and the barriers people with disabilities face in exercising their rights and living independently.

This integrated approach translated into complementary interventions led by the four agencies. As part of this joint effort, one initiative was an independent living pilot implemented by UNDP Colombia in Bogotá in partnership with organizations of persons with disabilities. The pilot combined efforts to strengthen independent living skills, support organizations, foster coordination with public institutions, develop tools to facilitate access to services and support, and strengthen and equip two Independent Living Centers.

What is an Independent Living Center?

The independent living model underpinning these centers is based on a transformative idea: all persons should be able to have control over their own life and decide what support they need and how they want to receive it. The centers provide spaces where people with disabilities can strengthen their skills, share knowledge, and develop tools to navigate everyday life with greater autonomy, while also connecting and engaging with their communities.

In the pilot implemented by UNDP Colombia, this meant working on practical skills such as managing daily activities and money, planning life goals, using public transportation, participating in community life, and generating income. Independent living workshops were held with 85 people with disabilities, and participating organizations were strengthened through the provision of equipment to create environments where these skills could be put into practice.