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Dear ,
Greetings from Beira, Mozambique.
I am happy to share that this edition of the newsletter starts and ends with highlights from my country:
Together with the Federation of Organisations of Persons with Disabilities (FAMOD) and the Design Innovation Group, we have launched a How-To-Guide on inclusive data
practices for planning of humanitarian programmes.
In February, Light for the World Mozambique, No Means No Worldwide and Girl Child Rights organised a training for facilitators using a manual on empowerment and
self-defence for young persons with disabilities.
Of course, I also recommend reading the middle of the newsletter, which points to helpful resources, publications, events, training and funding opportunities!
Do you have highlights and good practices to share from your country? Please get in touch with us through this form.
Kind regards,
Milton Chifuca
Programme Manager
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“How to Build an Inclusive Data Ecosystem During Emergencies”
serves as a guide for humanitarian actors interested in building an inclusive data ecosystem to improve access for people with disabilities and older people to humanitarian assistance. The tool introduces the Survey for Inclusive Rapid Assessment (SIRA) tool, designed to identify the barriers and enablers these groups encounter when seeking humanitarian assistance. It emphasises how inclusive data practices can drive equity in humanitarian programming.
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Disability Data Hub
The Disability Data Hub is an open data initiative of the World Bank Group with access to disability-disaggregated development data. The platform provides comparable analytics using multiple data sources, user tools for data analysis, and resources to advance knowledge on disability data.
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OPD engagement in inclusive micro-enterprise programmes |
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What does meaningful engagement with
Organisations of Persons with Disabilities (OPDs) look like and why is it important for inclusive business growth? The new insight brief explores how OPDs in Kenya are helping create inclusive business ecosystems for microentrepreneurs with disabilities. Drawing from the Inclusive Business Programme, the brief highlights three effective strategies: advocacy, capacity strengthening and regional collaboration. Learn how to build inclusive systems with persons with disabilities, not just for them: https://bit.ly/OPDInsightBrief
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Disability Inclusion Facilitators: young changemakers putting inclusion into action |
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Disability Inclusion Facilitators (DIFs) are young people with disabilities who are trained to drive disability inclusion in mainstream workplaces, institutions and development programmes. With over 100 DIFs now active in 11 countries, the
movement is gaining momentum.
Learn more about their work, inclusion tips and what’s next for the DIF model here.
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13 May – 17 July 2025: Inclusive Futures’ lunchtime learning series |
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Over the summer
months, Inclusive Futures together with the funder, UK aid, are hosting three lunchtime webinars to share practical learning from working with international NGOs, organisations of people with disabilities, and government partners to build inclusion into existing education plans and policies:
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19 May – 22 June 2025: Nominate your innovative solution for the Zero Project Awards 2026!
Every year, the Zero Project invites changemakers from around the world—regardless of sector, organisation size, or country—to nominate innovative solutions for the Zero Project Awards. The Zero Project Call for Nominations 2026 (#ZeroCall26) is focused on the topics of Accessibility, Information and Communication Technology (ICT), and Crisis Response.
Solutions are evaluated based on their innovation, impact, and scalability, all with the goal of advancing the implementation of the UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (CRPD).
The Zero Project Call for Nominations opens on Monday, May 19, 2025, and closes on Sunday, June 22, 2025. The Zero Project Conference will take place at the United Nations Office at Vienna, Austria from 18-20 February 2026.
3-5 June 2025: Inclusive Africa Conference
The Inclusive Africa Conference, hosted by inABLE, is the largest disability and digital inclusion event in Africa. This year’s theme is “Scaling Digital Accessibility through Innovation & Entrepreneurship”. It will take place in Nairobi, Kenya from 3-5 June 2025 and virtual participation will also be possible. Additionally, inABLE is organising watch parties in several countries, including
Ghana, Nigeria, South Sudan, Uganda, and Ethiopia. If you are interested in joining please get in touch with William Oluchina, Advocacy Expert at Light for the World.
Will you be at the conference? Feel free to link up with Light for the World.
The agenda and all other details can be accessed here.
16 – 26 June 2025: June Climate Meetings
The preparatory meetings to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) Conference of Parties will take place in Bonn, Germany: June Climate Meetings (SB 62). During this meeting a new Gender Action Plan for the UNFCCC will be elaborated for which the International Disability and Development Consortium (IDDC) with other actors has submitted recommendations to include intersectionality and disability inclusion. Additionally, a side event on gender-responsive disability-inclusive climate action is planned in collaboration with International Disability Alliance (IDA), European Disability Forum (EDF), IDDC, and CBM-UK for June 19, 10:30-11:45 (CET). IDDC has some extra in-person and online badges, which IDA will reach out to share with OPDs.
If you are engaged in the SB 62 or want to know more, please get in touch with Jennifer Pitter-López, Climate Expert at Light for the World.
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Scholarship: MSc in Disability Studies, Rights and Inclusion
The University of Leeds is offering five fully funded Commonwealth Distance Learning Masters Scholarships for the part-time MSc in Disability Studies, Rights and Inclusion, starting in September 2025. These scholarships, funded by the UK
Commonwealth Scholarship Council, cover all academic fees and include a £2225 equipment/support grant. Eligible applicants must be citizens or refugees from Commonwealth countries such as Ghana, India, Kenya, Mozambique, Nigeria, and Rwanda. Eligibility criteria are listed here. The application deadline is 20 May 2025 (16:00 GMT).
Would you like to make your organisation’s events more eco-friendly?
People in Need developed an interactive, scenario-based workshop that helps humanitarian and development workers organise training, meetings, conferences, and other events in a way that generates less waste, air pollution, and greenhouse gas emissions. On 15 May, from 10:00 to 12:00 CEST, the organisation will host an online training of trainers for aid workers interested in facilitating such a workshop for their colleagues. Participants will receive step-by-step guidance and practical tools that can be easily customised to their context. You can register
at this link.
Community of Practice webinar: Working with women with disabilities and female caregivers
Are you implementing Community Based Inclusive Development (CBID) projects? Would you like to learn from others around the world about their experiences? CBM is happy to invite you to the next CBID community of practice on Monday, 2 June at 16:00 CEST. The theme of the webinar will be working with women with disabilities and female caregivers. Partners from Guatemala and Togo will share their experiences. The webinar will offer live interpretation into English, French and Spanish. If you are interested, you can register through this form.
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Funding opportunities
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Funding for bold ideas for youth mental health and wellbeing
The Being initiative is seeking proposals for funding innovative ideas to improve youth mental health in 12 countries (Colombia, Ecuador, Ghana, India, Indonesia, Morocco, Pakistan, Romania, Senegal, Sierra Leone, Tanzania, and Vietnam). The focus is on prevention and promotion strategies targeting underserved young people aged 10-24 in urban and peri-urban settings. Funding ranges from CAD $250,000 for early-stage projects to CAD $1,500,000 for scaling tested approaches. Preference is given to youth-led organisations. The application deadline is 24 June 2025 (18:00 GMT).
Visit this website for more information and the detailed Request for Proposals.
Fondation Mérieux’s Small Grants Programme
The Mérieux Foundation supports projects that improve the prevention, diagnosis, and treatment of infectious diseases. The Foundation prioritises projects with strong local involvement: links with local authorities, local associations, and project participants, especially mothers and children. Selected projects will receive financial support of up to 5,000 EUR. The form for the second session of the year is accessible starting from 1 May 2025, see more details here.
Call for solutions for inclusive and sustainable cities
The Resilient and Inclusive Cities Hub hosted by the Global Disability Fund is launching a call for small scale innovation solutions for inclusive and sustainable cities. The call is open to international NGOs, national civil society organisations, OPDs and other actors with demonstrable experience in inclusive and resilient cities with focus on persons with
disabilities. Please find here more information. The call aims to strategically select about 5 proposals, each averaging USD 200K. Programmes are expected to run for up to 12 months. Deadline for submission is 1 June 2025, by email to globaldisabilityfundcalls@undp.org.
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Web highlights
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THE DEAF GUY by Isaac Muhumuza |
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Isaac, a Disability Inclusion
Associate at Light for the World Uganda, draws from his lived experience, to write about hearing impairment, and disability in his blog. He aims to foster greater understanding and inclusion of young people with disabilities in Uganda. More info: https://thedeafguyy.mystrikingly.com
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Contribute to the Global OPD map!
The researcher Anna Landre is supporting the creation of a global map and directory of Organisations of Persons with Disabilities (OPDs). Read Anna’s LinkedIn post to learn more and put your OPD on the map by adding your organisational profile here: https://tinyurl.com/mapopd (the survey is available in English, French and Spanish)
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Young African storytellers shine in creative We Can Work competition |
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Hundreds of young
Africans with disabilities have showcased their unique storytelling for a first-of-its-kind competition. The We Can Work Narrative Competition received hundreds of entries, from essays and art to films and photography, from storytellers aged 18-35 in Ethiopia, Kenya, Uganda, Rwanda, Senegal, Ghana, and Nigeria.
On International Worker’s Day Light for the World unveiled the 16 winning storytellers. You can see the stories and the full list of winners here.
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RINGO Gathering: Learn, Connect, Act
RINGO stands for “Re-imagine INGOs” and has been leading debates and pilot initiatives on how to reshape the development sector. They have organised a two-day learning event mid-February. Their last newsletter summarises the sessions and shares recordings and other resources.
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A safer and more inclusive world |
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In February, Light for the World Mozambique, No
Means No Worldwide and Girl Child Rights trained 28 facilitators (among them 14 women) on the Self-Defence Manual. These facilitators will train young people with disabilities in schools and communities, ensuring that more young people become strong and safe!
Want to know more?
Milton Chifuca (Programme Manager at Light for the World) posted a summary on LinkedIn and is also happy to share more insights via email.
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Your updates and feedback
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Please help us to improve and enrich this newsletter by completing this short form.
If you have resources and information to share for the next edition, please post them here.
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