...Empowering 5,000 Activists, Advancing Disability-Inclusive Policies Across Nigeria, Nepal, Indonesia, and Beyond
The Disability Rights Fund (DRF) and Disability Advocacy Fund (DRAF) have released their 2024 Annual Report, showcasing a transformative year in disability rights advocacy and inclusion. Through $5.8 million in grants awarded to 121 organizations, the two funds supported 5,000 activists globally, enabling grassroots movements to push for systemic change and ensure the voices of persons with disabilities (PWDs) are heard.
In Nigeria, the report highlights key achievements that are reshaping the landscape for disability inclusion. The Network of Women with Disabilities established a climate action network to advocate for disability-inclusive climate policies and programs. Meanwhile, the Hope Alive for Possibilities Initiative successfully lobbied for the enactment of a disability law in Benue State, which led to the creation of a special fund by the Benue State Emergency Management Agency to address the effects of climate change on PWDs. Nigerian partners also advanced gender-based violence prevention services that are inclusive of persons with disabilities, demonstrating the intersection of climate, health, and gender justice advocacy.
Beyond Nigeria, DRF grantees made significant strides in countries including Nepal, Indonesia, Rwanda, Uganda, Malawi, Haiti, and Pacific Island Nations. In Nepal, Indigenous women and girls with disabilities, led by the National Indigenous Disabled Women Association Nepal, influenced the Kathmandu Declaration during the Asia-Pacific Ministerial Conference on the Beijing +30 Review, marking the first-ever consultation of women with disabilities in Nepal on this platform. In Rwanda, organizations strengthened inclusive health initiatives, such as improving decentralized skin cancer prevention programs for persons with albinism. In the Pacific Islands, movements are leading calls for inclusive climate action and humanitarian responses, highlighting the global scope of DRF-supported advocacy.
The report underscores DRF’s strategic pillars, which include:
1. Unleashing the power of disability movements in the Global South – supporting grassroots organizations to mobilize, organize, and create systemic shifts.
2. Driving change through peer and collective learning – facilitating regional gatherings in Nigeria, Malawi, Nepal, Uganda, and Indonesia to foster collaboration, knowledge-sharing, and intersectional approaches.
3. Opening spaces for advocacy and participation – creating platforms such as the Wilton Park retreat on disability rights, the D20 initiative at G20 in Brazil, and participation in COP29 to amplify PWD voices on global issues.
4. Strengthening DRF for sustainable, values-centric growth – updating policies, improving technology systems, and aligning staff around shared organizational values like trust-based philanthropy, inclusion, and intersectionality.
A key focus of the 2024 report is youth leadership. Young activists across the globe are championing inclusive policies and decision-making. In Indonesia, Alice Tandri, a young DeafBlind activist, advocated for inclusive care systems at the Asia-Pacific Care Forum in Thailand. In Malawi, Duster Lucius is expanding early childhood education for children with DeafBlindness, while Show Abilities Uganda is driving a movement for inclusive democracy and political participation. These initiatives demonstrate that youth with disabilities are leading transformative change, rather than waiting to be included.
DRF’s impact extends beyond activism and policy. Since 2008, grantee partners have:
Helped enact nearly 200 national laws, policies, and government programs.
Submitted over 100 human rights and development reports to the United Nations and other multilateral agencies.
Empowered thousands of activists through peer learning, technical support, and participatory grantmaking.
Donors and grantee partners alike emphasize the importance of DRF’s values-driven approach. Esther Kyoriza, CEO of the National Union of Disabled Persons of Uganda, noted:
"DRF’s continued partnership with us over the years is a source of inspiration, motivation, and pride. Your support strengthens national advocacy on disability inclusion and ensures our voices are part of global policy discussions."
Similarly, Christopher Nichols of the Schmidt Family Foundation said:
"We proudly support DRF’s strategic investment in persons with disabilities, advocating for equal rights and full participation in society. DRF strengthens the vitality of the global disability rights movement, and we stand with them in this mission."
Financially, DRF and DRAF awarded 134 grants totaling $5,890,200 USD in 2024. Africa received the largest share, with 63 grants totaling $2,756,600 USD, underscoring the continent’s central role in DRF-supported initiatives.
The report concludes with a reaffirmation of DRF’s mission: to shift power to grassroots movements, center disability justice, and foster intersectional, inclusive advocacy. As Lorraine Wapling, former interim executive director, emphasized:
"In a time of profound global uncertainty, disability rights movements are driving the solutions the world urgently needs. Together, with shared purpose, we will continue to advance disability-led futures for a just world."
With Nigeria at the forefront of these efforts, the 2024 DRF and DRAF Annual Report demonstrates how strategic funding, grassroots leadership, and youth empowerment can drive meaningful change for persons with disabilities across Africa and the world.