Our 2025 Global Disability Summit commitments - Light for the World International

Disability Rights

Ahead of the Global Disability Summit, Light for the World is sharing our commitments to disability rights.

On April 2-3, activists, experts and influential officials will gather in Berlin for the Global Disability Summit 2025, the world’s largest event dedicated to disability rights.

The Summit challenges governments worldwide to take stronger action on inclusion for the 1.3 billion people with disabilities — 1 in 6 of the global population.

Our commitments will be implemented for the next three to four years, until the next Summit.

Our commitments

Inclusive Economic Empowerment

We commit to ensuring that at least 500,000 young women and men with disabilities from seven countries in the Sub-Saharan Africa region can access dignified and fulfilling work. Our work is youth driven and we work in partnership with organisations of persons with disabilities (OPDs) and youth with disabilities. We provide disability inclusion advisory services to key economic actors and will scale up the use of the core life skills and employability training packages to support transition to work.

A woman and man stand in front of an audience of people. There are lots of big sheets of paper behind them covered in writing and drawings. They are looking at one another, mid-presentation. — We Can Work core life skills training takes place in Kenya. © Dennis Hombe/Light for the World

Inclusive Humanitarian Action

We commit to working with at least 25 OPD partners and other humanitarian actors in Burkina Faso, Ethiopia, Mozambique and South Sudan to provide advice on disability inclusion and direct support to persons with disabilities in emergencies and conflict settings. Our work and approach are in line with Inter-Agency Standing Committee (IASC) Guidelines on the Inclusion of Persons with Disabilities in Humanitarian Action as well as the IASC Policy on Gender Equality and the Empowerment of Women and Girls in Humanitarian Action.

A Disability Inclusion Advisor from Light for the World in Mozambique being interviewed by a local TV station. The DIF is a woman who uses a wheelchair. — A Disability Inclusion Advisor in Mozambique takes part in a Cyclone preparedness training, working with local communities to ensure people with disabilities are included in emergency responses. © Mango Sound/Light for the World.

Inclusive Education

We commit to working with at least one mainstream organisation active on education in focus countries to ensure an expansion of reach of children with disabilities. We use a comprehensive inclusive approach to education starting at the family and community level.

Eye Health and Inclusion

We commit to working in Burkina Faso, Ethiopia, Uganda and Mozambique towards universal access to inclusive, integrated and people-centred eye health. Our approach is to focus on those who need eye health services most, while strengthening integrated health care systems. We will work with OPDs to ensure and advocate for inclusive eye health services.

Image of optometrist Melakmu Yitayew, wearing a yellow Light for the World t-shirt, testing the eyes of pupil Senayet Bashura at Sikela Primary School in Arba Minch, Ethiopia. Melakmu works at Arba Minch Hospital Secondary Eye Care Unit, an implementing partner of the 1, 2, 3 I can see! programme, which focuses on child eye health. ©Lidya Alemayehu/Light for the World. — Optometrist Melakmu Yitayew tests the eyes of pupil Senayet Bashura at Sikela Primary School in Arba Minch, Ethiopia. Melakmu works at Arba Minch Hospital Secondary Eye Care Unit, an implementing partner of the 1, 2, 3 I can see! programme, which focuses on child eye health. ©Lidya Alemayehu/Light for the World.

Gender Equality and Disability Inclusion

We commit to applying an intersectional approach that integrates gender and disability perspectives across our programmes, advocacy, partnerships and leadership, and to working with women-led OPDs in our focus countries.

Meaningful Engagement of OPDs

We commit to increase the number of programme partnerships with OPDs and the budget share for these projects going towards OPDs.

Moses on his new tricycle surrounded by his classmates. Moses has his arm raised and is smiling. His classmates are also smiling. — Moses on his new tricycle surrounded by his classmates. After receiving it, he can attend school again. © Light for the World.

Get in touch

Marion Lieser

Chief Executive Officer

m.lieser@light-for-the-world.org

Katri Bertram

International Director of Impact & Advocacy

k.bertram@light-for-the-world.org

Elie Bagbila

Head of Rights & Advocacy

e.bagbila@light-for-the-world.org

If you are an international organisation interested in exploring collaboration with Light for the World, you can contact us here: partnerships@light-for-the-world.org.

If you are an organisation based in Burkina Faso, Ethiopia, Kenya, Mozambique, South Sudan, or Uganda, please contact the Light for the World Country Office nearest you. The contact details are on the Focus Countries page.