By TQM News
In a significant move aimed at strengthening disability inclusion within humanitarian interventions, the Network of Women with Disabilities (NWD) has initiated discussions with the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) Nigeria to explore strategic areas of collaboration that will improve the lives of refugees, internally displaced persons (IDPs), and persons with disabilities across Nigeria.
The high-level engagement took place on 18 June 2026 during a courtesy visit by the leadership of NWD to the UNHCR Nigeria Office in Abuja. The meeting underscored the growing recognition that disability inclusion must remain central to humanitarian response, protection, and sustainable development efforts.
Leading the NWD delegation was its Founder and Global President, Lois Auta, whose unwavering commitment to promoting the rights and empowerment of women and girls with disabilities has continued to shape inclusive policies and partnerships both nationally and internationally. She was accompanied by Kyennan Mizim, North Central Coordinator of the Network, and Deborah Gyaube, an active member of the organisation.
The UNHCR delegation was led by Bernadette Mutakale Muteshi, Deputy Representative, alongside Siyeofori Cecil Oba, Assistant Programme Officer, and Michael Ebule, Inter-Agency Coordination Associate.
The meeting provided an important platform for both organisations to exchange ideas on strengthening inclusive humanitarian programming and ensuring that the unique needs of persons with disabilities, particularly women and girls affected by displacement, are adequately addressed.
Discussions focused on promoting equal access to protection services, enhancing participation in humanitarian decision-making, improving accessibility to essential services, and fostering collaborative initiatives that leave no one behind.
The engagement also highlighted the disproportionate challenges faced by women and girls with disabilities during humanitarian emergencies. Many continue to experience barriers to healthcare, education, livelihood opportunities, information, and protection, making strategic partnerships essential for delivering inclusive and sustainable solutions.
Speaking during the engagement, NWD reaffirmed its commitment to working with humanitarian actors to ensure that disability inclusion is not treated as an afterthought but integrated into every stage of humanitarian planning and implementation. The organisation emphasized that meaningful inclusion requires active participation of persons with disabilities in designing, implementing, monitoring, and evaluating programmes that affect their lives.
For UNHCR, the meeting reflected its continued commitment to working with organisations of persons with disabilities to strengthen protection mechanisms and ensure that refugees and internally displaced persons living with disabilities enjoy equal access to humanitarian assistance and durable solutions.
Both organisations expressed optimism that the engagement would lay the foundation for stronger collaboration in promoting the rights, dignity, safety, and socio-economic inclusion of displaced persons with disabilities across Nigeria.
As humanitarian challenges continue to evolve, stakeholders believe that partnerships such as this are critical to building more inclusive and resilient communities where every individual, regardless of disability status or displacement, has the opportunity to live with dignity, participate fully, and realize their potential.
The courtesy visit concluded with a shared commitment to deepen collaboration and pursue innovative approaches that advance disability-inclusive humanitarian action, ensuring that no woman, girl, refugee, internally displaced person, or person with a disability is left behind.
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