European Disability Forum

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Ongoing Empowering OPDs for Inclusive Crisis Response and Disaster Risk Reduction

This project aims to strengthen and sustain EDFs advocacy for disability-inclusive international cooperation, humanitarian action, and crisis response in 2025–2026, funded by CBM International.

The project supports the full inclusion of persons with disabilities in EU-funded policies, strategies, and programmes. It focuses on improving how disability inclusion is addressed across the humanitarian-development-peace nexus, ensuring that short-term emergency responses are linked to long-term development, resilience, and rights-based systems.

By doing so, the project helps ensure that people with disabilities are not left behind during crises, and that their rights, requirements, and leadership are reflected in preparedness, response, and recovery efforts across Europe and beyond.

The support received by CBM International enables EDF to remain a strong and credible voice on disability inclusion in humanitarian action, disaster preparedness, and international cooperation. It also provides essential resources for EDF to respond flexibly to emerging crises and policy opportunities, through advocacy, coordination, and capacity-building activities aligned with real-time needs.

Activities include:

  • Disability-Inclusive EU External Action and Policy Engagement
  • Disability-Inclusive Preparedness and Response
  • Disability-Inclusive DRR
  • Donor Accountability and Inclusive Funding
  • Movement Support and Regional OPD Coordination

Funder: CBM International
Timeframe: November 2025 – October 2026 (12 months)
Budget: 125 000 euros

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Project news and outcomes

News

In November and December 2025, EDF strengthened its advocacy with EU institutions to advance disability-inclusive international cooperation and humanitarian action. EDF contributed to EU human rights dialogues with countries including the African Union and Brazil, engaged in the EU–African Union Civil Society and Youth Forum, and raised disability inclusion during the European Parliament’s Disability Rights Week, calling for a Disability Action Plan in EU external action.

EDF also focused on inclusive preparedness and crisis response. It led a regional diagnostic on disability-inclusive emergency preparedness in 38 countries, working with the World Bank and DG ECHO. This included reviewing hundreds of policy documents, collecting survey responses from public authorities and organisations of persons with disabilities, and hosting a consultative workshop with over 60 participants to identify barriers, good practices, and concrete recommendations. EDF also brought disability inclusion into EU debates on emergency systems, including discussions linked to Ukraine.

In parallel, EDF supported climate action, funding accountability, and movement coordination. EDF engaged in global climate advocacy at COP30, published a report assessing how EU development aid addresses disability inclusion, and supported organisations of persons with disabilities in Central and Eastern Europe and Ukraine to access EU policy spaces and funding opportunities. These actions helped ensure that disability rights remain central to crisis response, recovery, and long-term resilience.

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