SDDC is a Swiss based network advocating for the rights and inclusion of persons with disabilities in Switzerland's international cooperation.
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On April 27th, the SDDC presented the results of the study “Climate inclusion through our lens” in Kathmandu, not only presenting the results of the report, but also showcasing photographs taken by women with disabilities that illustrate the impacts of floods, landslides, and droughts on their daily lives. The event brought together around 100 participants from government, development partners, civil society, and organizations of persons with disabilities to advance inclusive climate action in Nepal. Shanti Phunyal, a participant with an intellectual disability, shared her personal experiences and called on institutions and development actors to recognize and trust the leadership, priorities, and capacities of persons with disabilities. This was followed by a National Dialog on Disability-Inclusive Climate Justice.
The dialog was inaugurated by Matthias Meier, Chargé d’Affaires of the Embassy of Switzerland in Nepal, who highlighted the disproportionate impact of climate change on persons with disabilities and emphasized the need for inclusive, rights-based responses. CBM Nepal Country Director Rajan Bhattarai underscored the importance of the 2025 Photovoice study, which captures the lived experiences of women with disabilities and provides critical evidence to inform climate policies and financing.
Amplifying voices through photography and dialog
Study participants played leading roles throughout the event. They contributed to the design of the dialogue, moderated breakout sessions, participated actively in discussions, supported the drafting of a joint way forward document, and shared personal experiences that grounded policy conversations in real-life contexts. Youth climate advocate Muna Shakya reflected on her engagement in global climate forums, emphasizing that people with disabilities, especially young people, are not only among those most affected but also key leaders in driving climate action.
OPD representative Meena Paudel, youth climate activist Muna Shakya and study author Sagar Prasai (from left to right)
From dialog to action: strengthening inclusive climate policy
Discussions during the dialogue focused on climate impacts, barriers to accessing climate finance, existing policy gaps, and the urgent need for effective implementation at the local level. The event concluded with a shared commitment to strengthen collaboration and advance inclusive, evidence-based, and adequately resourced climate action that leaves no one behind.
Anirudra Nepal, Head of the Disaster Management Department at Kathmandu Metropolitan City, stressed the importance of strong and inclusive policies. He expressed confidence that the study’s findings would help inform government policies and budget allocations, ultimately benefiting persons with disabilities across all backgrounds. Other SDDC partners also shared their perspectives during the event. Nirmala Sharma, Country Director of FAIRMED, appreciated the collaborative efforts in making climate change discussions more proactive and continuous. Meanwhile, Virendra Thagunna, Country Director of Humanity and Inclusion (HI), emphasized the need to ensure that climate initiatives are practical, accessible, and meaningfully inclusive for persons with disabilities.
Muna Shakya (center) and Meena Paudel (with microphone) at COP30
Representing Nepali organisations of women with disabilities, Muna Shakya and Meena Paudel participated in the United Nations Climate Change Conference COP30 in November 2025. They presented the SDDC report regarding the effects of climate change on women with disabilities at a side event on inclusive climate solutions.
Muna Shakya (National Indigenous Disabled Women Association, NIDWAN) and Meena Paudel (Nepal Disabled Women Association, NDWA) focused on the most important findings of the study, reported on their experience and presented recommendations on what national governments, local authorities and civil society actors have to do to make climate policies inclusive. Furthermore, Meena and Muna exchanged views with members of organisations of persons with disabilities (OPDs) from around the world to build stronger alliances and drive global action for inclusive climate solutions.
Climate change deepens discrimination experienced by women with disabilities
Muna Shakya was herself a participant in the qualitative study and she stated the clearly negative impact that climate change has on her life. Focusing on the experience of indigenous youth with disabilities, she stated:
“We face (…) food, water scarcity, hunger, poverty in our daily lives due to the climate crisis.”
Meena Paudel is the chairperson and co-founder of NDWA. She had advised the SDDC in drafting the report based on the research findings. Furthermore, along with a number of other OPD representatives, she was instrumental in formulating the recommendations that conclude said report. She reflected on the impact that harnessing the strengths of persons with disabilities can have.
“Women with disabilities are not just victims of climate change – we are agents of transformation. Our experiences, creativity and leadership must shape Nepal’s climate future.”
Video testimonials and report show impact of climate change and women’s resilience
Watch the testimonials of the out more about the experience of women with disabilities in Nepal. Read the complete report entitled “Climate inclusion through our lens” to find out in detail how climate change affects women with disabilities in Nepal and the adaptive solutions they find to deal with it. Learn how OPDs propose to overcome intersectional discrimination, strengthen climate resilience, and promote meaningful participation and knowledge generation.
Key Messages
How can Switzerland ensure the rights of persons with disabilities in the Global South?
Langue des signes LSF
No guidelines, no priority. Switzerland needs guidelines to inform its work on the inclusion of persons with disabilities in its international cooperation. Current efforts on disability inclusion are small scale, ad-hoc and mostly segregating.
Nothing about us, without us! Switzerland must ensure the full and active participation of persons with disabilities throughout all processes affecting them, including in its international cooperation. Arrangements must be made to enable their participation.
What isn’t counted, doesn’t count. Switzerland has committed itself to be a leader on data collection, but it is not systematically collecting and disaggregating data on disability in its international programmes.
Leave no one behind in humanitarian crises. Persons with disabilities are disproportionately affected in humanitarian crises. Switzerland committed itself to making its humanitarian action inclusive of persons with disabilities, but it is not clear how it is living up to its commitment.
What isn’t budgeted for, doesn’t get done. Switzerland must sufficiently budget for the inclusion of persons with disabilities in its international cooperation and must commit itself not to finance programs and services that segregate persons with disabilities from the community.