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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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.
A workshop held in Kathmandu marks the first of two planned under the follow-up to the initial Photovoice study, which aims to identify and amplify the voices of women with disabilities in the climate discourse. The initiative will culminate in a study report and a compelling photo story of ten women with disabilities, showcasing their relationship with climate change. The final findings and photo stories will be launched in 2025, symbolizing a commitment to inclusive advocacy and action.
A transformative two-day training on November 20-21, 2024, brought together 34 participants in Kathmandu, including women with disabilities, representatives from Organizations of Persons with Disabilities (OPDs), and support persons, to amplify their voices in climate change advocacy through Photovoice. This innovative participatory research method empowers individuals to document lived experiences and influence policies using visual storytelling.
“This training has empowered us not just to tell our stories, but to demand change.”
The workshop, spearheaded by the Swiss Disability and Development Consortium (SDDC)—comprising CBM, Fairmed, HI, and IDA—and facilitated by the Nepali research company Diverse Patterns, builds on the foundation of an earlier Photovoice study. Its primary aim is to enhance participants’ understanding of disability rights, the intersection of disability and climate change, and the technical skills required for impactful photography.
Day One: Bridging Disability Rights and Climate Justice
The opening day centered on the nexus of disability and climate change. Pascal, Advocacy Project Manager from CBM Switzerland, inaugurated the workshop, underscoring the critical need for inclusive climate adaptation strategies. Esteemed disability rights activist Sagar Prasai and Tika Dahal, President of the Nepal Disabled Women Association, led discussions on the social model of disability, accessibility barriers, and the compounded challenges faced by women with disabilities.
Climate science was demystified by facilitator Leena Bajraachrya, while gender and environment activist Pabita Shahi highlighted the tangible impacts of climate change on local communities and the urgency for inclusive adaptation practices. These discussions laid a strong foundation, equipping participants with the knowledge to connect disability advocacy with climate justice and climate action.
Day Two: Mastering Storytelling Through Photography
The second day brought a practical approach, focusing on photography as a tool for advocacy. Kishor Sharma, a seasoned photography expert, delivered hands-on training in composition, lighting, and ethical storytelling. Participants were guided by Dr. Chandra to link their images to research questions, capturing the realities of climate change through their unique perspectives.
“Photography is a powerful medium. It allows us to communicate experiences that words alone cannot capture,”
said Kishor Sharma during the session. Participants practiced documenting stories that resonate deeply, ensuring their work could influence policies and promote inclusive climate action.
Participants left the workshop with a determination to leverage their skills in documenting the impacts of climate change in their communities in their photographs.
Key Messages
How can Switzerland ensure the rights of persons with disabilities in the Global South?
Linguaggio dei segni LIS
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.