February News Wrap: leaving no one behind in humanitarian action

News Wrap
Disability Rights

February 2026 News Wrap — our work, successes and impact.

Leaving no one behind in humanitarian action

Inclusive humanitarian action experts have come together to discuss how to improve disability inclusion in emergencies.

Organised by Light for the World, together with Zero Project, Global Responsibility as part of International Partnerships Austria, panellists discussed gaps between policy and practice, how to remove barriers and prerequisites for meaningful participation.

Clodoaldo Castiano, Executive Director at FAMOD, also highlighted the role of data, innovation and collaboration in advancing inclusion. This includes the Survey for Inclusive Rapid Assessment (SIRA), an open-source, screen-reader accessible tool that lets aid workers rapidly gather the right data, so emergency responses can reach people who would otherwise be missed.

Michael Fembek, CEO at Zero Project, launched the Zero Project Crisis Response Report, which provides checklists and actions to make disaster response disability inclusive.

Five people stand in front of banners in a conference room, three men and two women. They are all wearing formal clothes and smiling. From left to right: Michael Fembek, CEO at Zero Project, Ioanna Tsigiridi, Innovation Manager at Elrha, Marion Lieser, CEO at Light for the World International, Clodoaldo Castiano, Executive Director at FAMOD and Ghislain Tihanibie Hien, IMPACT-BF Project Manager at Light for the World Copyright: Global Responsibility — From left to right: Michael Fembek, CEO at Zero Project, Ioanna Tsigiridi, Innovation Manager at Elrha, Marion Lieser, CEO at Light for the World International, Clodoaldo Castiano, Executive Director at FAMOD and Ghislain Tihanibie Hien, IMPACT-BF Project Manager at Light for the World © Global Responsibility

Sport for inclusion: training blind football coaches

Light for the World has delivered training on Disability Inclusion and Peacebuilding in Jonglei, South Sudan, alongside the adidas Foundation as part of the United by Sport programme.

Aimed at equipping community coaches with the knowledge and tools to promote inclusion and social cohesion in their communities, sessions covered inclusive coaching, understanding disability, managing conflict in sports settings and positioning coaches as peace mentors.

Monica, one of the participants, said: “I realised it is more than just football; it is about disability inclusion and peace building through football and other sports. I really appreciate the passion, and I am inspired to create positive change in my community.”

The workshop brought together 12 community coaches, internally displaced people, host communities and members of the Disability Inclusive Community Development initiative, as well as a representative from the State Ministry of Youth and Sports.

Coaches take part in an inclusion training for blind football. Four people sit round a table, writing together on a large piece of white paper. There is a projector screen behind them that reads: "Group Work. 1. how to manage conflict on the field. 2. how to promote peace in the community through sports". — Coaches take part in an inclusion training for blind football. © Simon Madol

Driving disability inclusion at Zero Project Conference

Our project IMPACT-Burkina Faso has won a prestigious Zero Project Award at the Zero Project Conference in Vienna, Austria, for work promoting inclusive humanitarian action in communities affected by crisis.

Tihanibie Ghislain Hien, IMPACT-BF Project Manager,said: “This award clearly shows that the meaningful inclusion of people with disabilities in humanitarian projects and programmes is possible. Light for the World is setting an example as part of International Partnerships Austria.”

Ambrose Murangira, Senior Disability Inclusion Expert at Light for the World, moderated the panel discussion “Youth with Disabilities as Changemakers”, with support from Mastercard Foundation as part of the We Can Work programme. Panellists illustrated how young experts with disabilities are influencing employment systems, policy and practice.

“We shared how young changemakers are influencing systems every day through the Disability Inclusion Facilitator model,” said Maryanne Emomeri, one of the panellists.

“We are supporting employers to build inclusive workplaces. We are holding governments accountable for disability rights. We are innovating so no one is left behind in emergencies.”

From left to right: moderator Ambrose Murangira, Senior Disability Inclusion Expert at Light for the World, with panellists Maryanne Emomeri, Innovator and Communication Specialist at United Disabled Persons of Kenya, Lydia Vlagsma, Policy Advisor at European Disability Forum, Olamide Mary Ewejobi, Disability Inclusion Facilitator at Joint National Association of Persons with Disabilities Nigeria. The four panellists sit at a large blue table, smiling. They have microphones in front of them, and signs that read "Zero Project". — From left to right: moderator Ambrose Murangira, Senior Disability Inclusion Expert at Light for the World, with panellists Maryanne Emomeri, Innovator and Communication Specialist at United Disabled Persons of Kenya, Lydia Vlagsma, Policy Advisor at European Disability Forum, Olamide Mary Ewejobi, Disability Inclusion Facilitator at Joint National Association of Persons with Disabilities Nigeria.

Expanding access to sexual and reproductive healthcare

In Burkina Faso, Light for the World is strengthening access to sexual and reproductive health services through a growing collaboration with Marie Stopes International.

During a training session, Marie Stopes staff learnt about practical disability inclusion and explored societal barriers.

Annick Bambara, Disability Inclusion Advisor at Light for the World Burkina Faso, said: “The emphasis was primarily on practical case studies, sharing experiences and concrete obstacles that people with disabilities may encounter in the sexual health services they provide.

“We took the opportunity to conduct an accessibility audit of one of their centres in Ouagadougou. This allowed participants to understand and realise that the sexual health services they offer are not accessible to everyone. They realised that some of their target population was being excluded or simply not coming to the clinics.

“This partnership will guide Marie Stopes’ efforts to make clinics and awareness-raising tools accessible to people with disabilities, ensuring they have access to sexual and reproductive health services.”