About Us

About African Alliance for Women with Disabilities in Climate Action

Climate change is not just an environmental issue—it is a human rights issue. Across Africa, Women with Disabilities (WWDs) are facing the impacts of climate change in ways that are often invisible to mainstream responses. From inaccessible emergency services during floods and droughts to exclusion from policy spaces and decision-making platforms, their realities are rarely reflected in climate strategies.

In September 2024, the African Alliance for Women with Disabilities in Climate Action (AWAC) was launched to change this. AWAC is a growing, Africa-led platform committed to centering the voices, priorities, and leadership of Women with Disabilities in climate action across the continent.

AWAC is a space for connection, collaboration, and transformation. It brings together Women with Disabilities, disabled persons’ organizations, grassroots actors, policymakers, development agencies, climate change experts, researchers, and private sector allies. It enables shared learning, co-creation of solutions, and collective advocacy for a just and inclusive climate future.

AWAC believes that Women with Disabilities are not passive victims of climate change—they are knowledge holders, innovators, and powerful agents of change. The alliance works to ensure that they are at the forefront of designing and implementing solutions that respond to their lived experiences while challenging the systems that exclude them.

Thematic Areas



Inclusive Climate Governance

Advocating for the participation of WWDs in climate-related decision-making, policy formulation, and negotiation processes at local, national, and regional levels.



Accessible Climate Technologies & Information

Ensuring WWDs can access early warning systems, green technologies, and climate information through inclusive formats.



Resilient Livelihoods and Food Systems

Promoting sustainable livelihood options, inclusive agri-food systems, and access to climate-resilient income-generating opportunities.



Disability-Inclusive Disaster Risk Reduction

Developing preparedness and response systems that recognize and respond to the specific needs of WWDs in times of crisis



Climate Finance and Investment Equity

Supporting WWDs and their organizations to access resources and funding to implement their own climate actions and build resilience in their communities.

Membership

AWAC is made up of a rich and diverse membership drawn from across the African continent. It includes:

Women with Disabilities from urban and rural areas
Disabled Persons Organizations (DPOs) and self-advocacy groups
Climate justice organizations and environmental activists
Community-based organizations and local leaders
Researchers, academics, and media practitioners
Policy institutions and government agencies
Development partners and donors

Members of AWAC share a commitment to inclusion, accountability, and climate justice. The alliance thrives on shared learning, joint advocacy, and collective action toward disability-responsive climate solutions.

Become a Member

Joining AWAC means becoming part of a movement that is rewriting the climate narrative to be more inclusive, more just, and more empowering.

As a member, you will:

Participate in capacity-building sessions and knowledge exchanges
Engage in joint advocacy efforts at local, national, and continental levels
Receive regular updates on climate funding opportunities
Collaborate with like-minded individuals and institutions working on climate and disability inclusion
Help shape the agenda for disability-inclusive climate action in Africa

Membership is open to individuals and organizations that share the values and vision of AWAC. All are welcome.

AWAC’s Commitment to Action

AWAC is founded on a bold commitment to climate justice that is inclusive of Women with Disabilities. Our work is guided by the belief that disability inclusion is not an afterthought—it is essential to the success of climate solutions. We commit to the following actions:

When we create space for Women with Disabilities in climate leadership, we will strengthen inclusive governance and policy frameworks that are more responsive to diverse needs.
When we invest in the resilience and skills of Women with Disabilities, we will build stronger communities that are better equipped to adapt to the changing climate.
When we challenge and transform systems of exclusion, we will advance equity and dismantle barriers that have sidelined WWDs for too long.
When we make climate finance accessible to Women with Disabilities, we will unlock innovation and grassroots-led solutions that drive sustainable change.
When we listen to and learn from the lived experiences of Women with Disabilities, we will ensure that climate actions are grounded in reality and leave no one behind.

AWAC invites all stakeholders—governments, civil society, donors, academia, private sector actors, and community leaders—to walk with us. Together, we can transform the climate agenda into one that recognizes, respects, and uplifts the voices and leadership of Women with Disabilities across Africa.