Closing the gaps: Building inclusive humanitarian response for people with disabilities and older age with innovation
We invite you to join our online session at the UN OCHA Humanitarian Networks and Partnerships Weeks (HNPW) 2025. This unique forum brings together actors and experts from across the humanitarian sector to collaborate on the challenges and solutions that shape humanitarian response and impact lives globally.
Organised by our Humanitarian Innovation Fund (HIF), this webinar session will focus on findings from our latest gap analysis, Identifying Opportunities for Innovation in Disability and Older Age Inclusion. This report, based on extensive studies across Bangladesh, Ethiopia, Kenya, and the Philippines, identifies systemic challenges that hinder inclusion in humanitarian crises and highlights key opportunities for transformative innovation.
Participants will
- Gain insights into the critical gaps in disability and older-age inclusion in humanitarian response.
- Engage in meaningful dialogue with humanitarian practitioners, organisations of persons with disabilities (OPDs), older people’s associations (OPAs) and key stakeholders.
- Explore innovative solutions and best practices to foster greater inclusion in crisis settings.
- Contribute to collective action and advocacy for more inclusive and equitable humanitarian approaches.
What to expect
- Panel discussion: Experts and practitioners will share perspectives on systemic challenges and opportunities for inclusive humanitarian response.
- Interactive discussions: Participants will explore report findings, share experiences, and identify barriers to inclusion.
- Peer learning circles: An opportunity to exchange successful initiatives, challenges, and best practices among humanitarian stakeholders.
Speakers
- Dr Lara Bezzina, Lead researcher.
- Melissa Miller, Co-Lead researcher.
- Mehiret Habte, Country research lead – Ethiopia.
- Ninoy Balgos, Country research lead – The Philippines.
- Peninnah Vulimu, Country research lead – Kenya.
- Shah Jalal, Country research lead – Bangladesh.
