Gender-responsive and disability-inclusive education for all

On the 21st July 2021, Leonard Cheshire, Sightsavers, GPE, the World Bank’s IEI, GCE-US and the UN Girls’ Education Initiative (UNGEI) hosted a Global Education Summit side event, “Gender-responsive and disability-inclusive quality education for all”. The purpose of the event was to showcase examples of education models and finance mechanisms that are supporting girls with disabilities in particular to realise quality education. The speakers (see full list below) and presentations highlighted some of the barriers and opportunities to education for girls with disabilities, outlining critical next steps to ensure their inclusion in education planning. We also heard how gender and disability inclusion can be integrated into existing and new education financing mechanisms. The event closed with recommendations for key stakeholders to take forward at the Global Education Summit, which are available below. 

Event speakers (in order of appearance)

• Charlotte McClain-Nhlapo, Global Disability Advisor of the World Bank Group, World Bank, United States
• Sarah Musau, Leonard Cheshire Youth Advocate, Kenya
• Helen Grant, UK Prime Minister's Special Envoy on Girls' Education 
• Dr Elyas Abdi, Director General, State Department for Early Learning and Basic Education, Kenya
• Martin Okiyo, Inclusive Education Technical Advisor, Leonard Cheshire Kenya, Kenya
• Tiangay Gondoe, Programme Manager, Sightsavers 
• Gertrude Oforiwa Fefoame, Gender and Disability Rights Advocate, UNCRPD
• Shrutilata Singh, youth advocate, Commonwealth Children and Youth Disability Network (CCYDN)
• Daniela Gordon, young activist, Interamerican Institute of Disability and Inclusive Development (iiDi)
• Jorge U. Colin, Education Specialist at the Global Partnership for Education (GPE)
• Jennifer Rigg, Executive Director, GCE-US
• Elaine Green, Head of Influencing, Campaigns and Public Affairs, Leonard Cheshire
• Antara Ganguli, Head of the UNGEI Secretariat