Our Climate and Environment Officer, Gerji Geoffrey Merji, represented us earlier this month at the Africa Climate Summit 2 (ACS2) in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia.
ACS2 placed a strong emphasis on climate resilience, unlocking climate finance, empowering young leaders, and driving local innovations for a fair and just transition across Africa, positioning Africans not as victims of the climate crisis, but as solution architects shaping a sustainable future.
For us at Debbie Kauna Foundation, the summit was a vital opportunity to highlight the urgency of climate adaptation rooted in inclusivity and justice, especially for women and girls with disabilities, who remain among the most overlooked groups in climate decision making.
Throughout the three days of discussions, Gerji actively participated in side events, asking critical questions and engaging stakeholders on disability inclusion. He observed with concern the limited representation of persons with disabilities and used every opportunity to bring their perspectives forward.
in doing so, he amplified our advocacy for grassroots solutions that prioritize women and girls with disabilities, ensuring their voices are not left out of climate action in Nigeria and across Africa. He also spotlighted our ongoing programmes on health, peace and security, gender based violence prevention, and climate adaptation, all designed to empower women and girls with disabilities to shape a greener, healthier, and more inclusive future for Africa.