The Advocacy for Women with Disabilities Initiative (AWWDI) recently conducted a capacity-building workshop in Abuja aimed at empowering Self Help Group (SHG) leaders with essential knowledge on climate change and early warning systems.
The workshop brought together 52 attendees, comprising 43 women with disabilities, 5 women without disabilities, and 4 men, in an effort to address the unique challenges that climate change poses for vulnerable communities—particularly women and girls with disabilities.
The workshop’s primary goal was to strengthen the capacity of women with disabilities in leadership roles within SHGs, equipping them with the tools to navigate climate-related challenges. Topics included the importance of early warning systems, climate mitigation strategies, and the need for inclusive climate policies that address the specific vulnerabilities faced by persons with disabilities (PWDs).
Mr. Kolawole Jayeoba, AWWDI’s Program Manager, emphasized the severe impact of climate change on vulnerable groups and underscored the need for accessible early warning systems.
He addressed key challenges such as limited accessibility, inadequate information dissemination, and language barriers that often prevent persons with disabilities from receiving critical climate information. Mr. Jayeoba also proposed ways to make climate data more accessible and encouraged inclusive policies that promote PWDs’ participation in climate decision-making.
Representing the Nigerian Meteorological Agency (NiMet), Ms. Labake Olatunji provided insights into the 2024 Crop Weather Calendar for the Federal Capital Territory (FCT). She explained how this calendar can assist farmers in aligning their activities with weather forecasts to reduce risks and improve yields in regions prone to climate fluctuations.
AWWDI called on government bodies and stakeholders to update existing climate policies to incorporate disability-inclusive approaches. They emphasized that climate information and early warning systems should be accessible to PWDs by using formats such as sign language, braille, and simplified language.