For the past ten years, Disabled Women in Africa (DIWA) has been advocating for the rights of girls and women with disabilities across the continent. From expanding its network to strengthening its advocacy, DIWA has slowly grown into a powerful voice for inclusion and gender equality.
We spoke with Ruth Mkutumula, Executive Director of DIWA, about the organization’s journey, the challenges along the way, and the critical role of partnerships, in particular with IDA, in shaping its growth and impact.
Ruth is the co-author of the regional report, “Powerful yet Overlooked: African women with disabilities and the on-going struggle for inclusion, 30 years after the Beijing”.Ruth will be speaking at the side event at the 69th Session of the Commission on the Status of Women (CSW69), organized by IDA and co-hosted by UN Women and Inclusive Futures, on March 17 in New York. Find more about the event here.
IDA: As a member of the African Disability Forum (ADF), you’ve been making remarkable progress. Back in 2022, ADF and IDA began working together on discussions regarding the regional priorities of women with disabilities in Africa. Can you share some insights on how that process impacted DIWA?
Ruth (DIWA): Absolutely. The strategy we were developing at that time was a women’s strategy, one of two key strategies. The most exciting part was that the strategy was created by women, for women in Africa. It was our vision, our priorities, and our roadmap for the next three years.
Even though it remained a working draft, the ideas and issues raised by women in those discussions influenced our broader strategic plan. We incorporated those insights into DIWA’s strategy, ensuring that women's voices remained central to our work.
IDA: What have been some of the biggest challenges along the way?
Ruth (DIWA): One of our biggest challenges was the lack of resources to convene women from different countries. Without financial and logistical support, it would have been difficult to engage across regions. Initially, DIWA had only about 12 members.
IDA has been a key partner in our journey. The workshops and capacity-building programs have strengthened our technical knowledge and advocacy strategies, allowing us to engage more effectively at national, regional, and global levels. Through IDA’s support, we have also been able to expand our membership base, connecting with women with disabilities from underrepresented groups including those in rural areas. These connections have enriched our movement and made our advocacy more representative and impactful.
Eventually, we grew significantly and now have over 33 members. That wasn’t even the primary goal of our meetings, but the opportunity to come together amplified our impact. IDA’s support helped us open doors for meaningful discussions and strategic planning that would not have been possible otherwise.
IDA: How has IDA’s support helped DIWA in its growth and advocacy?
Ruth (DIWA): I really appreciate IDA’s support, especially in helping us develop DIWA’s strategic plan. Our previous plan was set to expire in 2024, and we had begun working on a new one but lacked resources to take it forward. We kept pushing ahead, telling ourselves that whether we had funding or not, we had to keep moving forward.
Through discussions with IDA, we sought technical expertise to refine our ideas into a structured strategy. IDA provided us with a consultant, who helped us finalize DIWA’s strategic plan. This was a major milestone for us.
Beyond that, IDA also supported us with a small fund to advance advocacy on the commitments of the Global Disability Summit. We used those funds strategically, for example, in Malawi, we convened women with disabilities to engage with the CEDAW and CRPD Committees. At the time, Malawi was reviewing a disability bill in Parliament, and we used this opportunity to engage key stakeholders, including the Ministry of Justice and the judiciary, to ensure that women’s voices were included in the discussions. The treaty committees even used our engagement report to shape their recommendations for Malawi.
IDA: That’s inspiring. What are DIWA’s priorities moving forward, and how do you envision IDA’s continued support?
Ruth (DIWA): DIWA still faces challenges, particularly in terms of resources and institutional capacity. However, we remain committed to moving forward.
One of our key priorities is capacity building, particularly in UN and AU (African Union) advocacy. IDA has done an incredible job in supporting OPDs to engage with UN mechanisms, and we hope to see more opportunities for training and participation in those spaces.
Additionally, we are working on strengthening DIWA’s governance structure. For example, DIWA has never held a General Assembly. The COVID-19 pandemic delayed many of our plans, but we now recognize how critical it is to bring our members together.
Right now, we are reviewing DIWA’s constitution, and our committees are discussing the way forward. Whether or not we have full resources, we are determined to hold our first General Assembly. Women across Africa need to feel connected to DIWA and understand the role they can play in shaping our work at the national, regional and global levels.
We are building step by step, and with the right support, we know we can rise and make our voices heard.
