Global Disability Summit 2025: KfW Champions Inclusive Development and Education Reforms

Global Disability Summit 2025: KfW Champions Inclusive Development and Education Reforms

(IN BRIEF) The Global Disability Summit 2025 in Berlin, held on April 2 and 3, united international leaders, NGOs, and private sector representatives to focus on the inclusion of people with disabilities. Co-organised by Germany, the Kingdom of Jordan, and the International Disability Alliance, the summit underscored the need for sustainable, equitable development and gave special emphasis to underrepresented voices from the global south. A landmark achievement was the signing of the Amman-Berlin Declaration by over 80 countries, which sets a new goal for national development programmes to incorporate 15% inclusion measures by 2028. In addition, a debt swap agreement in the education sector was announced to enhance inclusive education in Jordan. KfW, with its delegation led by Executive Board Member Christiane Laibach, also highlighted its ongoing commitment to integrating inclusive financing and promoting a more inclusive work environment. The event demonstrated significant progress in leveraging global partnerships to advance the rights and opportunities for people with disabilities.

(PRESS RELEASE) FRANKFURT, 4-Apr-2025 — /EuropaWire/ — The Global Disability Summit 2025, held in Berlin on April 2 and 3, served as a major international forum for discussing the inclusion of people with disabilities. The event brought together global, national, and regional stakeholders, NGOs, and private sector representatives to share ideas and develop solutions. A delegation from KfW, including Executive Board Member Christiane Laibach, was in attendance, underscoring the event’s significance for the financial sector.

Organised in partnership by Germany, the Kingdom of Jordan, and the International Disability Alliance, this third edition of the summit provided a valuable platform for people with disabilities to voice their concerns and shape inclusive policies. Special attention was given to participants from the global south, who represent about 80% of the world’s 1.3 billion people with disabilities yet are often underrepresented in international debates.

At the summit’s opening, King Abdullah II of Jordan and Federal Chancellor Olaf Scholz highlighted that inclusive practices are essential for sustainable and equitable development. A pivotal outcome was the signing of the Amman-Berlin Declaration by more than 80 countries. This declaration, which sets a target for 15% of national development programmes to promote inclusion by 2028 under the slogan “15% for the 15%”, reaffirms the global commitment to remove barriers and ensure equal societal participation. Acting Federal Minister for Economic Cooperation and Development Svenja Schulze signed the declaration on behalf of Germany.

In addition, Minister Schulze and Jordanian Minister of Education Azmy Mahmoud Mahafzah signed a declaration of intent for a debt swap in the education sector. The agreement, valued at EUR 46 million with EUR 5 million allocated specifically for inclusion measures, will support initiatives such as the conversion of schools towards inclusive education and the development of magnet schools where students with and without disabilities learn together. This project is expected to benefit nearly 15,000 pupils, including over 2,100 with disabilities.

The Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development (BMZ) also showcased key achievements in promoting inclusion within German development cooperation. The share of inclusive projects, measured by total volume, increased from 4% before 2024 to 11%, demonstrating the growing importance of inclusion as a cross-cutting issue for achieving the Sustainable Development Goals.

KfW played a prominent role at the summit as well. Executive Board Member Christiane Laibach visited the KfW stand and participated in a panel discussion on inclusive financing, stressing that while KfW Development Bank has expanded its inclusion portfolio, further integration of inclusion as a core consideration across sectors, country contexts, and financial instruments is needed. She emphasized that successful inclusion requires joint ownership with partner countries rather than a one-sided approach from Germany.

Within KfW, inclusion is not only influencing external projects but is also being integrated internally. Since 2022, an inclusion task team (TTI) at KfW has been actively networking with various stakeholders at the summit to promote the bank as an inclusive employer. TTI member Martin Schmid commented, “We are delighted to have given colleagues with disabilities a stronger voice and to showcase their valuable contributions. In collaboration with the World Bank, ILO, and GIZ/BMZ, we are working to make development cooperation more appealing and accessible to people with disabilities.”

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SOURCE: KfW Development Bank