Side Event at the 4th International Conference on Financing for Development (FfD4)
Why this discussion is timely and essential
Persons with disabilities make up over 16% of the global population, yet disability inclusion remains largely absent or an afterthought in development and financing frameworks. The Fourth International Conference on Financing for Development (FfD4) is a critical opportunity to correct this historical underinvestment and accelerate financing for disability inclusion.
Under Article 4.2 of the Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (CRPD), States are obligated to mobilize maximum available resources to fulfill the rights of persons with disabilities. Article 32 further requires inclusive development assistance through international cooperation, equitable resource allocation, and financial and technical collaboration that actively promote disability rights.
The Addis Ababa Action Agenda, adopted at the 2015 Financing for Development conference, laid a foundation to implement the 2030 Agenda. It explicitly committed to social protection, decent work, quality education, and accessible technology for persons with disabilities.
However, with just five years left to meet the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), persons with disabilities continue to be left behind. Of the 118 SDG indicators relevant to persons with disabilities, only five show progress aligned with 2030 targets, according to the 2024 Disability and Development Report.
The economic impact of not facilitating the inclusion of persons with disabilities is also significant. A study by the International Labour Organization estimates that excluding persons with disabilities from the labor force can cost economies up to 7% of GDP annually.
These issues were strongly echoed at the 2025 Global Disability Summit, where 74 governments and 17 regional and UN organizations endorsed the Amman-Berlin Declaration. A key commitment: the “15 for 15” target—allocating at least 15% of international development programs at country level to disability inclusion.
To accelerate inclusion, governments and partners must adopt innovative and equitable financing strategies. Disability-inclusive development is key to reducing inequality, achieving the SDGs, and unlocking sustainable economic growth through increased participation and productivity.
Disability inclusion must not be siloed. These discussions are critical within broader development financing forums like FfD4, where major stakeholders can shape future commitments and improve lives around the world
Objectives of the Event
This side event aims to bring together international stakeholders to explore concrete ways to sustain and scale up financing for disability inclusion. Anchored in the broader FfD4 agenda to reform development financing and address investment gaps, the event will:
- Highlight financing strategies aligned with CRPD implementation and the SDGs
- Build on momentum from the 2025 Global Disability Summit and the Amman-Berlin Declaration
- Identify critical gaps and solutions in monitoring and implementation—such as using the OECD-DAC policy marker on disability inclusion
- Emphasize the need for meaningful participation of persons with disabilities and their representative organizations in all development processes
Programme
Moderator: Ms. Natalia Guala, Independent Expert on the UN Committee on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities
Welcome and Opening Remarks
- Ms. Martina Metz, Director, Development Economics and Development Banks and Acting DG Multilateral Development Policy: Transformation, Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development, Germany (BMZ)
- High-level representative from the Government of Jordan (TBA)
Roundtable: Strategies and Case Studies for Financing Disability-Inclusive Development
- H.E. Lorena Larios, Secretary for the Ibero-American Cooperation, the Ibero-American General Secretariat – South-South Cooperation (SEGIB)
- Mr. Alain Noudéhou, Executive Coordinator of the UN Multi-Partner Trust Fund.
- Ms. Mercedes Valcárcel, General Director of the Advisory Council for the Impact Investment (SpainNAB).
- Mr. César Buenadicha, Chief Ecosystem Building and Acceleration AI at BID Lab (IADB).
Launch of the Joint IDA/GDF Sevilla Platform for Action Initiative on Inclusive Financing Monitoring
- Mr. José Viera, Executive Director, IDA
- Dr. Ola Abualghaib, Director, UN Global Disability Fund
Discussant interventions
- Mr. Javier Güemes Pedraza, Director of International Relations, ONCE Social Group
- Mr. Mark Barrell, Co-Chair Climate Action Task Group, International Disability and Development Consortium
Questions & Answers from the Floor
Closing Remarks
- H.E. Jesús Celada, Special Ambassador for the Rights of Persons with Disabilities, Ministry of Foreign Affairs, , European Union and Cooperation of the Kingdom of Spain.
Accessibility: International Sign Interpretation and CART will be provided.
Location: Side Event 6, FIBES Conference and Exhibition Centre, Seville, Spain
Date & Time: Tuesday, 1 July 2025, 12:30–2:00 PM
