The We are Able! (WaA!) programme concluded this week with a dynamic four-day gathering in the Netherlands, bringing together partners, Organisations of Persons with Disabilities (OPDs), civil society actors and government representatives to mark five years of collective action. Day 1 opened with reflections on milestones, challenges and lessons from the final year, as country teams shared significant changes achieved in inclusive food security and disability rights. A powerful panel of OPD representatives and country coordinators highlighted unexpected outcomes, shifting partnerships and how WaA! strengthened their organisations.
Day 2 deepened the discussion with evidence from six programme countries, reaffirming a core truth: when persons with disabilities meaningfully participate in decision-making, food systems become more just, more accountable and more resilient. Partners examined pathways of change, validating how inclusive governance transforms communities.
The programme closed on December 4, aligning with the International Day of Persons with Disabilities (IDPD) on December 3 (also Day 3 of the event). The final day celebrated WaA!’s lasting legacy through an IDPD panel discussion, launch of the programme’s IDPD Advocacy Paper, and unveiling of the new episode of WaA! podcast. Stories of resilience and leadership across Burundi, DR Congo, Ethiopia, South Sudan, Sudan and Uganda served as a powerful reminder that the movement continues, and the impact will endure far beyond 2025.
Photo Credit: Bob van Dillen & Thirza den Hollander (ZOA)