On our weekly radio programme #Services Without Hitches, we took a deep dive into the urgent conversation on enhancing access to Gender-Based Violence (GBV) referral pathways for women and girls with disabilities through strengthened and inclusive service delivery.
Two key actors joined us in the studio:
• Adetunde Ademefun, Head of Secretariat, JONAPWD
• Maude Olivier, Programme Manager, Canadian Fund for Local Initiatives (CFLI)
Together, they shared insights, lessons, and emerging wins in the fight to end GBV against women and girls with disabilities in Nigeria.
Why Disability-Inclusive GBV Response Matters
JONAPWD’s work over the years has consistently examined the intersection between disability and GBV, highlighting how existing systems often fail to recognize the diversity within the disability community.
“Assessments and evaluations reveal that GBV services over the years have not been responsive to the needs and specific diversity within the disability community,” — Adetunde Ademefun
This raises critical questions:
• Are existing GBV referral pathways truly safe spaces for women and girls with disabilities?
• Do service providers understand the specific needs, impairments, and intersecting vulnerabilities within the disability community?
From Assessment to Action
The initiative focuses on unpacking intersecting factors: GBV, disability, severity of impairment, and demographics, examining whether referral pathways are sensitive to these layers. Through technical sessions with GBV actors in Lagos and Abuja, JONAPWD has conducted targeted assessments of selected referral centres, developed context-specific recommendations, introduced disability inclusion matrices, frameworks, and tools, and supported centres to modify facilities, policies, and personnel practices to meet accessibility standards.
“These assessments now serve as a baseline for strengthening referral hubs and embedding disability inclusion into existing systems,” Adetunde noted.
The Resource Gap and a Strategic Response
One recurring challenge is the lack of financial and technical resources.
“It is not enough to point out the problem; what matters is providing the financial and technical resources needed.” — Adetunde Ademefun
With support from CFLI, the project is currently addressing the technical capacity gap while advocating for broader donor investment. One major win from this effort is the establishment of the Coalition of Disability-Inclusive GBV Responders in Nigeria, a step toward collective national ownership.
CFLI’s Commitment to Inclusion
Maude Olivier highlighted that CFLI is a flagship initiative of the Government of Canada, implemented through local missions and designed as a small-scale, high-impact programme. Nigeria currently hosts 10 active CFLI-supported projects.
CFLI’s work aligns with Canada’s longstanding commitment to human dignity, inclusion and diversity, and gender equality and GBV prevention.
“Working with JONAPWD as an umbrella organization allows us to apply an intersectional lens to GBV programming, particularly for women and girls with disabilities.” — Maude Olivier
She emphasized that strong partnerships, ecosystem understanding, and compelling problem identification are key to accessing CFLI’s competitive annual funding opportunities.
Data, Participation, and Sustainability
Both speakers underscored the importance of data-driven programming and meaningful participation:
• Women and girls with disabilities must be co-designers, not just beneficiaries
• Their voices, agency, and leadership are critical to moving beyond tokenism
• Collaboration among CSOs, donors, UN agencies, and government actors is essential to closing systemic gaps
Sustainability remains central; from proposal design to grant implementation. Embedding advocacy, participation, and inclusion from the outset ensures long-term impact. – Maude Olivier
From Project to National Agenda
CFLI’s support has helped bring JONAPWD’s vision of inclusive and accessible GBV referral systems into its formative stage: creating a first-ever platform that convened GBV actors and referral centres around disability inclusion and the emergence of the Coalition of Disability-Inclusive GBV Responders marks a significant shift from a JONAPWD-led initiative to a growing national response agenda.
We extend our gratitude to the Canadian High Commission for championing a Disability-Inclusive approach to GBV response and referral systems.
As this journey continues, we hope other donors will adopt and scale these models, ensuring that GBV funding fully integrates the inclusion of persons with disabilities across Nigeria’s referral pathways because access, dignity, and survivor choice must be non-negotiable.
