2022 GDDI

What if global disabled women activists and international development organizations formed partnerships to create a more inclusive world?

We might see a very intentional strategy among international NGOs to ensure that the 500 million+ disabled women and girls throughout the world would finally be included as both participants and leaders in all areas of international development, from emergency response to food security to health to democracy and governance and beyond.

We saw the seeds of such partnerships take root at the 2022 Gender, Disability and Development Institute (GDDI). Set in a beautiful retreat center in Eugene, Oregon, GDDI convened 15 representatives of 12 international development NGOs, coming from across the United States and even as far as Bangladesh. But their purpose wasn’t only to network among one another, but rather to engage in direct dialogue with 23 disabled women from 22 countries who are delegates of the Women’s Institute on Leadership and Disability (WILD) exchange program. 

GDDI 2022 By the Numbers

The 10th GDDI brought together:

• 15 GDDI participants (representing 12 international development NGOs)

• 23 WILD Program delegates (representing 22 countries)

• 8 MIUSA staff and resource people

• 3 American Sign Language interpreters

• 3 Certified Deaf Interpreters

• 1 Captioner

• 100+ supporters, host families, board members, and other members of the local community during the Community Celebration portion of GDDI

Appreciation for Participating Organizations

We at MIUSA want to thank the following organizations for their participation in and valuable contributions to the 2022 Gender, Development and Disability Institute:

• MADRE

• Solidarity Center*

• Oxfam America*

• Project ECHO

• CORE Group*

• Anera

• ChildFund International*

• National Democratic Institute

• WorldOregon

• World Pulse*

• Global Communities*

• Islamic Relief USA

*Denotes a member of MIUSA's EDDI membership initiative.

2022 GDDI Schedule At-a-glance

Tuesday June 14, 2022

• Evening | Arrivals and hotel check-in

Wednesday June 15, 2022

Breakfast at hotel; Shuttle to retreat site

• Morning Program | Welcome and Opening Remarks; Plenary Presentation and Sessions

• Afternoon Program | Small Group Breakout Discussions; Group Debrief; Lunch Break and Energizing Activities

• Evening Program | Dinner and Evening Celebration with music, dancing and refreshments

Shuttle to hotel

Thursday June 16, 2022

Breakfast at hotel; Shuttle to retreat site

• Morning Program | Welcome; Plenary Presentation and Sessions

• Afternoon Program | Small Group Breakout Discussions; Group Debrief; Lunch Break and Energizing Activities; Action Planning and Evaluation; Closing Ceremony and Certificates

• Evening Program | Dinner and Community Event

Shuttle to hotel

Friday June 17, 2022

• Morning | Hotel check-out and departures