About GDDI
A cornerstone of the Women’s Institute on Leadership and Disability (WILD), GDDI brings WILD delegates face-to-face with international development, humanitarian and human rights leaders. Held in a serene garden setting in Eugene’s countryside, the innovative two-day retreat goes far beyond rhetoric. It sparks real dialogue, real strategies, and real change.
GDDI 2025 broke new ground with a dynamic hybrid format, due to travel restrictions and federal funding cuts. The innovative approach allowed both in-person and virtual participation, with presenters graciously tuning in virtually from across the world, to deliver their words of encouragement, insight and vision.
Together, WILD delegates and GDDI participants explored how disabled women are driving change across economic empowerment, philanthropy, peace-building, health, and more – not only as beneficiaries, but as leaders and decision-makers.
Participants
This year, we were proud to host a powerful lineup of speakers, panelists, and participants from organizations such as the MacArthur Foundation, UN Women, United Nations, World Bank, Global Fund for Women, Oxfam US, WEEMA, and more. Many keynote speakers were WILD alumni—now trailblazing leaders in parliaments, multilateral institutions, and international NGOs.
Key Themes and Bold Strategies
One of the keynote messages was delivered by Dr. Cecilia A. Conrad, Founding CEO of Lever for Change, a nonprofit affiliate of the MacArthur Foundation that creates equitable access in the world of philanthropy. Dr. Conrad pointed to Lever for Change’s early collaboration with MIUSA, which has led to its ongoing commitment to ensuring that grant-seeking candidates are creating intentional plans for including people with disabilities.
“We do this work because we are committed to openness, transparency, equity, and inclusion. And we are committed to these core values, not only because there’s a philosophical argument in favor of it, but because we believe they are absolutely instrumental in making sure that the work that gets done is the best possible work, to make sure that we have enabled the most creative individuals and identified the most innovative ideas that we could need to solve the critical problems of our time.” – Dr. Cecilia A. Conrad, Founding CEO of Lever for Change
During a panel discussion on Philanthropy and Disabled Women Leaders, panelists from Global Fund for Women, Ford Foundation, and the MacArthur Foundation spoke with WILD delegates about how disabled women can engage with philanthropic funders to strengthen disabled women’s organizations and build fully inclusive social justice movements.
Meanwhile representatives of World Bank, Women for Women International, and BRAC discussed how their organizations engage women with disabilities in the economic empowerment programs from which disabled women have been historically excluded. These organizations shared their strategies for ensuring that microcredit, graduation and other programs working to end ultrapoverty are reaching women with disabilities.
Building Partnerships for Action
Following these and other intensive learning sessions, the in-person participants and WILD delegates continued to strengthen bonds through shared meals, adaptive yoga, and Bollywood dancing in a lush country garden setting.
WILD delegates reflected on their experiences at GDDI, and how they anticipate their work might change moving forward:
“One of the most impactful experiences [at WILD] was GDDI, where we learned about evidence-based projects and strategies to influence public policy from an intersectional perspective. I understood the importance of generating data, building my own narratives, and actively participating in global decision-making. This reinforced my conviction to continue promoting research, legislative proposals, and advocacy spaces in my country, especially from a feminist, inclusive, and human rights-based perspective. All of this will directly impact… the projects I promote with women with disabilities in vulnerable situations.” – WILD 2025 delegate from Mexico [translated]
“The GDDI provided me with concrete tools on how to strengthen sustainable support networks from countries in the Global South.” – WILD 2025 delegate from Peru [translated]
“The exposure to international organizations and donors [at GDDI] helped me to understand how they work, [which will allow] me to do stakeholder analysis in order to support my work. Furthermore, Don [Steinberg, Executive Director of Mobilizing Allies for Women, Peace and Security] inspired me to be more vocal and contribute more toward peacebuilding.” – WILD 2025 Delegate from Indonesia
“[During GDDI] I have learned a lot from BRAC and WEEMA, such that I plan to redesign my approach in economic empowerment.” – WILD 2025 Delegate from Malawi
“Being in that space and meeting women with disabilities who are leading research, policies, and programs from an intersectional and global perspective was deeply inspiring. Seeing myself reflected in them made me imagine myself leading similar processes in my country and in the region. It confirmed that systemic change is possible when women with disabilities are at the center of decision-making.” – WILD 2025 delegate from Mexico [translated]
For one GDDI participant’s perspective of the 2025 GDDI, read about the experience from our in-person keynote speaker Don Steinberg in his article, “Women, Disabilities, Peace and Security: Unlocking the Power of the WILD Women”
Toward Global Impact
WILD delegates cited GDDI as a major highlight of their time in Oregon, referencing the bonds of friendship and professional connections that they formed with the staff from international development NGOs. They anticipated that these affiliations with such high-impact organizations have the potential to change the lives of countless disabled women and girls around the world.
We can’t wait to see how the bold ideas and groundbreaking partnerships sparked at GDDI 2025 will grow in the months and years ahead.
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