April 2026
IDE Signs MOU with the World Federation of the Deaf
IDE and WFD have formalized their partnership through a Memorandum of Understanding, establishing joint advocacy, an Emergency Fund, and coordination with 137 national deaf associations worldwide.
International Deaf Emergency and the World Federation of the Deaf have signed a Memorandum of Understanding that formalizes and deepens a partnership years in the making.
The MOU establishes five pillars of cooperation:
Joint advocacy at international and national levels, including at the United Nations, UNDRR Sendai Framework processes, and regional humanitarian coordination bodies.
Technical assistance — IDE will provide DRR expertise and operational experience to national deaf associations that WFD coordinates, helping them build capacity within their own emergency management systems.
Capacity-building for national deaf associations across WFD's 137-member network. Training on disaster risk reduction, early warning system design, and inclusion within national preparedness plans.
Emergency Fund with 48-hour rapid approval — a jointly managed fund that can be activated within 48 hours of a disaster affecting a deaf community, enabling immediate financial support without bureaucratic delay.
Coordination during disasters and long-term resilience efforts, ensuring that both organizations act in concert rather than in parallel when crises strike.
This partnership gives IDE direct reach into every country where WFD has a national association — which is nearly every country in the world. For the deaf communities we serve, this means faster support, deeper local knowledge, and a stronger voice in global policy.