Charlotte McClain-Nhlapo: Inclusion is everyone's business

n the Greiner Talks interview, Charlotte McClain-Nhlapo, Global Disability Advisor at the World Bank, talks about how she has always followed her passion in her career and what we can all do for people with disabilities. She also shares her moving story and gives an insight into what drives her as a person.

The World Bank is a multinational development bank based in the US capital Washington, DC. It is here that McClain-Nhlapo is responsible for various projects in the field of inclusion. Her task is to promote the inclusion of people with disabilities in the World Bank Group.  

She was born in South Africa during the apartheid era and lived in various countries as a child. Her parents’ marriage was forbidden in South Africa because fer father is a white US-American and her mother a black South-African. Even as a child, it was clear to Charlotte McClain-Nhlapo that she wanted to do her bit to make the world a better place in the future. A serious car accident as a young adult led to her living her life in a wheelchair, which only intensified her quest for justice.

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In the interview, McClain-Nhlapo emphasizes the importance of viewing disability as a spectrum of visible and invisible forms. Globally, 15 to 18 % of the world’s population lives with disabilities – a conservative estimate due to underreporting and stigmatization. Due to natural disasters and conflicts, this number will continue to increase in the future. She also emphasizes that disabilities and poverty go hand in hand.

But what can people without disabilities do to help? Even though a lot has happened in recent years, we still have a long way to go. It is important to recognize the following: Inclusion of people with disabilities and diversity in general is something that concerns us all. According to Charlotte McClain-Nhlapo, being an ally, showing empathy and respect and not making assumptions are important steps that we should all take. Her final appeal is: “Leave no one behind.”

Greiner Talks is our podcast focusing on sustainability and transformation. Alexander Berth regularly talks to experts from across the world about the prospects and opportunities offered by a sustainable economy and society.