1. 4th CAN CBR Conference, Abuja, 28th October 2010
The Role of the Community in the implementation of the CBR Matrix: Experiences of Local Inclusive Development
On the first page of the new CBR GL when you open it, you find a « new » concept /expression: « towards community-based inclusive development »
With this new expression, the new GL prompt all CBR stakeholders to think about their practices and ensure that we are heading in this direction. This direction of course impacts and questions the role of the community in implementing a new, comprehensive CBR matrix. It is not only about community-based functional rehabilitation as in the first days of CBR but community-based inclusive development. This means that what we need to mobilise the community on is much broader and needs to be re-examined.
The purpose of this presentation is to give you an example of what Handicap International, through what we called « local inclusive development » (which is just slightly different words for « community-based inclusive development ») has worked with the community to address the major challenges that are to be faced if we want to engage in a truly inclusive CBR.
Priscille Geiser
4th CAN CBR Conference, Abuja, 28th October 2010
Break-Out Session

2. Evolutions of disability models…
CBR as an approach has evolved over the years with the shift of disability paradigm
From a medical perspective seeking to ‘repair the broken’ or ‘fix the impairment’ to a social model recognising the central responsibility of the environment, including the community, in creating barriers and exclusion
Recognising the responsibility of the community implies that we also recognise their role in changing this situation
CBR: not “community-located” or “based in” but “based on”, “driven by”, “initiated from”: the role of communities in implementing the CBR Matrix is central

3. …and related challenges
Joint Position Paper 2004, new CBR Guidelines and Matrix Prompt CBR actors to address 4 major challenges:
HUMAN RIGHTS AND PARTICIPATION : challenge to actively involve people with disabilities and realise their rights
MULTI-SECTOR APPROACH : challenge to ensure access to mainstream services and opportunities in all sectors (not only functional rehabilitation)
COMMUNITY MOBILISATION : challenge to mobilise the community to become welcoming, inclusive and to actively engage in the realisation of people with disabilities’ rights
COORDINATION: challenge of coordinating between the multiple actors involved
These changes of disability models have been reflected in the CBR Joint Position Paper (2004), in the new CBR GL and Matrix

4. New opportunities on the international scene
The UNCRPD
Article 1 - recognises the role of the community in creating barriers
1st Convention linking so strongly human rights and development
New obligations created by the UNCRPD towards States Parties, impacting on their internal policies as well as international cooperation
Participation of people with disabilities becomes a central requirement (articles 3, 4.3, 29, 32)
In the meantime, while CBR has continued to evolve, there has been significant changes on the international scene, which provide now new opportunities to rethink CBR and make it more inclusive
New obligations:
internal affairs of a State party to the CRPD
external action /international cooperation initiatives of State Parties: not a euro should be spent in development aid that contributes to creating new barriers for PwDs in countries of intervention
Development aid received by developing countries should also ensure that money spent, interventions happening in their country are inclusive and accessible to PwDs

5. New opportunities on the international scene
DECENTRALISATION
Growing trends of decentralisation reforms in developing countries
Local authorities in developing countries are devoted new responsibilities to decide on priorities of the local development agenda at community level
Increase of ‘decentralised cooperation’ initiatives
Need to address the lack of capacities of local authorities to take these new responsibilities -> their interventions unlikely to address the situation of groups that are traditionally excluded
Example of decentralised local authorities: municipality, department, province – Careful: distinguish between decentralisation (power devolution) and deconcentration (representative of the national government at the local level)
Example of responsibilities devoted to local authorities: road construction, primary education, social services, etc.
Example of decentralised cooperation: partnership between the Rhone-Alpes Region in France and Timbuctu region in Mali

6. Inclusive Local Development
Building on these opportunities to explore solutions to address these challenges from a different perspective:
Instead of designing a strategy focusing on people with disabilities, on which the community would need to be mobilised…
…look at the community strategy and try to improve it and get it adapted to people with disabilities’ priorities
Inclusive Local Development as a strategy to make community development inclusive of people with disabilities
Giving a new emphasis to participation of people with disabilities as citizens and active stakeholders of their community through influencing community decision-making (article 3, 4.3, 29)
Building on these opportunities, Handicap International has explored new solutions/ mechanisms to address the main challenges that CBR actors are confronted with in their attempts to make CBR evolve.

7. Inclusive Local Development
Trying to embed our interventions in the decentralised system, we looked at the community as « the smallest administrative area in which people live » (WHO Helsinki 2003)
Community = geographical/ political/ administrative meaning – in French: ‘approche territoriale’
Community = people – 3 major types of actors:
People with disabilities, their families and their representative organisations
Local authorities/ decision makers
Local development stakeholders in all sectors (public and private service providers, NGOs, professionals…)

8. Stakeholders and relationships in a community
Local Authorities (administrative and/or traditional)
COMMUNITY
corresponding to the smallest administrative division
We’ve seen the arrows between the boxes of the CBR matrix. Here also what is important is the arrows: how community stakeholders coordinate
People with disabilities, their families and representative organisations (DPOs)
Local development stakeholders
(public and private providers, professionals, and others from civil society)

9. 6 major project components
Strengthen the capacity and skills of Disabled People’s Organizations to increase their participation in development processes and local governance
Support communities to conduct a local participatory diagnosis/ assessment of the situation of people with disabilities
Facilitate consultations between people with disabilities and local authorities for the development of inclusive community policies and actions (community development action plans);
Provide financial support for the development of inclusive community development actions resulting from this consultation.
Create a cross-cutting network of local services and facilitate effective systems for referral and information.
Train local stakeholders on disability issues, supporting them to change and adapt their practices to meet the needs, interests and priorities and enforce the rights of people with disabilities.

10. Stakeholders and relationships in a community
Local Authorities (administrative and/or traditional)
Strengthening capacities to efficiently manage their community and address key issues of exclusion
Strengthening capacities to take part in community decision-making, to strategise advocacy
COMMUNITY
corresponding to the smallest administrative division
People with disabilities, their families and representative organisations (DPOs)
Local development stakeholders
(public and private providers, professionals, and others from civil society)
Strengthening capacities to welcome and include people with disabilities on an equal basis

11. Stakeholders and relationships in a community
Local Authorities (administrative and/or traditional)
Mechanisms for dialogue and consultation:
Joint analysis of the situation of PwDs (LPD)
Joint decision-making (inclusive CDAP)
Improved continuum of services through cross-cutting referral mechanisms
COMMUNITY
corresponding to the smallest administrative division
People with disabilities, their families and representative organisations (DPOs)
Local development stakeholders
(public and private providers, professionals, and others from civil society)

12. Local Participatory Diagnosis - Mali
Communities: 10 District Councils in Gourma Rharous
Steering committee including local elected decision makers and PwDs, deciding on the assessment methodology and priority objectives
Teams of surveyors: 2 person teams including 1 person with a disability
Analysis
Multi-stakeholder workshop presenting the results
Focus now on 3 examples of these tools to « work on the arrows » of the CBR Matrix, i.e. enhance coordination, partnership, synergy and dialogue to achieve inclusive community development.
1) Local Participatory Diagnosis

13. Local Participatory Diagnosis - Mali
Focus: situation of PwDs, education, health + the process
110 PwDs surveyed, 20 DPOs, 9 schools, 5 health centres
Example of key findings:
75% of PwDs surveyed think that in general PwDs are excluded
The 9 schools surveyed are not accessible physically
99% of PwDs estimate that their priority needs are not met
48% are members of a DPO, among which 60% have a role

14. Inclusive Community Development Action Plans- Mali
Local DPOs took part in consultations to elaborate the district council development action plan, together with local authorities, services providers and other development actors
Based on the results of the local participatory diagnosis, priorities identified to address the situation of PwDs were included in each of the 10 district councils action plans in Gourma Rharous
2nd tool and natural next step following the Local Participatory Diagnosis : using the information collected through the diagnosis, prioritise recommendations and get them included in the agenda of the community.
Results: new community infrastructures accessible, increased access to school for children with disabilities, increased employment opportunities, reduced stigma…

15. Improving continuum of services - Mozambique
The local participatory diagnosis focused on access of people with disabilities to services (Maputo, Matola)
-> directory of existing mainstream community services using pictogrammes to indicate accessibility of services
-> The diagnosis served to identify further training needs of mainstream service providers to design relevant training/ awareness-raising curriculum
-> directory particularly used by agents of community social services who play a major role in informing and referring PwDs towards appropriate services
3rd example of a tool to foster partnership and collaboration: improving access to the variety of services through creating a network of service providers
Directory of existing services and how to access them
Setting up disability resource and information centres
Training CBR workers as agents of change and linkages between people with disabilities and community opportunities

16. Towards community-based inclusive development…
Work on key mechanisms to foster coordination between community actors
This approach has been implemented in more than 15 countries: Mozambique, Morocco, Algeria, Palestine, Egypt, Mali, Togo, Burkina Faso, Senegal, Sierra Leone, Ethiopia, Madagascar, the Philippines, Indonesia, Nepal, Brasil…
Key successes include:
Helping more ‘traditional’ models of CBR to evolve (Nepal, Philippines…)
Increased sustainability
Community ownership
Participation of people with disabilities
Better continuum of services
CBR and the new Matrix are about partnerships, arrows, coordination, dialogue, synergies, optimising the use of existing resources
This is a key aspect to address on our way towards community-based inclusive development

17. Resource documents Coming soon:
Good practices on Inclusive Local Governance covering 7 countries of West Africa (Making it Work):
Practical Guide to Conduct a Local Participatory Diagnosis
Practical Guide on Inclusive Community Development Action Plans
Handicap International Policy Paper on Inclusive Local Development
Guidance Paper for an Inclusive Local Development Policy : done by IDDC under the leadership of HI and SHIA
Directory of services Maputo and Matola produced by Mozambique after their local participatory diagnosis
Result of the Local Participatory Diagnosis combined with an epidemiological survey

18. Thank you!