The 7^th Community Based Rehabilitation Community Based Inclusive Development Africa Conference 2024

Date: 9^th to 12^th September, 2024

Venue: Imperial Resort Beach Hotel Entebbe, Uganda

INTRODUCTION

The 7^th Community Based Rehabilitation (CBR) Community Based Inclusive Development (CBID) Africa Conference will be held from 9^th to 12^th September, 2024 at Imperial Resort Beach Hotel Entebbe, Uganda.

The conference is convened by the CBR Africa Network (CAN) and hosted by Government of Uganda led by the Ministry of Gender, Labour, and Social Development (MGLSD) in conjunction with the disability fraternity of Africa. It is organized with support from organizations of and for persons with disabilities and various development partners.

The CBR Africa Network (CAN) is a continental civil society organization founded in Uganda in 2001. This organization focuses on promoting collaboration and knowledge exchange related to disability, rehabilitation, and inclusive development within the CBR/CBID community across the continent.

Through the theme “Advancing Community Based Rehabilitation Community Based Inclusive Development for a Disability Inclusive Society”, this conference will stimulate discussions on transformative approaches for disability-inclusive communities. The conference is expected to draw a diverse array of CBR/CBID stakeholders from Africa and beyond including persons with disabilities, carers, policymakers, disability advocates, academia, researchers, and development partners. By offering a platform for diverse voices to exchange information and insights, the conference will confront intersectional challenges with innovative solutions, striving for a disability inclusive future. Through interactive sessions and workshops, it will nurture collaboration and facilitate learning to improve participation, and inclusion of persons with disabilities and other vulnerable groups in development processes.

ABOUT CBR/CBID

Community Based Rehabilitation (CBR) is a multi-sectoral community development strategy initiated by the World Health Organization in September 1978 to increase access to rehabilitation services in resource limited settings. It has since been embraced globally as an effective strategy for rehabilitation, poverty reduction, social inclusion and empowerment of persons with disabilities. CBR initiatives emphasize empowerment and engagement with local communities, organizations, and governments to ensure that persons with disabilities access, utilize and benefit from resources and services. CBR seeks to promote equity in various domains including health, education, livelihood, and social justice for persons with disabilities and their families. In recent years, some organisations that had been implementing CBR moved on to embrace Community Based Inclusive Development (CBID), a strategy that is deemed to be effective in promoting inclusive development for all vulnerable populations including persons with disabilities.

CBR AFRICA NETWORK

Established in 2001 in Uganda, CBR Africa Network (CAN) is a continental civil society organization facilitating information exchange and learning among CBR/CBID stakeholders across Africa. Uganda hosts the CAN secretariat working with Kyambogo University and other stakeholders to advance disability inclusion through CBR/CBID initiatives.

Since inception CAN has organized five successful conferences in different African countries, each attracting around 400 delegates from different parts of Africa and other parts of the world. All CBR Africa conferences were organized in collaboration with governments of host countries, organizations of and for persons with disabilities, and development partners among others.

Table 1: Previous CBR Africa Conferences

CAN plays a vital role in documenting and disseminating information on disability, rehabilitation and inclusive development in Africa. After each CBR Africa conference, CAN compiles and publishes the proceedings into a book corresponding to the conference theme. Hard copies of these books are distributed to stakeholders, while soft copies are made available on the CAN website (http://www.afri-can.org/) for open access to interested individuals. This helps to ensure that valuable insights, discussions, and innovations from these conferences are widely accessible, contributing to knowledge sharing and collaboration among stakeholders in the field of disability and rehabilitation across Africa.

THE 7^th CBR/CBID AFRICA CONFERENCE

The 7th CBR/CBID Africa Conference is set to take place in Uganda from September 9^th to 12^th 2024, symbolically returning to the birthplace of CAN. This conference marks 23 years of CBR networking, signifying a pivotal moment in advancing disability inclusion across Africa as the global community commemorates 46 years of CBR. Government of Uganda’s initiative to host this event reflects a commitment to fostering collaboration, experience sharing, and developing innovative strategies to promote CBR and CBID initiatives. The conference aims to inspire partnerships and drive positive change to promote rights and enhance the well-being of persons with disabilities in African societies

 The conference will provide a valuable opportunity for stakeholders to collaborate and exchange knowledge to advance disability inclusive agendas aligned with global initiatives such as the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and the Rehabilitation 2030 agenda.

The 7^th CBR/CBID Africa conference will specifically:

1. Facilitate dialogue on critical issues and ethical dilemmas in CBR/CBID practice to enhance well-being of persons with disabilities, their families, and communities.
2. Facilitate knowledge exchange and networking among researchers, practitioners, policymakers, and advocates working in the field of CBR/CBID.
3. Generate innovative solutions and actionable strategies for advancing CBR/CBID.
4. Inspire participants to become agents of change in their respective communities, promoting equity, dignity, and social justice for all individuals, regardless of ability.
5. Deliberate on strategies to foster collaboration between disability-specific programs and initiatives and mainstream actors at different levels.
6. Conclude by formulating key recommendations for actionable steps to advance and solidify the role of CBR/CBID as a significant contributor to global endeavors to improve wellbeing of persons with disabilities.

CONFERENCE THEME

“Advancing Community Based Rehabilitation Community Based Inclusive Development for a Disability Inclusive Society”

Proposed Sub-Themes

1. Community Based Inclusive Development

• Comprehensive approaches to inclusive communities
• Strategies for blending community-based interventions

2. Rehabilitation Service Provision and Assistive Technologies
   • Personalized rehabilitation and care
   • Innovative technologies for rehabilitation and accessibility
   • Appropriate technologies for personal care, inclusive education, employment, and social participation.
3. Community Support for Socioeconomic Development

• Participation and Accessibility for Persons with Disabilities
• Economic Inclusion and Resilience
• Community support and care in mainstream development.
• Good practices and initiatives for socioeconomic advancement

4. Early Childhood Development and Inclusive Education

• Effective practices for learners with disabilities.
• Significance of trained teachers and support staff in inclusive education.
• Community support for effective inclusive education.

5. Disability Intersectionality and CBR/CBID

• Disability and Aging
• Disability and HIV
• Disability and Gender
• Disability in Forced Migration
• Experiences and best practices in Gender Equity
• Leadership in disability inclusion
• Intersectional challenges of marginalized groups

6. Multi-stakeholder Collaboration

• Comprehensive rehabilitation service delivery
• In CBR/CBID for effective inclusion

7. Equity in Health

• Epidemiological trends, on Neglected Tropical Diseases, Non-communicable and related Disabling Conditions.
• Opportunities and good practices to addressing health inequalities

8. Emergencies and Disability-Inclusive Humanitarian Action:

• Strategies for disability inclusion in emergencies and disaster management.
• Lessons learned from Covid-19 and related innovative solutions

9. Global Commitments and National Developments:

• Rehabilitation 2030 updates and experiences
• Global disability summits and agreements.
• Lessons and developments in implementation on CBR Guidelines
• Progress on Sustainable Development Goals
• The UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities, and the African Protocol.

10. Justice, Choice, and Power

• Justice and power dynamics in pursuit of justice.
• Power and legal systems
• Ethical dilemmas in justice and choice
• Social justice movements and power structures
• Justice economic inequality on social equity.
• Racial justice and power
• Technology, justice, and power

CONFERENCE STYLE/ METHODOLOGY

All previous CBR Africa conferences have been face-to-face. However, given the challenges posed by the recent Covid-19 pandemic and the evolving landscape of technology, the upcoming 7th CBR/CBID Africa conference will adopt a hybrid approach. At least 300 delegates will be expected from different parts of the world while several others will attend the conference remotely. Accessibility provision will be ensured for all conference participants (whether attending physically or virtually).

CONFERENCE CONTENT AND PROGRAM

The 7^th CBR/CBID Africa Conference will be highly interactive to facilitate shared learning. Among the types of activities aligned are:

• Plenary sessions for the whole audience – including keynote speakers on specific topics in line with the theme.
• Parallel sessions on specific topics for smaller audiences organized by theme.
• Interactive participatory workshops for smaller audiences to engage actively on key topics and controversies.
• Interactive exchange where persons with disabilities and caregivers share experiences and insights on specific topics for collective learning and strategy development.
• Networking events to promote exchange of ideas between people with different roles/identities/from different places.
• Exhibition of innovations and new technology for rehabilitation and CBR/CBID interventions.

CONFERENCE ORGANIZERS

The Host: The 7^th CBR/CBID Africa Conference, will be hosted by the Government of Uganda under the Ministry of Gender Labor and Social Development (MGLSD).

Convener: CBR Africa Network (CAN) will assume leadership in organizing the 7^th CBR/CBID Africa conference. In the process, CAN will work with relevant individuals and organisations including Uganda government ministries and departments, organisations of persons with disabilities, the National Council for Persons with Disabilities, Kyambogo University, and organizations of and for persons with disabilities operating in the country and beyond as well as development partners in support of disability, CBR and inclusive development.

INVITED SPEAKERS AND OTHER PRESENTERS

The keynote and plenary speakers will be global leaders offering expertise on specific issues aligned with the conference themes. A call for abstracts has been launched on the CAN website, in coordination with the MGLSD, inviting submissions for presentations, workshops, and other events.

MANAGEMENT OF THE CONFERENCE

• A Continental Organizing Committee (COC) has been constituted by the CAN Executive Committee to lead communication, logistics and fundraising for the 7^th CBR Africa Conference.
• A National Organizing Committee (NOC) will be set up by the Ministry of Gender, Labour and Social Development (MGLSD) in collaboration with Ministry of Health to provide in-country guidance and support to ensure effective planning and implementation of the conference and making use of local knowledge and expertise.

PROPOSED WORK PLAN

PARTNERS AND SPONSORS

Partners and sponsors play integral roles in our endeavors, acting as co-conveners or sponsors based on their level of involvement and support for the event.

As sponsors, partners will receive special recognition, including prominent placement on publicity materials and media mentions, as well as acknowledgment during conferences.

This enhanced visibility not only highlights their support but also amplifies their impact on rehabilitation, CBR/CBID, and disability inclusion efforts.

REGISTRATION

7^th CBR/CBID AFRICA CONFERENCE OUTPUT

The conference will convene diverse stakeholders including persons with disabilities, carers, policymakers, advocates, researchers, and development partners. Through interactive sessions and workshops, participants will confront intersectional challenges with innovative solutions, fostering collaboration and learning to enhance, participation, and inclusion of persons with disabilities.

The main output of the 7^th CBR/CBID Africa Conference will be a digital publication of the conference proceedings including abstracts and summaries of the sessions and key related materials.  A CAN Book will also be written and published in different formats as a resource material from CAN stakeholders. These will be widely distributed to participants and organizations and will be available for download from the CAN website.

Conclusion

Uganda’s leadership in hosting the 7th CBR/CBID Africa Conference underscores its commitment to advancing disability rights and inclusive development. By collaborating with different organizations and stakeholders, CAN aims to mobilize resources and expertise to ensure the success of this transformative event. The conference will not only drive discussions on effective strategies/experiences but also strengthen networking efforts crucial for sustaining progress in disability inclusion across Africa and beyond. Through knowledge sharing and collective action, the conference will contribute to building equitable and compassionate societies that uphold the rights and dignity of persons with disabilities.

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