1. Public-Private Partnership; Using CBR to Achieve DID
Jacques Chirac Awa, Ezekiel Benuh, Kenchi Joseph, Asheri Ngah
2nd CBR World Congress
Berjaya Times Square Hotel, Kuala Lumpur
September 27th – 29th 2016, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia

2. Cameroon: Context at a glance
Located in central Africa with estimated 20,000,000 inhabitants (Nat.Stat, 2013).
Disability prevalence of 5.4% (DHS IV, 2011)
Signed the CRPD and enacted N°2010/002 of April 13, 2010 on the Protection and Promotion of the Rights of persons with disabilities.
Enacted law N° 2004/017 of 22 July 2004 on decentralization.
Under the provisions of law n° 2004/017 of 22 July 2004 on decentralization, powers, responsibilities and local resources are being devolved to the local councils. This makes the councils the focal point for the orientation and management of local socio-economic development.
This paper sets out to share lessons learnt from public-private partnerships engaged with 19 municipal councils in implementing disability inclusive development in the Northwest region of Cameroon. It demonstrates the degree to which CBR and DID principles can be used to support councils implement sustainable inclusive development

3. The Northwest Region: Context at a glance
Located in Northwest Region of Cameroon with estimated 2,000,000 inhabitants (Nat. Stats, 2013).
7 Divisions and 34 sub-divisions.
Christianity and Islam co-exist with Christianity as main religion.
Disability prevalence estimated at 10.2% (Mactaggart et al, 2014)
SEEPD Program focuses on the Medical, education, livelihood and social components of the CBR guideline.
Currently focused on achieving program sustainability.
These Components are supported by a research component. Program also provides services in child protection and gender.
Networking and collaboration amongst implementing partners as well as direct beneficiaries and government services will be the basis for success of the program and will therefore be given priority attention.

4. Methodology
Mapping of development stakeholders in the region conducted.
15 councils selected and targeted for advocacy. Criteria for selecting councils included; administrative structure, population size, and rural-urban dynamics.
Advocacy task force comprised of DPO leaders from the targeted divisions, CBR workers, and program staff was constituted to draft and implement an advocacy strategy.
Meetings held with mayors of selected councils; draft MoU shared with councils for review and consideration.
4 days advocacy workshop organized on CBR, disability and inclusive development was organized to bring together from each council a mayor and council development officer.
MoUs were formalized and opened for action planning.
Upon request, technical assistance provided to councils in view of mainstreaming disability into Council Development Plans (CDP). Modifications done on CDPs was informed by the CBR matrix.
CBR workers used to accompany the councils on their journey to community based inclusion. Tools were developed both to track performance of councils but also to provide progress reports to council leadership.
Team studied and had a clear understanding of the national decentralization law.
Visit to councils and training workshop on D&ID which was a good platform for advocacy was done strategically before the budgetary and planning session of councils.
During meetings held with each council, the council leadership was appreciated for work done to develop his municipality, the prevalence of disability in the region and its consequence on council develop efforts were exposed, the inclusive nature of agenda 2030 and the role of councils in its attainment discussed, the willingness of the Program to technically support the councils achieve disability inclusive development was emphasized and memoranda of understanding (MoU) drafted and shared for review.
A pre-requisite for attending was that councils had to sign a MOU, undertaking to develop an action plan on how they would include disability in local government development plans. Each council was invited to send their mayor and the council development officer.
The workshop painted the situation of disability in the region and its consequence on local resources; reviewed the legislative framework in favor of disability; the models of disability and the tools for disability mainstreaming (twin track approach, CBR and comprehensive accessibility) as paramount to achieving disability inclusive development. Workshop ended with formalization of MoUs. In addition, consensus was reached for the institution of a prize award for best council in promoting disability inclusive development.
The purpose of the partnership was to provide municipal councils with skills in Inclusive Development as a way of ensuring effective disability mainstreaming in their Mandate.

5. Areas of Intervention Administration
Extra-ordinary council sessions were summoned to adopt the signed MoUs.
Councils appointed Disability Focal Points to lead in mainstreaming disability in municipal development.
Training workshops on CBR and DID were organized council staff.
Work sessions to design actions plans for disability mainstreaming were organized.
15 councils developed volunteering models and recruited 87 volunteers.

6. 2. Health
Two 14 days training workshops on CBR and DID were organized for 87 volunteers and 14 disability focal persons.
16 outreach planning meetings were organized by 14 councils.
13 councils organized community outreaches in collaboration with the medical projects on the Program. This was facilitated by CBR workers.
2 councils provided assistive devices to 62 needy persons with disabilities and provided medical subsidies to 04 others.
8 councils in collaboration with regional transport authorities organized campaigns on the safe usage of motorbikes in their municipalities.
2 councils organized workshops on the theme “No Health without Mental Health” for 421 people in their municipalities.
The Mayor of Jakiri Council presiding over an outreach planning meeting
Add picture that best describe councils involvement in health(preventive care, preventive care etc)
Campaigns on safe usage of motorbikes focused on reducing the prevalence of physical impairments resulting from motorbike accidents.

7. 3. Education Picture supporting above points.
6 councils identified and assessed the education needs of 362 CWD in their municipalities.
14 councils established birth certificates and facilitated the acquisition of national disability cards for 108 CWD in their municipalities.
4 councils organized campaigns on the Importance of education to CWDs in 4 communities
07 councils organized pre-school activities for 25 children with hearing impairment.
1 council recruited sign language teachers for 1 state-run secondary school in their municipality.
Mayor of Kumbo Council sensitizing on the importance of education for CWDs on Mayor’s DAY
Picture supporting above points.

8. Patricia ON CVRT center
4. Livelihood
14 councils assessed the livelihood needs of 15 PwDs in their municipalities.
5 councils involved 8 youths with disabilities in holiday jobs provided by councils.
4 councils adopted inclusive recruitment policies in their municipality.
Patricia ON CVRT center
Embriodery
Insert supporting picture.

9. 5. Social
17 councils mainstreamed disability in their policies and action plans.
14 councils organized meetings for 152 development stakeholders on the need to adopt inclusive approaches to development.
14 councils organized 01 capacity building sessions held with 153 PWDs to take leadership roles and responsibilities in community structures with consideration to gender.
15 councils advocated for mainstream sports and recreational activities to adopt inclusive approaches

10. 6. Empowerment
08 councils facilitated the acquisition of birth certificates, disability cards and voters cards for 86 persons with disabilities from their municipalities.
4 council organized community sign language training for 127 people.
15 councils in collaboration with APWDs broadcast radio campaigns on rights and responsibilities of PwDs.
3 councils in consultation with SHGs of PwDs form 3 DPOs in their municipalities.

11. Results
Increased understanding of the relevance of disability inclusion among municipal authorities demonstrated by requests for partnership received from 4 councils.
“We need to be sure the 10.2% of our population with disabilities are also served by their city Mayor and Council” (Mayor, Bamenda 1 Municipality)
2 councils formulated policies in favor of universal access into the build-up area
5 councils made structural modification into their council halls to improve on access into built-up areas.
“The time for inclusive development is now, we have to move with the procession” (Mayor, Nkum Municipality)

12. 2. Local governments are now recognizing the need to consult people with disabilities and are beginning to take an active role in providing support services for people with disability. 3. Increased local ownership of CBR by councils leading to growing sustainability of CBR projects. Recruitment and management of 87 volunteers has reduced cost on the CBR project. 4. Four councils increased commitment in promoting education for 53 CwDs.
7 councils invited DPO leaders from their municipalities to participate in council sessions.

13. Challenges
Supporting councils implement DID using the TTA can prove to be challenging where councils were previously imbedded in the charity approach.
Momentum and commitment by local government has exceeded expectations.
The program team has seen an exponential demand for support and advice to local councils in developing inclusive municipal plans. The transition from advocacy to an advisory role of the project team is unchartered territory and the management of staff time, resources, and implementation of other program components needs to be considered and planned for within this exciting environment of change.

14. Lessons learned
Involving DPO leaders in lobby and advocacy initiatives is one way of strengthening capacities by mentoring.
Councils can implement CBR programs as a strategy to support them in achieving sustainable inclusive development.
Using assurance of media exposure as a buy-in strategy when advocating to politicians can facilitate their involvement.
Instituting a price award for best councils in promoting DID has prove to cuase stay committed in achieving sustainable DID.
Involving PWDs is vital in preparing a future whereby persons with disabilities take up leadership roles in transforming their communities into disability inclusive communities.
In our experience we observed that councils that appointed DFP and recruited volunteers where more effective in implementing elements of their action plans which were informed by the CBR matrix.
In our experience, using the program’s communication strategy to make visible the efforts of mayors in promoting disability inclusive development boosts local government enthusiasm and popularity and in turn promotes dialogue on disability inclusion.
A few mayors gave the impression that their willingness to implement their action plans is deep rooted in their desire to be recognized by CBM.
“Mbengwi Council shall stop at nothing to receive the recognition set aside for the best council” –mayor, Mbengwi council during interview with journalist at the end of workshop on D&ID organized for councils.

15. Conclusion
The partnership with local government has enhance local ownership of CBR and DID and serves as a good example of how the two work hand in hand.
Even though councils have started committing resources towards disability inclusion, the level of representation of PWDs in the political arena remains quite minimal with less than 1 % of councilors in the region being PWDs even when up to 10.2% of the population lives with moderate to severe impairments.
The next strategic direction will be to increase the representation and voice of PWDs in inclusive local governance and within traditional power institutions, engaging in making inclusion a core value within these institutions as a means of guaranteeing sustainability.
There is an observed shift in paradigm from the charity to an inclusive rights based approach with recognition of the need for more consultation with and representation of people with disabilities. Councils have also recognized the value of having the CBR program operating in their municipalities and are increasingly allocating more funding towards disability and more public places are being made accessible for people with disability