1. Lynn Cockburn 1, 3, Ezekiel Benuh 2, Julius Wango 3, Heather Aspiras 4, Kat Chow 1 Department of Occupational Science & Occupational Therapy, University of Toronto 2 Socio-Economic Empowerment of Persons with Disabilities (SEEPD), Cameroon Baptist Convention Health Board, Bamenda, North West Region, Cameroon 3 Bamenda Coordinating Centre for Studies in Disability and Rehabilitation, Bamenda, North West Region, Cameroon 4 William Osler Health System (WOHS) Purpose We present results from the first year of a three-year Best Practices in Rehabilitation (BPR) project in Cameroon. The project aims to increase awareness on quality of care issues and implementation of BPR. Little work has been done on BPR in Africa although there is a clear need for better practices. This poster describes Phase 1: Program Development. During this phase the emphasis was on planning appropriate processes and establishing project goals. F aculty and students from the University of Toronto collaborated with partners in Cameroon to identify options and decide on a process to be followed in this project. Year 1 was moderately successful – several challenges were encountered and the process did not unfold smoothly but the group was able to move to the second phase of the project. Successes: The process was developed and adopted. Working groups were established. Strategies to increase collaboration were used: recruiting local and international participants, meetings, working group processes, emails, and internet groups. Successes: In- depth workshops improved levels of enthusiasm. Additional members joined. Now there is international membership in the project: approximately 20 local members, with participants from Canada, the US, Sweden, Holland, and Australia. The goal of encouraging local participants by linking with international professionals is achievable. Difficulties: Our initial goal of trying out the process with one group was not successful because of delays in the formation of the group. Some local members did not understand the BPR. Recruiting international members familiar with the specific context and with time to devote to the project has been more difficult than we initially anticipated. BCCSDR Best Practices Guideline Development Process Results from Year 1 Phase 1 completed and Phase 2 started  Development of an appropriate process and related handbook  Meetings and workshops held to increase knowledge and awareness  Working groups formed for several topic areas Stroke Rehabilitation, Community Based Rehabilitation, Rehabilitation for Fractures and Amputations, Rehabilitation for Hearing Impairments and Deafness, Vocational Rehabilitation, Rehabilitation for Visual Impairment and Blindness, Best Practice in Family Centred Care for Children with Disabilities, Inclusive Education in mainstream schools, Communication Materials on HIV and AIDS for People with Disabilities  Increased awareness about BPR in the region Discussion of the evident successes and difficulties. The project continues. Phase 2 is currently underway, and Phase 3 will be taking place in 2010 and 2011. More adaptation and evaluation are required to develop effective best practice guidelines in contexts with limited rehabilitation systems. Strategies developed in this project may be useful for others. BEST PRACTICE GUIDELINES IN REHABILITATION IN AFRICA: RESULTS FROM YEAR ONE OF A COLLABORATIVE THREE-YEAR PROJECT Handbook for Developing Best Practice Guidelines for Rehabilitation in the Northwest Region of Cameroon Bamenda Coordinating Centre for Studies in Disability and Rehabilitation Draft version #1 June 2009 Insert diagram of factors