The World Bank has released a new handbook compiled by Handicap International (HI) and Christian Blind Mission (CBM) on "Making PRSP inclusive". The handbook presents background information and guidelines for key stakeholders on disability and development such as governments, UN agencies, Non-governmental Organisations (NGOs), Disabled People’s Organisations (DPOs) and facilitate that people with disabilities may enter and participate in national Poverty Reduction Strategy processes (PRSP).

The abbreviation "PRSP" stands for Poverty Reduction Strategy Paper, which is a concept developed by the World Bank and the International Monetary Fund (IMF) in 1999.The idea behind this was that low-income, highly indebted countries should develop and formulate a national plan on how to reduce poverty in their country and improve the quality of life of their citizens. Once a country has established and committed itself to a national PRSP, it can apply for debt relief from the World Bank, the IMF and donor countries, and may gain access to new credits, loans and grants.

The new handbook is part of the "Poverty Reduction Strategy Paper and Disability" project, which was initiated by Judy Heumann, Disability Advisor of the World Bank, and funded by a German trust fund. The aim of the project is to include disability issues into PRSP-processes, which lead to debt relief for low-income countries, since disability and poverty are closely interlinked.

CBM and HI implemented the project in 2005 in cooperation with German and Tanzanian disabled peoples organisations (DPOs) and other organisations working in the field of disability.

The "Poverty Reduction Strategy Paper and Disability" project consisted of two parts:

• the production of materials on Poverty Reduction Strategy Papers (PRSPs) and disability (through Handicap International),
• and the implementation of a PRSP workshop in Tanzania (through CBM).

The reasons for the World Bank to initiate the project and for CBM and HI to implement it:

• DPOs and people with disabilities rarely participate in and benefit from PRSP processes.
• Disability is often not adequately included in the course of the processes. Even though one of the main principles of a PRSP-process is the active involvement of the civil society in the formulation, implementation and evaluation of a country’s national poverty reduction strategy.

Therefore, one of the aims of the handbook is, to find ways to give persons with disabilities a voice within the PRSP-process that leads to debt relief for their countries, thus contributing to poverty reduction. Another key aim is to achieve that disability is included in an adequate way and as a cross cutting issue in PRSPs.

Having a long history in working in the field of disability in developing/low-income countries, CBM and HI know from experience that poverty reduction activities can only be successful, if disability issues are being included. The Millennium Development Goals for example can only be realized, if they address disability appropriately.

For further information on CBM’s involvement in the PRSP-process and the handbook, please contact CBM Germany’s Department Head Campaigns and Events:
E-mail to Andreas Pruisken

For further information on inclusion and accessibility contact CBM’s Accessibility/Inclusion Coordinator:
E-mail to Christiane Noe