Key Role in Partner Development and Sustainability

The 12 regional offices of CBM play a key role in the capacity building of partners. CBM has established regional offices in Thailand, the Philippines, India (2), Kenya (2), Ethiopia, South Africa, Togo, Ecuador, Mexico, and Germany. The first regional office was founded in 1975 in India; further offices followed in the mid-1980s and 1990s. Each regional office is responsible for the provision of services to partners in several countries. In addition to the services mentioned above, the regional offices create networks among partners and stakeholders of CBM.

Further information: Addresses of the Regional Offices

Networks between the partners and stakeholders are necessary to

• Provide an infrastructure of medical, educational, and rehabilitative services for people with disabilities in developing countries;
• Speak with a strong voice to advocate for the rights of people with disabilities and lobby governments to develop national plans concerning disability matters; and
• Implement international campaigns with respect to disability mainstreaming and inclusion of people with disabilities, both to public services meant for everyone and to their societies in general.

The movement away from service delivery to a strong emphasis on development has two major implications on the work of CBM, of which the regional offices are an integral part:

• By emphasising the human rights approach and by enabling partners to develop and grow, the integration and inclusion of disabled people into the mainstream of society will be improved.
• Sustainable development will be enhanced, by enabling partners to gradually become independent of foreign assistance.

Read more: Work In Partnership Towards Sustainable Development