Introducing the CBM Inclusive Humanitarian Action Initiative

A: CBM's extensive experience of 50 years in humanitarian action and crisis response and the rapid growth of humanitarian needs, particularly for persons with disabilities, has led us to launch the Humanitarian Action Initiative. This strategic commitment allows us to expand and strengthen our humanitarian efforts on a larger scale than ever before. It solidifies CBM as a trusted and credible humanitarian organization dedicated to making a meaningful difference in people's lives.

A: CBM's expertise lies in addressing the specific needs of persons with disabilities in crises. Our approach is not only inclusive but also focused on mainstreaming inclusion within humanitarian action. We provide training to other humanitarian actors, enabling them to adapt their responses and ensure the active and inclusive participation of persons with disabilities in the relief efforts themselves. For instance, in Bangladesh, persons with disabilities actively participated in distributing relief items to communities affected by flooding in the Gaibandha region. Through these efforts, we aim to shift the perception that persons with disabilities are merely passive beneficiaries. We emphasize their role as part of the solution, actively contributing to humanitarian action.  

A: In development cooperation, solid structures and effective service delivery by governments play a crucial role. However, in humanitarian contexts, governments and their structures are often overwhelmed, necessitating support from the international community. CBM actively engages in both natural disasters and protracted emergencies, with a particular emphasis on addressing the specific needs of persons with disabilities, refugees, internally displaced people, and host communities. Our commitment is to save lives, ensure the well-being and uphold the rights and dignity of affected people throughout our humanitarian efforts. 

A: We have highly competent technical advisors and regional humanitarian coordinators guiding the design and implementation of inclusive humanitarian action projects. Technical advice and training are provided to our country programs and country-based humanitarian coordinators are established in frequently affected countries. Additionally, we engage in research, gather evidence of good practices, and collaborate within networks to establish global guidelines for inclusion in humanitarian action. 

A: Humanitarian action responds to acute and protracted crises situations and empowers communities to recover from crises while promoting self-sufficiency. For instance, in addition to providing food, water and other essential live-preserving items in acute crises, we also distribute seeds and tools to enable people to cultivate and produce their own food. If individuals have been displaced, we work to negotiate with local landowners, securing land for them to grow crops. This approach has been successfully implemented in DR Congo to enhance resilience in the face of ongoing challenges and recurrent forced displacement situations.  

DIDRR on the other hand aims to enhance the participation of persons with disabilities by reducing barriers and strengthening enabling actions. DiDRR works best in undisrupted locations with primary duty bearers (government) present and able to take the efforts forward. Therefore, we address DIDRR as part of our Community Based Inclusive Development (CBID) programming. Including people with disabilities in all stages of DRR reduces their vulnerability and improves the effectiveness of government response, recovery, and rehabilitation. It promotes a rights-based approach by empowering and building the capacity of persons with disabilities for active participation in decision-making processes that concern them directly.  

A: Our humanitarian work is supported by private and institutional donors and philanthropists, a large part of which comes from the German Federal Foreign Office (GFFO) and the German Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development (BMZ). We appeal for support from private donors through our communications during humanitarian situations or natural disasters. Private donations can be used more flexibly to work through new partners. We also mobilize funds through the donation alliance "Bündnis Entwicklung Hilft" (BEH) in Germany. For instance, our engagement in the situation in Ukraine is funded through funds collected by BEH.