Multinational - SADC Region – Capacity Building for Disability Rehabilitation

The Capacity Building for Disability Rehabilitation project aims to strengthen the institutional capacity of the African Rehabilitation Institute (ARI) and its social partners to contribute towards the social integration into productive life of persons living with disabilities. This Institute was created by the Ministers of Social Affairs of the Organization of African Unity (OAU) during the United Nations Decade for the Disabled (1983-1992). Its mandate is to develop regional training and research programs in the field of disability prevention and rehabilitation. This capacity building intervention builds on the lessons learned about the sustainability of this institutional framework for coordinating disability rehabilitation interventions to strengthen ARI (Southern Region) and develops human resources amongst the most vulnerable groups in three SADC countries as part of the Bank Group’s contribution to the African Decade of Disabled Persons (1999-2009). The project will use the skills of disabled persons for the provision of consulting services for early childhood development, train trainers and leaders of Disabled People’s Organizations, and strengthen the regional coordination agency for disability rehabilitation through the provision of technical assistance to ARI, audiovisual and computer equipment and one vehicle for IEC. It is expected to be implemented over 24 months and will consist of the following four components: Education on Disabilities; IEC; Regional Disability Survey; and Institutional Development. The total cost of the project is USD 1.37 million (UA 1.01 million).