CBM Christian Blind Mission

As we gear up for the upcoming Global Disability Summit, CoorDown’s message is a stark reminder that all day everyday, all decisions should be made WITH the say of persons with disabilities. Learn from experts at the GDS why inclusion is good for everyone.

CBM’s recent advocacy meeting with the European Union (EU) Delegation in Abuja reinforced collaboration on disability rights and climate resilience. The discussion focused on advancing the newly secured Disability Rights Advocacy Project for Inclusive Development (D-RAPID) in Benue and Delta states and reviewing progress on the Enabling Resilience to Climate Change Related Risks (ER2CC) project in Benue and Plateau states. Key outcomes included: • Strengthening localisation efforts to empower local actors and ensure sustainability. • Enhancing EU-CBM collaboration on strategic conferences and high-impact initiatives. CBM remains committed to building meaningful partnerships that drive inclusive development and lasting change.

CBM and our project partner, the National Union of Disability Organisations in Rwanda (NUDOR), received a prestigious award for promoting disability inclusion in our work. The award was presented to CBM on March 6 at the Zero Project Conference, held at the United Nations Office in Vienna, Austria. The Zero Project Award recognises initiatives that address the needs and rights of persons with disabilities, contributing to the global effort to create a more just, equitable, and inclusive society. CBM and NUDOR jointly developed the award-winning livelihoods project, which supports persons with disabilities in rural Rwanda. The project has established 750 village savings and loan groups (VSLGs) with 22,500 members, 90% of whom are persons with disabilities or their caregivers, and 60% of whom are women. #DisabilityInclusion #LeaveNoOneBehind #Livelihood #CBID #UnitedNations

On International Women’s Day 2025, CBM is highlighting the contributions of women in health and community service. Amid significant reductions in donor funding that threaten progress, the urgency for inclusive health, participation, and development has never been greater. The head of NTD programmes at CBM, Girija Sankar, states that funding cuts adversely affect the most marginalised women and girls— especially women and girls with disabilities who are already underserved within health systems. On this International Women’s Day, she calls on all stakeholders to #AccelerateAction in their advocacy efforts, invest strategically, and promote sustainable, community-driven solutions so that no woman or girl is excluded due to shifting priorities. CBM’s Head of Inclusive Health Programmes, Joy Koech, acknowledges that achieving sustainable change necessitates robust advocacy and policy support. Consequently, CBM is proactively engaging with policymakers, stakeholders, and international organisations to champion inclusive health policies that prioritise the needs of all women and girls, including those without disabilities. #InternationalWomensDay #IWD2025 #AccelerateAction

At the 63rd UN Commission for Social Development (CSocD63), the conversation was clear: inclusion must be at the heart of sustainable development. Experts emphasised the importance of integrating formal and informal support systems, particularly for persons with disabilities, who often face exclusion due to poverty, accessibility issues, and limitations of informal work. Dr. Shaun Grech from CBM called for systems that bridge these gaps to provide comprehensive support, drawing from his experience in the Global South. Alexandre Cote from UNICEF also highlighted the low disability benefits coverage in low-income countries, emphasising the challenges of costly and exclusionary disability assessments, particularly in rural areas. Read more about CBM and GCSPF discussion on "Advancing the Copenhagen Declaration Commitments through Age and Disability Inclusive Social Protection." #InclusionMatters #SocialProtection #DisabilityRights #CSocD63 https://loom.ly/-Rr-jQ4

As a member of the International Disability and Development Consortium (IDDC), CBM supports this statement, urging governments to take immediate and sustained action to ensure that disability inclusion remains a priority in international cooperation. Read more on the IDDC website: https://lnkd.in/ebYqtHKR

This World Hearing Day, CBM, in partnership with the WHO Africa Regional Office, is advocating for enhanced hearing health by providing critical data to Ministries of Health, aiming to prioritise and address the increasing prevalence of hearing loss and its socio-economic impacts. With a focus on prevention, early intervention, and equitable access to services, CBM seeks to dismantle barriers to ear and hearing care (EHC) through community outreach, capacity building, and clinical services, ultimately improving outcomes for those affected. Head more about this collaboration and CBM's EHC work at the link in the comments below. #WorldHearingDay #WHD2025 #EHC

Three years of war in Ukraine. 3 years of hardship and loss. As the conflict persists, millions remain displaced, and the humanitarian situation grows increasingly dire—especially for persons with disabilities, who face even greater challenges in accessing safety, healthcare, and basic necessities. Since the war began, CBM has been collaborating with local and international partners to ensure that persons with disabilities are not forgotten. Together, we have provided urgent humanitarian, medical, and psychosocial support to over 98,000 individuals in Ukraine and neighbouring countries worth 12 million euros. Through our partnerships; the European Disability Forum, Momentum Wheels for Humanity Ukraine, Arbeiter-Samariter-Bund Deutschland e.V., National Assembly of Persons with Disabilities, League of the Strong, International Ophthalmological Fellowship Foundation e.V. and Bündnis Entwicklung Hilft, we have: • Supplied medical transport, rehabilitation services, and assistive devices like wheelchairs to those encountering mobility challenges. • Supported mental health services and barrier-free accommodations for displaced persons with disabilities. • Provided financial assistance to help families secure food and housing. • Established a specialised treatment centre for spinal cord injuries in Lviv as a pilot model. • Advocated for inclusive humanitarian aid at local, national, and international levels. The crisis is not over, and the needs are immense. Persons with disabilities remain at high risk—often unable to reach shelters, struggling to access vital information, and facing heightened threats of violence and neglect. CBM continues to stand with them, working alongside dedicated local organisations to ensure that their voices are heard and their needs are met. We thank all who have supported CBM’s emergency response in making inclusive humanitarian action possible. #Ukraine #DisabilityInclusion #HumanitarianAid #LeaveNoOneBehind

Call for Proposals: Auditor Needed! CBM is on the lookout for a qualified auditor to conduct an audit of funds received and payments made by QADER for the project "Promoting Inclusive and Resilient Communities in the West Bank Through Local Capacity Building.” This project is co-financed by the German Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development (BMZ). Requirements: • Membership in a recognized accounting/auditing body • Experience with development cooperation projects • Minimum of 6 years in public audit practice If you or your organization meet these criteria, we invite you to submit your expressions of interest (including a technical and financial proposal, CV, and references) by February 27, 2025. For more details, please read the terms of reference at the link in the comments section. #Consultancy #Audit #

Germany and the EU must step up NOW. VENRO, an umbrella organisation of development and humanitarian NGOs, urges Germany to allocate special funds for humanitarian aid and rally a European alliance to fill the void left by US cuts. "A complete system that ensures the survival of people in crisis and disaster regions is coming to a standstill," says Michael Herbst, CBM’s Head of political work and CBM and Chairman of the Board of VENRO. "We, the rich donor countries, must act quickly now to cushion the already catastrophic consequences, at least where human lives are acutely threatened." The German government must therefore now also provide special funds for humanitarian aid and crisis management and form a European alliance for this purpose. "We should see this development as a wake-up call to ensure sustainable development cooperation in the future and to be able to guarantee the protection of millions of people affected by wars and crises. We need a federal government that plays a reliable, responsible and supportive role in this. Germany can and should be a pioneer here," said Herbst. #GermanyForAid #HumanitarianAction #USAID #BMZ