Rwanda is taking part in a regional research project aimed at improving the sustainability of community-based rehabilitation (CBR) programs for people with disabilities, officials said Tuesday.
The study, conducted in Rwanda, Cameroon, and Zambia, brings together students and researchers based in the Netherlands. It has been ongoing for a year and focuses on addressing barriers faced by people with disabilities in accessing education, healthcare, economic opportunities, and social services.
The research centers on five pillars: health, education, economic development, social welfare, and community participation. It seeks to identify factors that ensure CBR programs remain effective even after donor support ends.
Jean Baptiste Sagahutu, a lecturer at the University of Rwanda involved in the project, said Rwandan researchers are exploring how government agencies, civil society, faith-based organizations, and communities can work together to make inclusive development programs last.
“Many programs stop once funding ends,” Sagahutu said. “Our goal is to embed community-based rehabilitation into society, so it continues beyond donor support.”
The project aims for an 80% sustainability rate for CBR programs if implemented effectively.
Oswald Tuyizere, a national officer for children with disabilities at Rwanda’s National Council of People with Disabilities, said that while Rwanda has made progress, challenges remain.
“We need to ensure every person with a disability can access education, healthcare, assistive devices, and employment suited to their abilities,” Tuyizere said.
Rwanda’s participation comes as the country counts more than 446,000 people with disabilities, according to the 2022 national census. The research is expected to continue for four years, starting in 2024, and will help strengthen long-term inclusive development policies.
