Community-based rehabilitation for human development in sub-Saharan Africa.

Disability is one of the most prevalent of human conditions in sub-Saharan Africa (SSA), with at least 15 million people (or 15% of the population) living with significant functional limitations and restrictions to full community participation. Community-based rehabilitation (CBR) is a procedure and tool for sustainable and equitable human development in the SSA region. It prioritizes the active involvement of those with a disadvantage in constructing and enacting solutions for their self-identified issues. As a process, CBR applies a human rights-oriented approach to human development in which addressing disadvantage from any cause with those most directly affected respects their essential worth and dignity as persons or communities. As a tool for human development, CBR has been applied toward enabling the full participation of people with disability and disadvantage across the spectrum of community living supports of health, education, livelihoods, social well-being, and decision empowerment. The more successful of CBR for human development initiatives in the SSA are those supported by national policies, civic community organizations, and with strong local community leadership. CBR remains the most viable instrument for human development support in the SSA region.