The Community Based Rehabilitation Programme in Eritrea (CBR) started out as a pilot programme in 1995 and has subsequently expanded gradually. By the end of 2004, the programme covers approximately 40 % of the country. Ministry of Labour and Human Welfare (MLHW) is the implementing agency in Eritrea, with the Norwegian Association of the Disabled (NAD) as the main external contributor that includes both funding and professional support. The Programme in Eritrea and its development is based on the general principles of CBR internationally, following the WHO manuals, and adapted to the local context.

Evaluation
The CBR Program in Eritrea has been evaluated by SINTEF Health Research in August - September 2004. The methods applied are qualitative; interviews, group interviews, focus group discussions and observations, and utilisation of existing documentation.
The objectives of the evaluation has been to
i) assess the effectiveness, impact and relevance of the program,
ii) examine and draw conclusions regarding the program's strengths and weaknesses, and
iii) to propose recommendations that can strengthen the program.

SINTEF scientist Lisbet Grut interviewing CBR supervisors.
Photo: Peter Hjort

The evaluation has shown that the program is highly relevant, that it has been effective in achieving it's goals to a certain extent, and that impact is demonstrated in certain areas. The strength of the program is its relevance for the country and for the population and its integration in local communities. The challenges are largely linked to lack of resources and competence.

Recommendations include improvement of the reporting system, better utilisation of experiences within the CBR Program, continued, increased and differentiated training of local supervisors, changes in the working conditions for the local supervisors, continued collaboration with NAD and other external partners, applying self-organisation of the disabled as a new strategy, better utilisation of existing data and  new data collections within selected areas.

Download the report  "More of the same and try something new". Evaluation of the Community Based Rehabilitation Programme in Eritrea

MAP of Eritrea with sub-regions included in CBR-programmes.
Larger map.