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Technical University of Munich

Subject-oriented “CBResearch” partnership

Funding: German Academic Exchange Service (DAAD) & Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development (BMZ)

Research Institution: Technical University of Munich | Sociology of Diversity

Project Management:

Sociology of Diversity Chair

Prof. Elisabeth Wacker
Uptown München-Campus D 
Georg-Brauchle-Ring 60/62 
80992 München 
Tel.: +49 (89) 289 - 24460 
Fax: +49 (89) 289 - 24463 
Email: elisabeth.wacker(at)tum.de

Cooperation with: 

Pwani University, Kilifi (Kenya)

Project Management at Pwani University:

Prof. Halimu Shauri
Department of Social Sciences
Pwani University
Kilifi, Kenya

Duration: 2013-2016

Final Report: expected in December 2016

Project Staff: Kathrin Schmidt

Project Background:

In the aftermath of the International Conference on Primary Health Care in Almaty (prev. Alma-Ata) in 1978, the World Health Organisation (WHO) set the goal of improving healthcare particularly in developing and emerging economies. With respect to persons with disabilities, who represent approx. 10% of the world population according to the WHO, the main aim was to facilitate the access to medical rehabilitation services and measures. In the course of the 1980s, a new concept, so-called „Community-Based Rehabilitation“(CBR) was developed in order to better exploit local health promotion resources. Over time, CBR evolved into a broader “inclusive development” strategy that beyond the field of health, also takes education, livelihood, social aspects and empowerment into consideration. Hence two aims should be pursued in the context of CBR projects:

  1. “to ensure that people with disabilities are able to maximise their physical and mental abilities, to access regular services and opportunities, and to become active contributors to the community and society at large”
  2. “to activate communities to promote and protect the human rights of people with disabilities through changes within the community, for example, by removing barriers to participation” (Joint Position Paper of WHO, ILO and UNESCO, 2004)

The interplay between individuals and their environment (twin-track approach) is not only characteristic of the CBR concept but also of the UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (UNCRPD) that became effective in May 2008. Especially Article 32 of the UNCRPD emphasises the importance of international cooperation that includes collaboration in teaching, science and research. Since experience with CBR concepts and strategies has already been accumulated for the past three decades in the Global South, the project does not represent a knowledge transfer from “North” to “South” but is instead based on common research and development.

Beside the diversity dimension of (dis)ability, other aspects of heterogeneity (gender, cultural/ethnic background, religious orientation, educational history, socio-economic status, etc.) are included in the focus of CBResearch. These aspects are central when taking not just the individual but also the community/the socio-spatial approach into consideration.

Aims:

Initially, the CBResearch project partners will be developing four modules based on the CBR matrix in the course of four years. These modules will introduce CBR-relevant principles to students on the basis of an introductory module and three in-depth modules:

  • Introductory module: „(Dis)ability, Participation and Community“
  • Special focus module I: “Education and (Dis)ability”
  • Special focus module II: “Livelihood and (Dis)ability”
  • Special focus module III: “Empowerment and (Dis)ability”

These modules will then be tested by Kenyan and German students during common workshops. After the testing phase, the English-speaking study modules will be available online.

Through the participation of students in the development of the modules as well as the close content-related collaboration between Kenyan and German colleagues, research competence in the area of CBR, hence inclusion and social-spatial approaches to health promotion in Kenya and Germany will be strengthened over the long term.

Links: Kick-off-Meeting

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