Cheshire Foundation Ethiopia recently renamed as Cheshire Foundation–Action for Inclusion (CF-AI) is an indigenous charity organization established in 1985. The organization is reregistered for the second time under the recent Ethiopian Charities & Societies Proclamation 621/2009 with the registration No. 0298. Since then, it has been working to serve and promote the best interests of persons with disabilities (PwDs) residing in different parts of the country. Specially, beginning from the year 2000, CF-AI has been practicing CBR “a strategy within the general community development for the rehabilitation, equalization of opportunities, poverty reduction and social inclusion of persons with disabilities. This program is targeting PwDs (Persons with Disabilities) in general and children, women and girls with disabilities in particular as they are exposed to multiple discrimination because of their age, gender, poverty and disability.
Under this CBR program CF-AI has been providing different disability rehabilitation and inclusion services which includes medical rehabilitation and reducing the impact environmental, cultural and attitudinal barriers in excluding the impaired persons from accessing various development services and opportunities within their communities. Since the CBR is about community participation, transparency, cost effectiveness and being accountable to the target clients, in all its project areas AF-AI involve the pertinent local development actors particularly PwDs and their families in every decision at all levels of the project cycle management.
Conducting base line survey/house to house disability and socio-economic assessment along with scanning local service providing institutions is always an entry point for all CF-AI’s CBR intervention. This is a base for the subsequent joint intervention plan, implementation, monitoring and evaluation. Finally, before phasing out, for any of it CBR intervention, CF-AI along with its local allying partners, makes sure that the target PwDs are well empowered to involve in their respective community affairs, have sharing role and be able to work in solidarity. This is how CF-AI is contributing towards the local, regional and national inclusive poverty reduction and MDG goals attaining initiatives.
Structurally, CF-AI has its own General Assembly, the supreme power, the Management Board (elected by the general assembly) responsible to provide strategic directions for the organization and secretariat office led by an executive director coordinating the day to day activity of the organization. Down to the project level there is a community assembly/CBR committees working with the project management team and ensuring the project is meeting its intended purpose. To manage its activities Including the head office CF-AI has professional staffs and supporting staff.