By Mahamood Fofana
The National Commission for Persons with Disability (NCPD), in partnership with One Family People (OFP), has concluded a national dialogue aimed at strengthening Community-Based Rehabilitation (CBR) and promoting greater inclusion of persons with disabilities in Sierra Leone.
The one-day dialogue was held in Makeni on 22 July 2026 under the theme: “Building Inclusive Communities: A National Dialogue on Community-Based Rehabilitation in Sierra Leone.” The event was supported by Liliane Fonds and brought together government representatives, development partners, disability organisations, civil society groups, community leaders and other stakeholders.
Participants examined how community-based approaches can be strengthened to improve the participation, empowerment and inclusion of persons with disabilities in national development.
Speaking at the event, the Chairman and Chief Commissioner of the NCPD, Brima Abdulai Sheriff, described Community-Based Rehabilitation as an important model for promoting dignity and ensuring that persons with disabilities are recognised as active participants in their communities.
He said the approach would allow communities to play a greater role in identifying and addressing the challenges faced by persons with disabilities.
“This model has worked in some countries, and we want to use the community at the grassroots level to ensure that persons with disabilities are recognised and included in development,” Commissioner Sheriff said.
He disclosed that the initiative forms part of the second phase of a broader long-term plan by the Commission. According to him, a draft policy has already been submitted to the Ministry of Social Welfare, with the expectation that it will eventually be presented to Cabinet for consideration.
Representing the Ministry of Social Welfare, Acting Director John Conteh commended the NCPD for its efforts to advance the rights and welfare of persons with disabilities.
He said the dialogue was consistent with the Ministry’s ongoing policies and programmes, including the review of the Persons with Disabilities Act of 2011.
Conteh explained that the review is intended to introduce new provisions and bring the legislation into closer alignment with international standards.
“When there are laws, they guarantee persons with disabilities the opportunity to benefit from what is due to them. On that note, we are reviewing the Act to introduce new provisions that will bring it in line with global standards,” he said.
Abubakarr Bangura, Country Representative of the Africa Youth with Disabilities Network Sierra Leone, described the Community Based Rehabilitation model as a practical and appropriate approach to addressing the challenges confronting persons with disabilities.
He said the success of the model would depend on meaningful community participation and stronger collaboration among relevant stakeholders.
Isatu Dumbuya, a visually impaired disability advocate, also welcomed the initiative and commended the NCPD for organising the dialogue.
She noted that the Commission’s mandate covers a broad range of disability-related issues and called for increased support to the Sierra Leone Association of the Blind.
Dumbuya described Community-Based Rehabilitation as a positive step and expressed her willingness to support efforts aimed at implementing the model across the country.
The dialogue concluded with renewed calls for stronger cooperation between government institutions, disability organisations, development partners and local communities.
Stakeholders stressed that effective Community-Based Rehabilitation should go beyond policy discussions and translate into practical support, improved access to services and greater opportunities for persons with disabilities to participate fully in Sierra Leone’s social and economic development.
