Fighting to end the cycle of poverty and disability

CBM Global works alongside people with disabilities in the world’s poorest places to transform lives and build inclusive communities where everyone can enjoy their human rights and achieve their full potential.

Our Vision and Mission

If you are poor, you are much more likely to have a disability because of poor nutrition and unsafe working conditions, as well as lack of access to medical care, clean water and sanitation. The negative impact of climate change is being tangibly felt by communities in countries across the Global South and it brings into sharp focus the disproportionate effect that climate change is having on people with disabilities. The discrimination and exclusion faced by people with disabilities in health, education, and livelihood, for example, results in an increased risk of vulnerability and the likelihood to become and stay poor. But this vicious cycle of poverty and disability can be broken.

At CBM Global, we have a vision for an inclusive world in which all people with disabilities enjoy their human rights and achieve their full potential.

We are driven by our mission: Fighting to end the cycle of poverty and disability.

 

Our Values

We champion inclusion

We believe everyone is equal before God. We are passionate about working with people with disabilities to build a world in which all people are included, valued and respected.

  • We challenge discrimination.
  • We embrace diversity.
  • We work with people of all faiths and none.
  • We promote accessibility and opportunity.

We strive for justice

We work for positive change, inspired by a vision of a just and equitable world. We will model justice and faithful love as Jesus did, serving those in greatest need, regardless of race, gender, age or religious belief.

  • We challenge injustice.
  • We serve with compassion.
  • We promote fairness and equality.
  • We equip others to exercise their rights.

We embrace partnership

We achieve more when we work with others. We commit to partnership, listening and learning together. We collaborate creatively with partners, supporters, governments and colleagues to achieve lasting change.

  • We collaborate effectively with others.
  • We learn together with our partners.
  • We communicate respectfully and honestly.
  • We are flexible and responsive.

We pursue excellence

We are committed to achieving the greatest possible impact from the resources entrusted to us, attaining high quality in all our work. We challenge ourselves to constantly learn, innovate and improve.

  • We focus on quality.
  • We creatively innovate.
  • We pursue continual improvement.
  • We maximise our impact.

We live with integrity

We show God’s character by seeking to live by our values and fulfil our commitments. We hold ourselves accountable to our supporters and those we serve, seeking to live authentically, responsibly and honestly.

  • We are accountable.
  • We practice servant leadership.
  • We are honest and faithful.
  • We consider all impacts of our actions.

At CBM Global we live out our values, which underpin our determination to end the cycle of poverty and disability.

CBM Global Disability Inclusive Development

Prior to the COVID-19 pandemic, the world had been making progress in tackling poverty. Despite this, people with disabilities were being left behind. The pandemic now threatens to undo progress towards ending extreme poverty and is revealing the extent of the exclusion and discrimination that people with disabilities have been experiencing.  

CBM Global’s program and initiatives are driven by some stark facts: 

  • One in seven of us has a disability — that is more than a billion people around the world, 80% of whom live in developing countries.
  • One in five (20%) of the poorest people living in developing countries has a disability.
  • There is a vicious cycle of poverty and disability. If you are poor, you are much more likely to have a disability because of poor nutrition and unsafe working conditions, as well as lack of access to medical care, clean water and sanitation. The discrimination and exclusion faced by people with disabilities in health, education and livelihood, for example, results in increased risk of vulnerability and the likelihood to become and stay poor.
  • Millions of people with disabilities are currently affected by humanitarian crises. People with disabilities are the most likely to be worst affected and least likely to get help.
  • The COVID-19 crisis is disproportionately affecting people with disabilities. Some of the key issues include a lack of accessible life-saving public health information, lack of support in putting hygiene measures into practice, lack of accessible health facilities, and in some countries, negative attitudes and vaccine access.   

Find out more about our work

Learn more about our work