to walk

and work
again

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ICRC Special Fund for the Di
 CONTENTS
Context 2

What are the objectives of the SFD? 3

Where does the SFD work? 4

How does the SFD work? 5

How did the SFD come into being? 6

How is the SFD financed? 6

To walk and work again 8

1
 Context
More than 600 million people through-
out the world suffer from disabilities
of various kinds. It is estimated that
80% of all people with disabilities
live in low-income countries where
the government and local institu-
tions often do not have the means
to meet their rehabilitation needs.
The overall aim of the rehabilitation
process is to reduce restrictions on
the activities of people with disabili-
ties so that they may participate fully
in society. Various measures may be
needed to achieve the final goal;
physical rehabilitation, for instance,
includes the provision of assistive
devices (prostheses, orthoses, walk-
ing aids and wheelchairs) and appro-
priate physiotherapy.
Enhanced mobility represents the first
step towards an improved quality of
2
life. It gives people better access to
health care, education, and work, and
allows them to take part in the social
and cultural life of their communities.
Without this, people with disabilities
may become increasingly isolated
and unable to escape poverty.
A person who is physically impaired
needs lifelong access to rehabilitation
services. For example, a five-year-old
child who has undergone an amputa-
tion will require about 25 prostheses
during his or her life, plus repairs and
adjustments in between.
Helping people to regain their mobil-
ity, and indeed to maintain it for the
rest of their lives, is the guiding prin-
ciple of all ICRC Special Fund for the
Disabled (SFD) projects.
 © Rhythms Monthly/
BUZZOLA, Alberto
What are the objectives of the SFD?
The SFD’s objectives are:

to enhance access to physical rehabilitation

services for people with disabilities;

to maintain and improve the quality

of the services that are provided;

to promote the long-term

viability of rehabilitation
centres providing
such services.

A person who is physically

impaired needs lifelong access
to rehabilitation services.
3
 Where does
the SFD work?
As a general rule, International
Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC)
physical rehabilitation projects
cover needs in countries where the
context has led to a permanent
operational presence of the organi-
zation. The SFD operates mainly in
countries where the ICRC has no
permanent activities.

Where necessary, the SFD provides

assistance to people with disabili-
ties who were formerly assisted by
the ICRC. The SFD’s involvement
thereby contributes to bridging the
gap between the withdrawal from
the ICRC – in conformity with its
mandate – and the moment when
the government or local institutions
can take on full responsibility for
physical rehabilitation centres.

In low-income countries, the SFD

may also support physical rehabili-
tation projects that have not previ-
ously been assisted by the ICRC,
provided that its criteria for doing
so are met.

© ICRC/BOUVET, Eric
4
How does the SFD work?
By using the standards, technol-
ogy and strategies developed by
the ICRC, the SFD offers support
that is adapted to the needs of each
assisted centre. This helps the cen-
tres consolidate or even expand
their services. The SFD also aims to
render the centres autonomous.
The SFD combines people-oriented
support for individuals with structure-
oriented support for the institutions
providing the services.
Its people-oriented activities aim
to promote access to effective and
quality rehabilitation services by:
reimbursing centres for the
services they provide to people
with disabilities;
supporting referral policies
and information campaigns
to inform people of the services
available;
covering – during their rehabili-
tation – the costs of transport,
accommodation and food for
people with disabilities.
Its structure-oriented activities pri-
marily aim to promote capacity
building by:
providing centres with financial
and material support;
developing local capacity
and skills to provide quality
devices and services in an
efficiently run setting, through
technical and managerial
support and training;
supporting national bodies
responsible for physical
rehabilitation.
The duration of SFD support is
directly linked to the ability of the
local partner to develop its capac-
ity to provide services to the popu-
lation, and to its ability to become
completely autonomous. Like other
development projects, SFD projects
can stretch over several years.
5
How did the SFD come into being?
The SFD was established by the ICRC in 1983 to help ensure the continuity of
its projects on behalf of people affected by conflict or war, and to support
physical rehabilitation centres in low-income countries.

In 2001, the SFD became an independent foundation under Swiss

law. It is governed by a policy-making Board, consisting of ICRC
representatives and other members. Operational decisions are
taken by an Executive Committee. The SFD’s director coordi-
nates the day-to-day activities together with the heads of its
field offices.

The SFD maintains a standard reporting system

based on that of the ICRC and its accounts are
examined yearly by an external auditor. SFD
projects are regularly evaluated by internal and
external assessors.

The SFD has a distinct identity and respon-

sibilities of its own. However, close links
remain between the ICRC and the SFD,
notably in such matters as operational
policy, project implementation,
human resources and training.

How is the SFD financed?

The SFD relies exclusively on voluntary contributions
to cover its costs both in the field and at its headquarters.
Its donor base consists of governments, National Red Cross
and Red Crescent Societies, foundations and private donors.

In addition to its initial donation of one million Swiss francs,

made in 1983, the ICRC continues to provide support in the
form of services: expertise, logistical and administrative support,
office space and other facilities for SFD staff working in the field
and at headquarters in Geneva.
6
 The duration of SFD
support is directly linked
to the ability of the local
partner to develop
its capacity to become
completely autonomous.

© ICRC/KOKIC, Marko

7
© ICRC/SIDLER, Roland

To walk and
work again
Restoring and maintaining physical
mobility form the backbone of SFD
activities.

The SFD aims to improve quality of

life for persons with disabilities.

The SFD also focuses on strengthen-

ing physical rehabilitation institutions
and on ensuring the sustainability of
the services they provide.

This two-pronged approach benefits

both the people requiring physical
rehabilitation services as well as the
institutions providing such services.

High professional standards, effi-

ciency and flexibility are the SFD’s
golden rules.

8
 Mission
11.2008 / 2000

The ICRC Special Fund

for the Disabled supports
physical rehabilitation services
in low-income countries,
with priority given to former projects
of the International Committee
of the Red Cross.

ICRC Special Fund for the Disabled

19, avenue de la Paix
1202 Geneva
Switzerland
Tel.: +41 22 730 2357 / 2401
Fax: +41 22 730 3787
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ICRC Special Fund for the Di
E-Mail: sfd.gva@icrc.org
www.icrc.org/fund-disabled
Contacts Projects 2009
Africa Africa (32) L. America (11)
SFD regional office Ethiopia Mauritania Nicaragua
ICRC Delegation – PO Box 5701 Morocco /
Benin Bolivia
W.15, K.28, H.No.117 / Addis Ababa, Ethiopia Western Sahara
Tel.: +251 11 275 6240 Cameroon Nigeria Cuba
Fax: +251 11 277 7222 Guinea-Bissau Somalia Ecuador
E-Mail: icrc_sfd@ethionet.et
Kenya Tanzania El Salvador
addis_ababa.add@icrc.org
Madagascar Togo Haiti

Asia Malawi Zambia Honduras

Mali Zimbabwe Peru
SFD regional office
Asia (18) Europe (2)
Ho Chi Minh Office, C/o Rehabilitation Centre
70 Ba Huyen Than Quan Street, District 3 Vietnam Albania
Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam Bangladesh Tajikistan
Tel.: +84 8 393 25 452 India
Fax: +84 8 393 22 124 Laos
E-Mail: icrchoc@hcmc.netnam.vn
icrchoc@gmail.com The ICRC Special Fund for the Disabled operates
primarily from three regional bases situated in Africa
Latin America (Ethiopia), in Asia (Viet Nam) and in Latin America
SFD regional office (Nicaragua). The Albania and Tajikistan projects are
CAPADIFE – Oficina; De la Iglesia El Carmen supervised by the SFD’s headquarters.
21/2 cuadras al norte In 2009, 10 expatriate specialists are providing
C.P. PA 849, Managua, Nicaragua material, technical and financial support to the
Tel./Fax: +505 266 7803 63 SFD projects in 30 countries. Most of these
E-Mail: managua.mag@icrc.org centres are run by government institutions, others
icrc.sfd.americas@gmail.com by NGOs or National Red Cross and Red Crescent
Societies.
Headquarters
SFD Headquarters
19, Avenue de la Paix
Beneficiaries
1202 Geneva, Switzerland In 2008 assistance provided by the SFD was
Tel.: +41 22 730 2357 / 2401 used to help rehabilitate more than 17,000 people
Fax: +41 22 730 37 87 worldwide: including the fitting with some 9,000
E-Mail: sfd.gva@icrc.org prostheses (devices to replace missing limbs or
www.icrc.org/fund-disabled parts of limbs) and 10,000 orthoses (devices to
support dysfunctional limbs or parts of limbs);
25% percent of the amputees receiving assistance
Donations were mine victims.

Donations can be made into the bank account:
ICRC Special Fund for the Disabled
UBS SA
Zurich-Switzerland
BIC: UBSWCHZH80A
IBAN: CH13 0024 0240 6291 1600 W
For further details see:
SFD Annual Report 2007, SFD Appeal 2008
and SFD Mid-Term Report 2008
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ICRC Special Fund for the Di