Skills Development through Community Based Rehabilitation (CBR)

3. CBR and skills development
• A business and market analysis is then carried out by field workers to
determine the profitability of the enterprises and whether the market can
sustain a similar business operated by a disabled person. This includes an
assessment of the costs of production, the income generated and the
potential for market growth. Such analysis needs to be carried out
regularly, to ensure that the market opportunity still exists.
• Field workers then determine the willingness of successful entrepreneurs
to train others. Perhaps surprisingly, many are unafraid of potential
competition - in some cases, such as basket weavers, new trainees can
expand the trainer’s market capacity and customer base.
• Field workers negotiate a training fee payable to the entrepreneur.
Depending on the profitability of the business, this ranges from zero to
around 800,000 riel ($US200), although a fee that high is uncommon.
If the trainee comes from another village, the trainer may also provide
food and board, if compensated. Resources are needed for these costs.
• The field workers then match people with disabilities to trainers based on
mutual interest, geographic proximity and other factors. They assess the
trainee’s capacity for developing the technical skills needed to start and
manage a small business. Sometimes, the trainer may become directly
involved by conducting a short assessment or offering a trial training
period.
Approach to skills development
Trainers must agree to teach the business and technical aspects of the skill or
business in question and to share “trade secrets”. When trainer and trainee,
along with the field worker agree to the length of training and the associated
fee, the trainer and field worker develop a simple written agreement.
Field workers provide support to the trainer and the trainee during the training
period, intervene if problems or special needs arise and determine if the trainee
is acquiring the skills needed for a successful business start-up.
Field workers generally monitor and provide support for one year after the
launch of an income-generating activity. Many trainers make themselves available
for continued support and assistance. For example, one woman takes her
former trainee’s knitted items to a local market to sell to vendors.
The project offers grants and loans to trainees unable to secure credit through
other channels. Grants cover minimal funding needs while loans, offered for 12
months at 5 per cent interest, usually assist those who need 200,000 riel
(US$50) or more. A business plan is required before grants and loans can be
paid.
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