Technical Advisory Services

Building partnerships to put disability inclusion into practice 

We partner with the disability movement to realise the rights of people with disabilities. We believe that every organisation has both the capacity and the imperative to become more disability inclusive. We can help you achieve this. 

Our objective  

The rights of the world’s one billion people with disabilities are enshrined in the UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (CRPD), which has now been adopted by over 180 countries. However, in reality these rights are often not enjoyed. People with disabilities routinely face discrimination and barriers to their full inclusion and participation in society. Whilst many organisations believe that inclusion is important, most find it difficult to embed disability inclusion in their practice. 

Through our Technical Advisory Services, and in partnership with the disability movement, we are working for a more inclusive and equitable world where individuals, organisations and institutions actively practice and promote disability inclusion and protect rights under the CRPD. 

Our services 

CBM UK offers bespoke Advisory packages, enabling you to put inclusion into practice. Designed and developed over 20 years, our approach is to listen carefully to your particular needs and put together a high-quality tailored package which could include:  

• capacity development  
• bespoke disability inclusion training 
• collaborative policy development advice 
• programme and organisational advice, including disability audits 
• technical assistance 
• business case development 

These could be done short-term on a specific area of activity, or as a long-term journey together. 

Who are these services for? 

Our Advisory packages are intended for a broad range of participants in international development:  

• project and programme managers in organisations which are striving for best practice in disability inclusion
• donors looking to invest in disability inclusive programmes overseas 
• government and their overseas bodies 
• commercial management Contractors  
• businesses working in development  
• civil society INGOs working in development and humanitarian assistance  

For more information about fees, booking and dates, please email advisory@cbmuk.org.uk 

The facilitation team 

Kirsty Smith

Kirsty joined CBM UK as Chief Executive in 2012 and is part of the leadership of CBM Global, the international Federation of which CBM UK is a member.

In addition to her strategic leadership of the organisation, Kirsty leads on CBM UK’s advisory work, promoting broader, systemic change and supporting others to put inclusion into practice. She is currently a member of the UK Government Foreign and Commonwealth Development Office’s External challenge board for disability inclusion.

Kirsty is supported by a team of practitioners with years of experience in building inclusive communities where everyone can enjoy their human rights and achieve their full potential. 

How we work  

Accountable to the disability movement, and putting the voices of people with disabilities at the heart of everything we do:  

• We work in authentic partnership with the disability movement – local, national and international Organisations of People with Disabilities, in the delivery of our programmes, advisory and advocacy work; this partnership approach has been central to our work for decades. 
• We draw on world-leading expertise in mental health, Community Based Inclusive Development, Inclusive Eye Health, Neglected Tropical Diseases and humanitarian programmes from across our Global federation to inform our programmes, advisory, advocacy and influencing work.  
• We draw on and share learning and evidence from our programmes and research to demonstrate the benefits for all of inclusion, to inform innovation, advise and influence others to embed disability-inclusion into their work.  
• We partner with the disability movement to ensure their full involvement in the design and implementation of climate mitigation and adaptation policies and programmes and are empowered to meaningfully integrate their rights and knowledge in enhancing global climate resilience. 

CBM UK’s Technical Advisory work is part of the Inclusion Advisory Group, an initiative of CBM Global Disability Inclusion.