Alleviating the Burdens of Displacement on Persons With Disabilities Among Refugees from Syria and in Lebanese Host Communities The World Rehabilitation Fund (WRF) is submitting this updated Project proposal in response to the Lebanon Country Based Pooled Fund (CBPF) call for proposals - 2015 Second Quarter Allocation.

This proposed project is designed to contribute to efforts to address the expanding needs of persons with disabilities (PWDs) among refugees from Syria (RfS) in Lebanon and their peers in the Lebanese communities hosting them (LHCs). Proposed interventions in the eight Governorates of Lebanon are programmed to be implemented over a period of six months set to start on April 1, 2016.

The proposed project aims to improve the physical and psycho-social well-being and livelihoods of 720 PWDs (among RfS and their peers in LHCs) who have “life-saving” needs. It will improve their protection, livelihoods, and social inclusion, and expand their contribution to family and community well-being. All within the context of effective advocacy of their safety, dignity, and rights. In doing this, the project will:
- Fill critical gaps in humanitarian assistance.
- Ensure assistance and protection for subgroups of vulnerable, seriously disadvantaged, and poor PWDs by providing needed “life-saving” prosthetic and orthotic devices and related services, and by providing prescription hearing aids and eyeglasses and related services.
- Strengthen concerned national and local service delivery entities and systems through active collaboration and coordination with concerned Governmental Ministries, UN agencies, and INGOs and through collaborative capacity building partnerships with native service providers.
- Advocate for the rights and needs of PWDs with particular attention to women, children, and youth who are among the most vulnerable.

The proposed project is based on an in-depth dynamic understanding of needs. Proposed interventions are based on the experiential understanding and know-how of WRF gained through years of experience in Lebanon (since 1984) particularly through its Prosthetics/Orthotics, emergency rehabilitation, and community-based rehabilitation (CBR) services programs and including:
1- The successful and efficient implementation of an ERF (UN-OCHA) funded project (November 2013 - May 2014) that provided direct assistance in the form of prosthetic and orthotic devices and services, and prescription hearing aids and eyeglasses to 738 persons with disabilities among RfS and their peers in LHCs
2- A leadership role since June 2013 as a founding member and as the “Secretariat” of the Disability and Older Age Working Group (DaOAWG) in Lebanon
3- Active involvement in the National Protection working group and as an elected member of the National Protection Core Group.
4- Active involvement in the Lebanon Crisis Response Plan (LCRP) 2015-2016 as one of the partners involved in developing the Protection Sector Strategic Plan and related indicators.
5- Proactive involvement in networking and coordination with concerned governmental bodies, INGOs, native organizations, activists, and service providers.
6- A long track record and experience in addressing various needs of PWDs in Lebanon (since 1984) including post-war humanitarian assistance with funding from USAID, The Leahy War Victims Fund, UNDP, and OFDA.

WRF is requesting funding in the amount of $517,887 US Dollars to implement this proposed project