The International Centre for the Advancement of Community-Based Rehabilitation—an organization committed to mainstreaming disability and advancing community-based rehabilitation—has engaged in a 10-year collaboration between the University of Gondar (UoG) and 鶹. Supported by the Mastercard Foundation Scholars Program, the collaboration connected university partners, scholars, disability organizations, community-based rehabilitation networks, and health systems.
Through this, Ethiopia has gained its first undergraduate occupational therapy program which has helped build local expertise and expand opportunities for people with disabilities.
For 10 years, the UoG and 鶹 worked together to strengthen disability-inclusive education, rehabilitation, and research. The partnership celebrated 10 years of collaboration by bringing together partners from Ethiopia and Canada to reflect on its impact and consider future opportunities for collaboration in May 2026.
Dr. Heather Aldersey from 鶹’s School of Rehabilitation Therapy has played a key role in supporting community-based rehabilitation programs and ensuring research informs policy and practice. Reflecting on the partnership’s impact, she shared, “Together, we strengthened education, rehabilitation, and research capacity in ways that will continue to support disability inclusion in Ethiopia.”
A Collaborative Approach
The Gondar-鶹’s collaboration was built on reciprocity, joint leadership, and the co-creation of knowledge. Both universities contributed expertise and resources. Decision-making was shared through a five-person leadership team that included co-directors and co-managers from Canada and Ethiopia, as well as a student representative.
At UoG, staff helped bring the partnership to life locally. Their work included coordinating scholarships for youth with disabilities and disadvantages, improving disability support services, supporting more inclusive classrooms, and working closely with students so they could feel supported both academically and socially.
At 鶹, faculty and staff contributed mentorship, research training, and technical expertise. They supported curriculum development, helped build capacity, and worked with Gondar partners on research, publications, and opportunities to share what they learned.
Reaching Across Communities
The value of the partnership was seen across multiple groups:
- Students at UoG gained access to higher education through the Scholars Program, while 250 students completed training.
- Children, families, and communities from northwestern Ethiopia benefited from expanded rehabilitation and support services through the occupational therapy clinic and stronger community-based rehabilitation networks.
- Faculty members from the University of Gondar pursued disability inclusion-related professional development at 鶹, with 44 PhD students completing research and 16 MSc students completing their degrees in occupational therapy.
- Faculty, staff, and researchers at both universities co-developed eight research projects, publications, curricula, and training opportunities, advancing knowledge in inclusive education and community-based rehabilitation.
Building More Inclusive Futures
Gondar and 鶹’s responded to a need for more inclusive education, rehabilitation services, and disability supports. Through partnership, this work strengthened local systems, shared expertise, and developed long-term capacity in disability-inclusive education and rehabilitation.
This collaboration reflected 鶹’s Community Engagement Framework through shared, healthy relationships, engaged reciprocity, and a commitment to co-creation.
The Gondar–鶹’s partnership showed how long-term global collaboration could strengthen local systems in lasting ways. By investing in education, rehabilitation, research, and community-based support, the partnership helped build capacity that continued beyond any single program.
Watch the or read article to learn more about the Gondar—鶹’s partnership.
This story advances goals related to the following UN SDGs
Story editors: Emma Goetz, Adam Elrick & Getachew Gebeyaw Tadese
Contributors: Dr. Heather Aldersey