Ethio-Japan Partnership Seminar Proceeding - CRDA Ethiopia

• Failure to inflict budget meant for EIA in projects• Focus only on the economic growth, not impacts on the environment• Sometimes consider the efforts of NGOs/CSOs as if we are againstdevelopment• Limited knowledge of sustainable development (line offices)• Limited time to hear NGOs/CSOs (line offices)• Long and boring bureaucracy• Government staff turnover• Fear of unknowns, ‘people could ask their rights’ including EconomicJustice• Pollution in beyond the level of description (we lost one lake and we hopeto lose one very soon)• Lack of considering local knowledge• Line offices fail to see that we are their to fill gaps in development• Budgetary constraints for some of our projects (beneficiaries beyondexpected number)Finally Mr. Gizaw concluded his presentation by sharing a slid note in title:“OUR MESSAGE TO JAPANESE NGOs” and the message contained the followingstatement; …in the challenge to challenge the challenges of poverty andenvironmental deterioration, transfer knowledge, skill, direct aid andexperience based on the vision and interest of the marginalized &disadvantaged people living on the other side of the globe.DISCUSSION, CONCERNS, QUESTIONSQ1. The share of funds of the Japanese government is smaller whencompared to that of the United States and Europe. Is there anypossibility that this share can be increased?More collaboration with local NGOs is needed as there is low participation, andwe did not have long history with this respect like the US and EU. JICA isorganizing training, and working with NGOs, and started the journey. 1516