Regional Reports - the European External Action Service

Framework Contract Benef. Lot N° 7
2007/146027
UPDATED MAPPING STUDY ON
NON STATE ACTORS SECTOR IN ETHIOPIA
Final Report
July 2008
By
William Emilio Cerritelli
Akalewold Bantirgu
Raya Abagodu
Volume II Regional Reports
This report has been prepared with the financial assistance from the European
Commission. The views expressed herein are those of the consultants and therefore
in no way reflect the official opinion May of the 2008 Commission.

Table of Contents
1. Regional Report Afar...................................................................................................... 3
2. Regional Report Somali................................................................................................ 14
3. Harari Regional Report................................................................................................. 28
4. Regional Report Dire Dawa.......................................................................................... 44
5. Regional Report Oromia............................................................................................... 63
6. Regional Report SNNPR ............................................................................................. 78
7. Tigray Regional Report................................................................................................. 92
8. Amhara Regional Report ............................................................................................ 106
9. Benishangul Gumuz Regional Report ........................................................................ 122
10.Gambella Regional Report......................................................................................... 135
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1. Regional Report Afar
1 General remarks on NSA at territorial level.
1.2. Background about Afar National Regional State
Afar Regional State (ANRS) is one of the least developed of the nine regions within Ethiopia
which is also the major pastoralist regions of the country. Over 90 percent of the region’s
population is classified as pastoralists that are dependant on animal husbandry for their
livelihood. Apart from a small percentage of the population engaged in commerce or the civil
service in urban areas, the major proportion of the remaining is classified as agro-pastoral
population dependent on livestock as well as sedentary agricultural production.
In its climate, the region is classified into arid agro-climate zone which is characterized by very
high minimum temperature, low precipitation and harsh weather condition. As a result, Afar is
one of the drought prone regions with major shocks and hazards associated with the recurrence of
drought that disrupts the livelihood of the population. Apart from crop failure and food shortages,
the recurrence of drought often aggravates the vulnerability of household livelihood through the
devastation of livestock resources which is the major source of livelihood. The region is also
characterized by underdeveloped infrastructure and the lack of social services where the
population has the least access to social services particularly education, health, water supply, etc.
1.3. NSA in Afar NRS - from the previous mapping
o There was a low presence of NGOs and other NSAs compared with other regions;
o NGO growth deterred by the climate and the pastoral nature of the inhabitants
(Interviewees suggestion) and NGOs operational were more significant almost
exclusively in areas along the main road;
o International NGOs like Farm Africa, engaged in livestock development; Oxfam, World
Vision, CARE and Goal Ethiopia;
o The national NGO mention to be operational is the Rehabilitation and Development
Organisation with a large number of volunteers undertakes mine awareness and
rehabilitation for victims of mine accidents;
o There were 20 cooperatives established to engage in livestock development, irrigation,
salt production, savings and credit and other general activities; and
o The process of developing NGO guidelines for was in process with the collaboration of
NGOs and the community (lack of capacity to engage with NGOs and to monitor
effectively their activities was mentioned.
1.4. Major highlights of current findings
o Most NSA existing in ANRS are very young except some NGOs that have been operational
in the region long ago. While NGOs are the major NSA sector operational in the region, there
are also few other civil society organizations like associations of interest groups (women,
youth, teachers, enterprise workers, etc) that were formed recently.
o Farmers’ cooperative organizations are the other NSA which is important in the region. Even
though community based organizations especially Iddirs are also important NSA especially in
urban areas like Dupti, Assaita and Logia, their engagement in social and development
activities is not significant at the moment.
o The maturity as well as the level of participation of the other civil society organization in the
region is at an infant stage because they were formed recently or they are in the process of
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organizing themselves like the region’s youth and women associations. On top of the lack of
maturity, the activities of some self initiated associations like the Afar Pastoralist Youth
Association (APYA) are also limited in scope due to the lack of finance and logistic
problems.
o While the freedom and autonomy an important quality of self initiated associations like
APYA, their activities are often limited because they are solely dependent on membership
registration and contribution. On the contrary, the regional government sponsored the
initiation of Afar youth and women association which are in the process of formation. The
formation of these associations is politically motivated in that the idea was initiated only after
realizing that the youth and women took sides with the opposition parties during the 2005
election. Thus, the youth and women associations which are formed through the sponsorship
of regional government would not have similar freedom and functional autonomy since their
formation is politically motivated.
o Many NGOs that operate in Afar region undertake activities that combine development,
service provision with emergency responses that aim to mitigate disaster and vulnerability to
major shocks associated with drought. Nevertheless, given the high risk and incidences of
vulnerability to disaster, the number of NGOs operational in the region is very small. In
addition, the capacity of existing NGOs does not allow them to pursue long-term intervention
programmes that would address the multi-faceted problems of agro-pastoral production
system and vulnerable household livelihood.
o As the region is characterized by high level of illiteracy, lack of social services and
infrastructure, development activities that aim to improve access to the basic social services
particularly education, health, water supply, etc are important sectors in which NGOs
participate and contribute significantly. In order to provide these services, relief and
emergency responses programmes should also be carried out as complementary activities that
simultaneously address the immediate problems particularly famine and food insecurity.
o The scope of programmes and activity coverage of NGOs operational in the region differ
because of their differences in resource capacity, specialization and the nature of activity in
which they are engaged. Nevertheless, the activities areas of some NGOs appear to be too
many while the mature and experienced ones engage in few but clearly defined and more
focused activity sectors.
o Apparently, NGOs that undertake activities in which they have comparative advantage due to
the technical capacity acquired and specializations developed in specific activity areas are
often effective in their development intervention and/or service provision activities. On the
contrary, the lack of specialty more likely contributes to weak performances and
ineffectiveness of those NGOs whose activities spread across diverse sectors. Therefore, in
order to enhance their contribution to development and service provision, both large and
small NGOs should have well defined program areas in which they have the expertise and
experience that enable them to be more effective.
o The NSA environment in Afar region appears relatively more enabling especially after the
NGO guideline was prepared and circulated for comment and feedback. According to the key
informants, the regional council is expected to ratify the final guideline which incorporates
input and feedback from NGO representatives. Even without the guideline, NGOs operational
in the region obtain regular support from the respective regional sector offices and closely
work in project monitoring and evaluation.
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o A recent development which is bringing together the government and NSA is the
establishment of sector specific forums that would enhance collaboration and cooperation
between GO and NSA particularly the NGOs. Rural and Pastoral Task Force is one of the
major forums in which there is close work relationship between state and NSA. Nevertheless,
institutionalized system of cooperation and coordination between regional sector offices and
NSA sector has not been established in Afar region.
o The collaborative relationship existing between sector offices and NSA is only on operational
issue while the dialogue on policy and political issues is not practiced at all. Apart from the
absence of advocacy projects and activities that promote human rights and good governance,
the knowledge and experience required to engage in these activities is generally limited
among NSA including NGOs. Most NGO representatives consulted believe that policy and
political dialogue are not the tasks of NSA but that of the Government and political parties.
o Regional offices responsible for the licensing and registry of NSA do not often have well
organized record keeping systems. This is particularly the case with the Bureau of Labour and
Community organizations which is responsible to keep records of women, youth groups,
labour unions and workers association. Except the Disaster Prevention and Food Security
Bureau (DPFSB), regional offices such as BoFED and the major sector bureaus (Rural and
Pastoral Agriculture, Water and Education) do not record NGO project activities and their
contribution to regional development endeavours. Therefore, the lack of data would make
difficult to undertake quantitative assessment of NSA projects especially NGO project
activities, coverage and also contribution to development.
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2 Profile and distribution of NSA at Regional Level.
1.2. Profile of NSA.
Table 1. Afar National Region State NSA typologies and size
NSA Categories Number Examples
1. NGOs 28
1.1. International NGOs 11 Farm Africa, SCUK, SCUSA,
Coopi, ICRC, Mercy Corps, Amigo
De Silva, ACDI/VOCA, etc
1.2. National NGOs including regionally registered 7 APDA, Rohi, SSD, Mahi Difu,
NGOs
2. Regional Development Associations
3. FBOs (national and international) 8 LWF, WVE, Ethiopian Muslims,
Muluwongel, Islamic Relief Org,
Missionaries of Charity, etc
4. Reg. apex/Networking Organisations 1 Afar Pastoralist Forum
5. Advocacy and Human rights Organizations - -
6. Economic and business interest groups -
6.1. a) Cooperatives 196 See details under cooperatives
6.2. b) Union of Cooperatives - -
6.3. c) Chamber of Commerce and Sector Asso. - -
7. Trade and labour unions 6 Enterprise workers associations
8. Professional Associations 2 ARS Regional Teachers
Association & women teachers
9. Age, gender, health-status and other occupation
related Associations
association
2 Afar Youth & Women
Association
9.1. Regionally registered Youth Association 2 Afar Youth Ass & Afar
Pastoralist Youth Ass
Basic Youth Associations at woreda level
26 Youth ass in 26 woredas of Afar
youth ass
9.2. Reg. registered Associations of/for Women
9.3. Reg. registered Elderly and Disability Asso. =
9.4. Reg. registered Asso. of PLWHA
1 Afar Women Association
10. Free Press;
11. Community based organisations - basic Iddirs
As many as 10 individual Iddirs
in Assaita, Logia, Dubti, etc Towns
in each town
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3 Activities and Sector Distribution
As indicated already, the available information that could be used to explain the sector,
thematic areas and also geographic coverage is the records of NGO registration and also
project agreement formats. Since quantitative data that could be used to measure NSA
contribution in various sectors of development is not available, the DPFSB registration data
and records of other regional offices and also relevant qualitative information gathered during
the participatory assessment (interviews and discussions with stakeholders and/or resourceful
individuals) are based to make qualitative assessment.
3.1. Qualitative areas of contribution
From qualitative point of view, the contribution of NSA can be summarised as shown on
table 3.
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Table 3 NSA Sectoral Contribution
Qualitative areas of contribution Quantitative
contributions
Mass Based
Associations
Local
Development
Association
The local
NGOs
The Local
Associations
Only Iddirs are available but they are not
active
Not significant
Their contribution is mainly in education
and strengthening ABE, capacity building,
gender, advocacy and combating of HTP
New initiatives that target sex and age
group specially the youth and women’s
association under formation.
Trends of
Participation and
Contribution
Funeral services Some starting to work
with NGOs OVC
Mostly
documented in
project agreements
Not document
since they are
new/in the
formation process
Increasing trend in
their number &
participation
Growing interest of
women/youth to
participate/contribute
NNGOs There are no significant activities Not documented There is no clear
undertaken
trend
INGOs Reproductive health, malaria prevention Mostly
Increasing
and control, health infrastructure and documented in participation and
services, food security and drought project agreements contribution in both
mitigation, gender, water supply and
long term
sanitation, integrated pastoral and agro-
development and
forestry development projects including
irrigation, OVC, HIV/AIDS, EW and
capacity building
emergency
FBOs Natural resource and environment; pastoral Mostly
Significant growth in
and agro-forestry; improved seed/forage, documented in participation and
rangeland management, small scale
irrigation; water and sanitation,
rehabilitation of water points, water supply
(ponds and spring); HIVAIDS; OVC
project agreements contribution
Iddirs and Activities of IDDIrs are limited to Not documented Likely to participate
CBOs traditional role of providing funeral and do not have and contribute with
services but other CBOs are not well major role in the NGOs engaged in
engaged
development OVC and HIV/AIDS
Advocacy There is no any activity so far Not documented Not clear at the
and HR
organizations
Economic
and Business
Interest
Groups
moment
3.2. Summary of Values and Beneficiaries of Ongoing NGO Projects
NGO projects and financial resources
The NGOs in Afar region channel a large amount of financial resources in order to undertake
development activities and provide basic services. On the basis of the project budget allocated for
on-going projects implemented during two years, the total fund that NGOs channel is over half a
billion. The largest share is contributed by INGO and this is followed by the FBO as shown on
the following chart. As indicated already, INGO contribution is very significant in relation to the
combined resource share of NGO and FBO.
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The following table summarises the current ongoing projects activities implemented by NGOs:
Table 4. Number of projects, total budget of ongoing NGO projects & beneficiaries in
ANRS
S/No NSA Typology
International
1 NGOs
Faith based Nat
and International
2 Orgs
Summary of NGO's Ongoing Projects
No of No of
Org. Projects
14 22
8 18
6 17
Projected
Number of
Beneficiaries
Total Budget
Pledge in Birr Remarks
- 580,382,329
- 76,837,156
3 National NGOs
- 30,513,700
Regional Dev't
-
4 Associations
- -
5 Regional CSOs - - -
1 -
6 Umbrella Orgs
- -
Total 29 57 - 637,085,008
Based on DPFSB of ANRS data
The ECC
works in
other regions
Beneficiaries
not indicated
for FGAE
Beneficiaries
not indicated
Networking
activity
3.3 Participation
Project interventions that each participant undertakes have several sub-components and activities
that are multi-sectoral. Thus, instead of projects, the sectors of NGO project activities are
summarized on Table 5 below to indicate the sectoral focus of projects.
Table 5. Sectoral Focuses of NGO Projects activities
Core Project Focus** No of
Projects
Pastoral and Agro-pastoral 9
Capacity building 6
Education 4
Health 5
Water 6
HIV/AIDS 7
Gender 5
Emergency & food security 8
Youth & OVC 4
Natural resource/Environment 3
Total 57
3.4. Qualitative Information on NSA Sectoral Contributions
Pastoral and Agro-pastoral support:
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Participants: COOPI, Farm Africa, SDD, etc
Activities undertaken: Supported livelihood improvement of pastoralists and agro-pastoralists
through food wage for work and rangeland protection; water harvesting and construction of
ponds; riverbank protection and runoff retention, check dam construction and forage
improvement projects small scale irrigation and extension programmes to introduce agro forestry
and the use of appropriate fodder and trees that increase local food production and animal feed,
etc
Capacity Building:
Participants: APDA, SSD, Lutheran World Federation, Rohi, Farm Africa, Mahi Difu
Activities undertaken: Organizational Capacity building; TOT on community based business
and service management; developing local planning capacity through kebele development
committees (DC) training on PCM, IGA; agro-pastoral women training and awareness raising to
local leaders of traditional institutions and support the regional government in public debate on
traditional practices etc;
Education:
Participants: EECM, ICO, APDA, Missionaries of Charity, etc
Activities undertaken: School renovation and construction, the provision of ABE and nonformal
education; student sponsorship, literacy campaign, non-forma education, local leaders
training, TOT, boarding school for poorer children, etc
Health
Participants: EEMY, Lutheran World Federation, African Medical Research Foundation
(AMRF), etc
Project activities undertaken: prevention and control of malaria infestation, public health
services; reproductive health for nomadic youth; training M. Sc level for Gynaecology surgeons;
training of health personnel in primary health care units in antenatal & postnatal care, FP, STI,
HIV/AIDS; Sensitization in HTP, Pre- marital HIV screening, widow inheritance and FGM as
well as lobbying and advocacy
Water
Participants: SCUSA, SSD, World Vision Ethiopia, COOPI, etc
Major projects implemented: Water development Project for emergency drought relief; deep
and shallow well drilling and water distribution scheme development; training and capacity
building of water users; water point rehabilitation (springs, ponds and roof catchments), water
reservoir construction; urban rural water supply schemes construction; water & sanitation.
HIV/AIDS:
Participants: CARE, Rohi, Lutheran World Federation, World Vision
Activities undertaken: High risk corridor initiative for HIV/AIDS prevention and control along
AA - Djibouti road; care and support to PLWHA and Orphans; preventing new HIV infection;
HIV/AIDS prevention and control through behavioural Change; raising community awareness on
HTP and HIV/AIDS and village level workers training and capacity building;
Gender
Participants: Rohi, COOPI, Mahi Difu, CARE, APDA,
Projects undertaken: Combating Female Genital in afar region; Health improvement & women
Owned Transformation Project (HIWOT Project) and agro-pastoral women training with focus on
women and youth rights in SRH HTP, HIV/AIDS; women credit and IGA support as well as
advocacy and awareness creation on HTP such as FGM, early marriage and others.
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Emergency and Food Security:
Participants: SCUK, SSD, Missionaries of Charity, World Vision, etc
Projects activities undertaken: Early warning strengthening and improve early warning (EW)
systems through the study of livelihood zones, migration patterns, EW data gathering and training
and capacity building to upgrade woreda & kebele EW data flow; Increase Resilience Against
Aggregate Shocks; drought recovery; food aid emergency intervention to assist vulnerable
people; EGA for unskilled pastoralists; food wage for work, supply of farm and pastoral tools, etc
Youth & OVC:
Participants: EECM, Islamic Relief, SCUSA, World Vision, Missionaries of Charity,
Activities undertaken: Orphans and Vulnerable Children support project; Health improvement,
growth monitoring support, orphan support; construction of children’s village (Semera); Positive
Change Children communities; Home for the weak, relief food, school for children, mobile clinic,
activities to reduce the spread of HIV/AIDS and increase care for victims etc
Natural resources/Environment
Participants: World Vision, SSD, Farm Africa
Activities undertaken: the introduction of appropriate tree/seedlings species for dry land agroforestry
development, riverbank protection and runoff retention, rangeland management
environmental resources rehabilitation.
The role of the Private Sector
The level of private sector development in the region is quite low even in the major urban areas
like Logia and Assaitta. Except large scale commercial farms which are owned by private and/or
state, there are no manufacturing industries in the region. Among the major private businesses
that are active in towns especially Logia are merchandise trading, retail shops and services
particularly hotels and accommodations.
Trade Unions
Region wide trade union does not exist in Afar region because of the underdevelopment of
private sector especially the lack of manufacturing industries that would create labour force. So
far, there are only 6 workers associations that have been organized independently in their
respective locations that include Dupti, Gewane, Awash, etc which are state and privately owned
commercial farms and also the MIDROCK marble manufacturing in Awash. The major task of
the workers association is ensuring that employment contracts are in accordance with the laws
applicable and protecting the rights of workers.
Cooperatives
In Afar regional state, cooperatives are the other NSA typology which is large in terms of number
and membership. The establishment and expansion of cooperative started in 2002 and currently
there are about 196 different types with a total of 10,382 members. Nevertheless, the total capital
of these cooperatives is smaller at the time of their formation 6 years ago. Table 6 below depicts
the types of cooperatives, membership and also total capital.
Table 6 Types of cooperative organizations in Afar National Regional State
Membership Total capital at
S/n Type Total No size establishment
1 Irrigation users 28 4,143 519,130
2 Livestock marketing 7 217 112,050
3 Vet service 8 141 18,080
4 Multi-purpose 98 3,919 680,034
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5 Savings & credit 15 575 220,882
6 Milk & milk by-products 5 129 5,350
7 Salt mining & production 24 751 814,050
8 Others 11 507 115,613
Total 196 10,382 2,485,190
4 The dynamics in the sector at regional level
There is an increasing trend in the number of NSA especially NGOs and cooperative
organizations operating in the region. Thus, as compared to the total NGOs in the region
during 2003, there are 10 more NGO that became operational in the region over the last four
years. Moreover, now-a-days an increasing number of both national and international NGOs
are focusing their activities in woredas of zones 2 and 4 which are often less served by NGOs
in the past. Like NGOs, cooperatives have become important organizations that provide
different services for the pastoral community.
Particularly the salt producing and marketing cooperatives are important in generating large
income since Afar is the main source of salt which is one of the essential ingredient of
household food in the entire country. Moreover, cooperatives formed around activities such
as irrigation water supply, vet service, milk and milk products and the marketing of livestock
will have more relevancies for the development and transformation of the agro-pastoral
economy in this region. Maybe, cooperatives are one of the potential areas for NGO
intervention and capacity building support that help to strengthen collective activities.
5 Networking
NSA of the region did not establish network and forums until very recently. The Afar
Pastoralist Forum (APF) is the only NSA forum which was established and launched in
February 2008. Many NSA operating in the region particularly those which had the chance to
participate in the launching workshop consider the forum as an arena for an enhanced
interaction, cooperation and collective action. Prior to the launching of APF, the need for
such a forum was not well understood and the purposes that forums and networks serve are
not well known among NSA including NGOs in the region.
6 Dialogue and cooperation between NSA and Local Government.
There is a more enabling environment for NSA operational in the region. Particularly after
the NGO guideline was prepared and circulated for review and comments by NGOs, there is
a growing willingness to cooperate and work together. As a result, sectoral task forces have
been established and NGOs working in each sector participate in quarterly regular meetings
of their respective task forces. The task forces serve as a GO-NGO forum in which
operational issues are discussed and debated. Apart from discussions and debates on
operational issues, the formation of sectoral task forces has created a favourable condition for
collaboration between sector offices and NGOs and also facilitates the coordination of NGO
project activities.
7 Engagement in Policy Dialogue.
NSA in the region did not engage in any type of policy dialogue with the regional
Government because they do not consider policy dialogue as an activity in which NSA
including NGOs would engage. Even they do not know how NSA in other parts of the
country participated in PASDEP consultation process because they did not have the
opportunity to take part in the discussion.
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Apart from the misconception about policy dialogue, most of the NGO staff does not
understand the necessity of engagement in policy dialogue with the Government. They also
refrain to discuss policy issues since it is considered as sensitive area like political dialogue
which involves the risk of conflict with government officials.
8 Engagement in Political Dialogue
As indicated above, engagement in neither policy nor political dialogue is not the task of
NSA and it is not also the current agenda of GO-NGO task forces. The understanding is that
political engagement is an avenue for the government and politicians and such an engagement
is considered to be too risky for NSA particularly NGOs which have been labelled as
supporters of the opposition parties.
9 Capacity Building Needs of NSA
Major areas capacity building needs are;
• Training to improve the technical and management capacity staff
• Provision of training in the concepts, strategy and methodology of policy and political
dialogue
• Logistics support including vehicles, office equipment (like computers and monitors)
along with ICT capacity building especially for the local NGOs
• Assistance (hardware and software) for regionally based NSA to help them engage in
collective actions through the formation of network and forums
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2. Regional Report Somali
1. General remarks on NSA at territorial level.
1.1. Background about Somali Regional State
• The Somali national regional state (SNRS) is the 3 rd largest region in terms of its
geographic area while the region’s total population is smaller relative to the size of the
total area. The total population of SNRS is estimated at 4.3 million of which three
quarters is classified as pastoral and is dependant on animal husbandry for their
livelihood. Apart from a small percentage of the population engaged in commerce or the
civil service, the remainder is classified as agro-pastoral and is dependent on livestock
(cattle, camel goats and sheep rearing) as well as sedentary farming along river basins as
means of livelihood diversification.
• Due to the predominantly arid climatic condition that characterise the SNRS, the
livelihood of the population is often exposed to major shocks resulting from the
recurrence of drought and rain shortage. Even though there are small farms in some
localities where there is precipitation during major seasons, sedentary agriculture is rare
and mainly confined to areas adjacent to the river banks like the Shebele River.
• SNRS one of the most neglected region where infrastructure like road network,
communication, social and economic infrastructure are underdeveloped. As a result,
social services especially education, health, potable water supply, etc are at a very low
level and it is a region with one of the lowest access to these social services. Although the
development policy pursued in the past overlooked the backward socio-economic
condition of the region, the nature of pastoral and agro-pastoral livelihood on which the
population depends would also impose additional limitation on the development
intervention in his region.
• On top of the underdeveloped infrastructure and social services, the fact that settlements
and villages in rural areas are of temporary nature makes it more difficult for the
development of basic social infrastructure (schools, health facilities, water supply, etc)
since the rural population would not live in permanent places like villages and/or towns.
• Since the agro-climate of the region is predominantly arid, there is a very low
precipitation coupled with dry and hot temperature. Thus, the shortage of rain and hence
feed supply is in scarce supply in most of the months particularly in the dry period that
results in the loss of animals on which the livelihoods of the pastoral population is
dependent. Therefore, in order to overcome this problem, every household should move
from one place to the other in search of feed and water for their animals.
• As indicated already, the nature of livelihood of the population is one of the main reasons
but not the core reason for the low level of infrastructure development and inadequate
access to social services. The cumulative effect is the high level of poverty especially in
rural areas coupled with low level of social services coverage including education, health,
water supply and sanitation. Even though three quarter of the region’s population is
dependent on livestock for its livelihood, there was no proper agricultural extension
tailored to the needs of the pastoralist production system. The region agricultural bureaus
does not have adequate manpower, finance and logistics that enable to provide modern
14

technology like feed and fodder development, vet, vaccination and other extension
services.
• In recognition of the this problem, the Government’s efforts have focused on addressing
the pastoral production system, expanding access to primary education, the construction
of health infrastructure and water supply in order to ensure access to these services. In
education sector, the adoption and expansion of the Alternative Basic Education (ABE)
school system has been a strategy in SNRS which is one of the underserved pastoral and
agro-pastoral areas of the country. Nevertheless, the SNRS has still the second lowest
gross enrolment rate in Ethiopia (20.3%) and the lowest girl’s participation rates (18.3%)
(MOE, 2005). Despite the construction of health infrastructure particularly health posts,
access to health services and health service coverage is also at a very low level because
due to the shortage of trained manpower.
• Apart from the underdeveloped infrastructure and low level of socio-economic
development, the lack of peace and security is an important factor that limits
development in this region. On top of the major war that devastated the livelihood means
and resulted in the loss of life and resources, internal conflicts among clans and also
armed guerrilla that cause intermittent attacks on troops and residents also affects the
normal life of the people in this region.
• Apart from the internal conflicts that occur occasionally, the outbreak of war in Somalia
recently has also have negative impact on the peace and stability of the region. In
addition to imposing difficulties on the governance system of the region, the lack of
peace and security will also impair development efforts since mobility of people will be
difficult. This is also one of the major challenges for NSA especially the NGOs operating
in SNRS.
\NSA in Somali NRS - from the previous mapping
o The presence of few NSAs with limited capacity in this vast and inhospitable area
inhabited mainly by nomadic pastoralists that creates unique challenges for the NSAs;
o National NGOs that are founded by people/elites of the region have been undertaking
very useful development and service delivery activities;
o Two examples of these NGOs interviewed for the study are Mother and Child
Development Organisation and Hope for the Horn. The study mentions the Ogaden
Welfare and Development Association and Pastoral Concern as the other examples of the
other national NGOs interviewed and while Save the Children UK is the only INGO
mentioned to have been operational in the Region.
2. Major highlights of current findings
• Taking into account the livelihoods of the population and also its susceptibility to
disasters linked with drought and rain shortage, interventions that target pastoral
production systems like livestock feed and fodder, vet and vaccination services and water
supply are major thematic areas of NSA especially NGOs in SNRS. In addition, food
security and emergency programs like relief food and water supply are also important
areas of intervention.
• Due to the lack of basic social and economic infrastructure like school, health and potable
water, there are also projects that aim at the construction of these facilities in order to
15

ensure the access to these services while others are engaged in the provision of education
and health services.
• In addition to local NGOs, there are also few number of civil society organizations of
various types which are established in urban areas like Jigiga and other major towns of
the region. While women and youth associations are the major ones, anti HIV/AIDS
clubs and forums, pastoralist forums, Iddirs, savings and credit associations are also
important civil society organizations. But their activities are limited since they were
established recently.
• In SNRS, the prevalence of HIV/AIDS is currently much higher in urban areas like Jigiga
as compared to the rural areas of the region. More over, the prevalence rate is higher
among the young and women living in urban areas. Therefore, NSA like youth and
women groups are more active in urban areas while such organized groups are less
visible in rural areas where the prevalence rate is low. Nevertheless, CBO especially
Iddirs are not merged like in other major towns to engage in non-traditional activities like
the provision of care and support for PLWHA and/or facilitate donor support for local
social development.
• The total number of NGOs operating in SNRS is very small in relation to the population
and severity of social and economic problems prevailing in this region. This is
particularly true for local NGOs which do not also have the capacity and resources
required to engage in development and service provision activities that they perceive to
do. Only a couple of these NGOs have been operational for a little more than ten years
while many of them were formed very recently and hence are at low level of maturity.
• Local NGOs in Somali region are in most cases organized alone clan lines and their
activities are also confined to the areas inhabited by the clans which they want to serve.
Moreover, occasional social conflict on resources (pasture land and grazing area, water
sources, etc) among clans and also the narrowly focused local NGO operation restricts
cooperation and collaboration among local NGOs. Thus, social capital mobilization is
weak due to the limited number of NSA and because of clan based organisation that
weakens intra-clan operation, networking, collaboration and collective actions.
• While activities that address basic problems of pastoral and agro-pastoral livelihood are
the major sector of engagement for NGOs including INGO operating in the region,
emergency programs aimed at the mitigation of disasters are also important areas of
engagement. Targeting disaster and the vulnerabilities associated with famine and food
shortages are the main thematic area for a large number of the international NGOs that
started operating in the region over a decade ago.
• Resource limitation and access to project fund is a crucial problem for indigenous NGOs
especially those which were formed recently and hence, these NGOs often compete for
similar resources and funding sources. The access to funding sources often depends on
the strength of NGO management to network and link with large INGO and also sector
offices at regional levels. Some of these NGOs that have strong linkage with these
funding sources have started to enter into subcontract arrangement for the
implementation of development and/or humanitarian activities. Such arrangement is in
most cases for the funds provided by multilateral agencies like UNICEF which do not
directly implement projects for themselves but would channel funds through regional
sector bureaus into the local NGOs with whom sector offices like education, health and
BoLSA enter project implementation agreement.
16

• The scope of activities that an NGO undertakes also reflects its capacity, maturity level
and also experience in the management of project implementation. Thus, mature NGOs
are those which have long years of experience and which have been implementing
programs and project activities of wider coverage both in terms of geographic area and
the beneficiary population they reach. Hope for the Horn (HFH) and Ogaden Welfare and
Development Organization (OWDO) are among the examples of indigenous NGOs with
rich experience and wider coverage.
• Since the local NGOs which are established recently do not have access to funding
sources, their programs and projects are usually of short term duration. The lack of
permanent funding sources has therefore forced them to serve as ‘gap fillers’. Such
activities which characterises these NGOs are usually activities of short durations like
crisis management and emergency responses through relief food distribution and water
supply which are common activities during crisis.
• NSA in Somali region is different from many of the other regions in that the chamber of
commerce is less active despite the presence of a representative office. Thus, traders in
the main towns are not properly linked to the Ethiopian Chamber of Commerce network
and this uniqueness could be probably attributed to the prevalence of ‘smuggling’ which
used to characterise the nature of trading activities in this region until very recently.
Similarly, labour union and/or workers associations are not actively operational at the
moment except the teachers association.
• Though NGOs operating in the region are thinly scattered over a vast geographic area,
they should have to engage in diverse thematic areas and meantime face numerous
challenges in order to address the multi-faceted social and economic problems of the
pastoral population. While the traditional beliefs and taboos are major challenges by
themselves, the recurrences of natural disaster resulting from drought and rain shortages
and also manmade factors such as war and internal conflicts also impose major restriction
on the operation of NSA. Therefore, the challenge for NSA operation is numerous and
more complex as the arena of engagement is infinite.
• It is difficult to access all zones and woredas of the region since there is no well
developed road network. Most of the roads are dry weather roads which are inaccessible
during rainy season and because of this, private transport services are not available during
rainy season while long distance travel to regional towns like Gode is usually by plane.
Thus, lack of transport and hence the difficulty involved and also the time spent
travelling between zones and woredas is an important challenge for NGO operation.
• Even though the primary objective of decentralisation is to make services more
responsive to community needs and also to facilitate participatory planning at woreda
level, the process of decentralisation has not yet translated into improved services due to
human resource constraints and a lack of technical capacity at woreda level government
offices. An evidence for the weak capacity of government offices at woreda level is the
sub-contract arrangement between NGOs and sector offices for the implementation of
projects in areas where government offices are less effective.
• Moreover, the accountability of government officials and civil society participation in the
governance process is limited. Thus, community voices are rarely heard since civil
society organizations lack the experience to engage in collective action which enable
17

them to have collective voices that make government accountable and transparent in its
decisions.
3. Profile and distribution of NSA at Regional Level.
3.1. Profile of NSA.
Table 1. Somali region NSA typologies and size
NSA Typology Number Examples
NGOs = 37 54
International NGOs 22 SC-UK, SC USA, OXFAM GB, Mercy
Corps, (CCM), MSF – Greece, Medicine
Demond, MSF – Holland, ACDI/VOCA,
HI, etc
National NGOs (Active) 17 HFH, PWO), OWDA, PDRA, UNISOD,
ARRDO, ShDSA, SRS, PCAE, MCDO,
EWS, etc
Regional Registered NGOs
Regional Development
Associations
15 RECA, ESDA, HFMC, DERO, CDO
(Tabantabo), ICBO, ADA, EUD,
HAVOYOLO, etc
FBOs (national and international) 2 HCS, SIM
Reg. apex/Networking
Organisations
1 Somali Pastoralist Forum
Advocacy and Human rights
Organizations
- -
Economic and business interest -
groups
a) Cooperatives
b) Union of Cooperatives
Age, gender, health-status and
other occupation related
Associations
Regionally registered Youth
Association
� Region-wide basic Youth Asso.
� Region-wide Youth Clubs
Reg. registered Associations of/for
Women
Reg. registered Elderly and
Disability Asso.
Reg. registered Asso. of PLWHA
Free Press;
Community based organisations
basic Iddirs in Jigiga Town
2 Ethiopian Somali Youth, Development
Association, Somali Youth Association
1 Ethiopian Women Self-Help Association
18

3.2. Activities and Sector Distribution
Qualitative areas of contribution
On the qualitative point of view the contribution of NSA can be summarised by the following table:
Table 3 NSA Sectoral Contribution
Qualitative areas of contribution Quantitative
contributions
Mass Based Only Iddirs are available but they are not
Associations
Local
Development
Association
The local
NGOs
The Local
Associations
active
Somali Women Self-Help Ass (now
Ethiopian Women Self-Help Ass is active
in awareness creation and sensitization on
HTP, FGM, etc
Significant contribution in health,
education and emergency responses
New initiatives that target awareness
raising on women’s rights and roles, the
sensitisation of youth and community on
specific areas such as HIV/AIDS
prevalence and prevention and also the
support to OVC and PLWHA in towns
NNGOs Integrated pastoral development projects
that focus on fodder crops and rangeland
management, sedentary agric and
irrigation, water supply for livestock and
people, the development of health,
education, food security and emergency
responses, drought mitigation,
environmental protection, capacity
building, gender, micro business, etc.
INGOs Pastoral Livelihood Initiative (PLI) Early
Warning and drought management
projects, food security & disaster
prevention, health system support and
basic health services, animal health,
HIV/AIDS, strengthening Alternative
Basic Education (ABE), Conflict
prevention and resolution,
FBOs Natural resource and environment as well
as relief services
Iddirs and
CBOs
Relatively slow in growth and still they are
more traditional in orientation
19
Not documented
but it can be
considered as an
important
contributor
Mostly
documented in
project agreements
Not document, but
highly dynamic
and growing in
quantity and in
qualitative terms
Documented in
project agreements
& indicated during
the discussions
Mostly
documented in
project agreements
Mostly
documented in
project agreements
Not documented
and do not have
major role
Trends of Participation
and Contribution
Recently there is an
increase in women’s
participation in this
activities
Participation may grow
and will likely be
important contributors
Increasing awareness
among women/youth
to participate and
enhance their
contribution
Growing participation
and contribution is also
appreciable
More focus on
capacity building and
funding support for
local NGOs to
implement projects
Very few to have
significant impacts
Slow growth;
traditional funeral
services are their main
activities

3.3. Summary of Values and Beneficiaries of Ongoing NGO Projects
The following table summarises the current ongoing projects implemented by NGOs:
Table 4. No of beneficiaries and total budget of ongoing NGO Projects in BSGR
S/No
1
2
3
4
5
6
NSA
Typology
No of
Org.
Summary of NGO's Ongoing Projects as of
No of
Projects
Projected
Number of
Beneficiaries
Total Budget
Pledge in
Birr Remarks
Beneficiaries not
indicated, not all
woredas covered
(multiple projects)
International
NGOs
Faith based
Nat and
12 19 > 41 woredas 69,283,903
International
The HCS works in
Orgs 2 3 6 woredas 1,006,169 other regions
Not beneficiary but
coverage of
National
woredas/multiple
NGOs
Regional
Dev't
17 54 > 50 woredas 65,584,957 projects
Associations
Regional
- - - - At preparation stage
CSOs - - - - -
SPF has been
Umbrella
launched but not
Orgs - - - - operational yet
Total 31 76 >50 woredas 135,875,029
Based on SRS DPPB data
3.3. Sectoral Participation
Both INGO and local NGOs engage in diverse activities that range from multi-sectoral
development intervention to emergency response program. As shown on the following table, the
provision of basic service like health and education are also sectors that several NGO projects
target.
20

Table 5. Sectoral Focuses of NGO Projects
Core Project Focus No of
Projects Remark
Pastoral Livelihood Initiative 4 Provision of livelihood support to prevent disaster, reduce
vulnerability and enhance coping capacity of the pastoral
community
Education 6 Construction of schools, provision of alternative basic
education (ABE), run formal schools & provide community
– based informal education
Pastoral and agro-pastoral 3 Pastor land management, feed & fodder supply, livestock
disease and vet services
Integrated development 9 Multi-sector projects including animal husbandry, water
supply, agriculture (irrigation, horticulture, etc) and
Emergency, drought recovery
& food security
environmental rehabilitation
9 Early warning support, emergency response (food
distribution & water supply, food security and productive
safety projects
Health 6 Construction of health facilities & infrastructure, community
– based health care and running health centres (clinics,
health posts, etc)
Child Development & OVC 2 Community-based care, livelihood promotion and support
for poor children
Capacity building 5 Community organization and various training support
HIV/AIDS, communicable
diseases and family planning
including skill development
6 Awareness rising on HIV/AIDS prevalence, care and
support for PLWHA and also the prevention and control of
Natural resource management 4
HIV/AIDS spread
Introduction of drought resistance trees, agro- forestry, soil
and environmental protection
and water conservation and natural resource rehabilitation
Water supply and sanitation 8 Construction of dams for water harvesting, water supply and
distribution schemes, water and environmental sanitation
Gender, Women and girls 4 Advocacy for gender equality, awareness creation,
empowerment
sensitization on HTP and FGM, IGA and business support
for poor and marginalised women
Peace building 2 Management of conflict rising among clans
Other 4 Livestock marketing, HIV/AIDS memory work, etc
Total 72
3.4 Qualitative Information on NSA Sectoral Contributions
Pastoral and agro-pastoral development
• Participants include HH, OWDA (local), OXFAM GB, ICO, etc
• Project activities undertaken: Intervention projects that enhances pastoral production and
livestock development including
o Livestock disease, and the construction of vet clinics and the provision of
vaccination
o fodder seed supply and rangeland management;
o Small scale irrigation for horticulture crops
o Environmental protection/mitigation & community capacity building, micro
business & organization of groups to promote coop development.
21

Education
o Participation in the sector: SCF/UK , ICO, APVA, PDRA, etc;
o Activities undertaken: Education project activities range from the construction of
schools to the provision of services in both rural and urban areas of the region. A number
of them are engaged in school construction and the delivery of alternative basic education
(ABE) which is the strategy of the adopted by the regional government in order to expand
education service coverage. Among the INGO, SCUK is pioneer in promoting ABE in
this region and nationwide. Currently, SCUK is in the preparation to launch a new project
named Thematic Plan Programme (TPP) which is aimed at improving the quality of ABE
starting with pilot project in two woredas of Shinile zone, SNRS. SCUK new project and
also its advocacy for TPP project is one of the NSA initiatives displayed under “best
practice’ section of the main report.
Health
o Participation: CCM,MSF- Greece, HFH, OWDO, etc
o Health related activities: Construction of health facilities and health infrastructure
(clinics, health posts, etc); community – based health care services and health
capacity building to strengthen preventive health care, training of community based
health workers (CBHCW) and health extension agents. Some local NGOs especially
OWDA is currently delegated to manage a government hospital.
Water supply
o Participants in the activity: HH, OWDO, SRS, etc
o Major project activities: Several projects for water harvesting including dam
construction like the Haji Salah Dam (adopted from Sudan and each with capacity of
45,000m 3 ) for water harvesting and supply to people and livestock. For example the
local NGO known as Hope for the Horn has constructed 13 Kaji Salah Dams that is
currently serving over 1.5 million people and more than half a million cattle. Apart
from water harvesting schemes like Birka and dam construction, there are also many
NSA that participate in emergency water supply and water trucking to address
incidences of water crisis which is a common problem in the region.
Emergency and food security
o Participants in the activities:
o Project activities: These activities are intervention areas where both government
and NGOs undertake joint and collaborative activities. Early warning support and
capacity building, emergency response through the distribution of relief food to
needy people and also the supply of water for people as well as animals are the major
emergency response activities carried out when ever there is drought and food
shortages. In addition, drought management, food security and productive safety
projects are also ongoing projects implemented by local and international NGOs. The
region’s Rural and Agriculture Bureau and major NGOs engaged in emergency
programs have formed the Rural and Agriculture Task Force (RATF) which is the
strongest and most active GO-NGO forum in the region that has been effective in
implementing and coordinating emergency programmes.
Child Development & OVC
o Participation: MCDO, ARRDO, CC-SDCOH, JECCDO, PROPRIDE
o Activities undertaken: Provision of integrated support like nutrition, access to
education as well as the provision of education materials to vulnerable children in
urban and rural areas; life skills training, provision of vocational skills and also start
22

up support that enable them to engage in some income generation and self
employment.
HIV-AIDS
o Participation: Handicap International, SCUK, MCDO, ESWSH ass.
o Activities undertaken: Most of the activities of these NSA are awareness raising
and life skills for the reduction of HIV risk. SCUK has a new project known as
‘Memory work’ in Jigiga town and this project assesses and records the memory
of orphans who lost their parents due to HIV/AIDS. MCDO has diverse projects
that range from awareness rising to the provision of care and support for
PLWHA. It also undertakes advocacy and sensitization against HTP like FGM in
K/beya and Awbare. Apart from his, a couple of youth and women association
which were formed recently have the primary objective of addressing HIV/AIDS
and the provision of care and support services for PLWHA. Nevertheless, the
existing NSA that undertake HIV/AIDS related activities are relatively few and
they are also younger.
4. Private Sector NSA
Smuggling is the major trading activity which is probably the major factor that contributed to
retarded growth of the private sector in the region. NSA in Somali region is different from many
of the other regions because traders in the main towns are not properly linked to the Ethiopian
Chamber of Commerce network. Though a representative office is present in Jigiga, the chamber
of commerce is also less active.
Trade Unions
Since there is no a vibrant private sector that could create labour forces, regionally based labour
union is not available in the Somali region at the moment. Moreover, professional associations
have not been formed except the teachers association which is currently operational mainly in
protecting teachers’ rights and ensuring benefits to which members are entitled.
Cooperatives
The establishment of the Cooperative Promotion Bureau in 2002/03 marks a turning point in the
development of cooperatives in Somali Regional State. Since then, the number of basic
cooperatives established every year has been increasing and currently there are a total of 320
cooperatives with 11,359 membership size and a little over 1 million Birr available capital
size 11,359.
Agricultural producers and then multi-purpose cooperatives are the largest in number and
membership sizes while craftsmanship and petty trading basic cooperatives are the two largest
cooperative types in terms of available capital. Table 6 below shows the types, number of each
type and also the membership sizes and capital of basic cooperatives established in the region.
Table 6 shows the dimension of the cooperatives in SNRS
23

Table 6 Basic Cooperatives in Somali
S/N Type of Basic
Cooperatives
Number of
Basic
Cooperativ
es
Membership Size
Male Female Total
Availa
ble
Capita
l
In Birr
1 Agricultural producers 117 2,807 895 3,702 23,223
2 Multi-purpose 91 2,508 842 3,350 16,280
3 Service 14 200 79 279 30,820
4 Saving & credit 11 1 166 167 80,200
5 Animal trade 5 809 216 1,025 14,652
6 Housing 5 177 26 203 66,800
7 Craftsmanship 10 171 117 288 186,23
0
8 Petty trading 43 273 465 738 327,03
0
9 Consumers 4 298 91 389 49,400
10 Producers 4 465 32 497 60,270
11 Irrigation 9 240 117 357 79,855
12 Construction 1 152 7 159 43,700
13 Salt production 1 42 8 50 50,000
14 Baltena/food stuff 1 - 19 19 4,200
15 Rental of horse for cart 2 111 - 111 19,500
16 Poultry 1 12 - 12 17,000
17 Rural midwifery 1 13 - 13 1,450
Total 320 8,279 3,080 11,359 1,070,
610
5. The dynamics in the sector at regional level
Even though the total number of NGOs operational in the region is smaller relative to the
geographic area and the multitude of problems faced, there is an increasing trend in the number of
newly formed indigenous NGOs. The regional task forces (GO – NGO) is also a new
development which shows the growing degree of cooperation and collaborate between sector
offices and the NGO sector. Moreover, networking initiatives like the recently formed Somali
Pastoralist forum is the new development in the region which indicates an important dynamism
going on within the NGOs and especially the interest to engage in collective action. On top of the
increase in local NGOs, the ongoing consultation to form education forum and other networking
activities indicate the likely growth in forums and networks that would enhance NGO
participation in the regional social and economic development.
In Somali region there are both positive and negative factors that exert pressure on the operation,
performances and growth of NSA. The major factors that influences dynamism of NSA sector in
the region includes the following;
o A major factor with negative influence on NGO operation is the prevailing security
situation within the region and also the areas bordering Somalia. Due to the ongoing
conflict in these areas, the mobility of NGO staff has been restricted particularly in zones
that share border with Somalia and also those areas where the attack by opposition forces
occur intermittently. Under such insecure situation, it is difficult to expect the emergence
24

of new NGOs and also for existing ones to extend their activities to the areas where
security is a major problem.
o The other negative factors are the large geographic area of the region which involves high
logistic cost particularly due to the long distance travel between zones and woredas
located far away from each other. Moreover, the harsh climate and the recurrence of
drought and rain shortage would also influence the growth of NGO operation in the
region because it imposes limitation on the effectiveness of long term development
programs of NGOs.
o An important development that would help to promote the growth and operation of NSA
is the initiative taken recently to network NGOs and also to strengthen the partnership of
GO-NGO. In addition, there is a healthy relationship and ongoing consultation to build
collaborative partnership between NGO and sector offices which is a good start that will
attract new NGOs to the region. During the mission’s work, various interest groups like
youth, women and urban dwellers that became aware of the EC civil society capacity
building support (CSF) have indicated the initiatives already in progress to form
associations in order to benefit from the CSF.
6. Networking
There was no any form of networking among NSA in the region which is very small in number
and their activities are also sparsely scattered. A recent development in the NGO sector is the
establishment of forums particularly the Somali pastoralist forum. Representatives of five NGOs
have been selected to prepare the groundwork and organize the forum office.
In order to resume its activities, the forum has already secured an office while the recruitment of
core staff is in progress. Similarly, NGOs in the region have also taken the initiative to form
education forum and the main purpose of this forum is to facilitate efforts towards
increasing/improving the technical, human and material support of stakeholders to basic
education in Somali region.
Accordingly, the draft guideline of the education forum that has been prepared is already in
circulation in order to get comments and feedback as part of the ongoing consultation among
NGOs and the relevant regional government organs. The GO – NGO education forum is intended
to build collaborative partnerships that harmonize efforts and resources of all stakeholders in
education and that creates enabling environment of mutual understanding, cooperation,
transparency and trust between regional government and NSA.
7. Dialogue and cooperation between NSA and Local Government.
There is a good work relation with the sector bureaus and many of the NGOs participate in the
coordination of PASDEP activities of the respective sector in which they are engaged. A more
recent development is the GO – NGO task force that brings sector bureau experts and
representatives of NGOs that undertake various sector specific activities. The Regional
Agriculture Task Force (RATF) which is chaired by the regional agriculture bureau head with
FAO representative serving as its secretary is the most active TF. It is also the strongest of all in
terms of sector office and NGO collaboration and effectiveness in synchronizing their program
activities in the areas of agriculture and emergency responses. RATF has recently drafted its
agricultural sector based emergency response plan and implementation strategy for appeals in
order to coordinate humanitarian activities in the region. Based on the lessons learned from the
experiences of RATF coordination functions, the other NGOs and sector offices like education
25

and health are also in the process of consultation to initiate similar collaboration and coordination
in their respective activity sectors.
8. Engagement in Policy Dialogue.
Generally there is a lack of adequate understanding about policy dialogue and its purpose. Such
an engagement is considered to be sensitive and hence it is assumed that engagement in policy
should not be NGO activity area since it is a task for the Government. The environment for policy
engagement is not also favourable since the activities of NSA is widely scattered across a vast
geographic area. Thus, collective engagement especially in policy dialogue among NGOs would
more likely become realistic with the commencement of the newly formed Somali pastoralist
forum which could serve as a test centre or model from which others will learn the importance of
networking and particularly the need for collective voices like policy dialogue.
9. Engagement in Political Dialogue
What was stated in relation to engagement in policy dialogue also applies to political dialogue.
The NSA consulted consider engagement in policy dialogue to be too sensitive because they
understand that policy dialogue is synonymous to political dialogue. Therefore, engagement in
both policy and political dialogue is felt risky. Moreover, engagement in political dialogue is also
considered as an arena of the government and political parties while the task of NGOs is
development and service provision.
10. Internal Organisation and Resources
INGO are organized along country level structure linking the region with federal level. At the
local level, they use simple program coordination units managed by permanent employees that
serve as core technical staff which are retained irrespective of the scope of activities carried out.
In order to relieve the core staff from work load, additional workers will be employed whenever
there are new programs/project activities. Thus, high staff turnover is common in many NGOs
since the employment of technical staff that will be hired for duration commensurate with project
lifespan will be terminated when the project phases out.
At regional level, the area program coordinators are delegated with the authority to make
decisions on the day to day management of programs while the management at Federal level
provides guidance on overall policy and strategy issues. Nevertheless, the executive power given
to regional NGO staffs differ from one NGO to the other. For example, the responsibility of
OXFAM GB program manager is to supervise and monitor project execution by local NGOs for
whom it provides funding supports while the decision to fund projects is taken by the top
management in Addis Ababa.
The organization and management structure of local NGOs differ significantly especially in the
case of indigenous ones which have internal organization and resources management set up at the
regional level. All NGOs have organizational structure and articles of associations that properly
describe the goal/vision, objectives and areas of engagement. This does not however mean that
their activities and the procedure of decision making is usually governed by the articles but these
documents are prepared and submitted to the Bureau of Justice (BoJ) because these are among the
requirements that should be fulfilled in order to get registered and also to secure operational
permits.
Even though many local NGOs have internal organizations consisting of governance board,
management and various functional units, in practice it is the board itself that provides the day to
26

day management functions. Most decision making activities are carried out by the NGO Board if
the NGOs operate in more than one region while the local NGOs operating only in Somali region
are managed by either a Board or a committee of the founding members. The larger local NGOs
like HFH and OWDO have structures stretching from Board to project unit at local level. Their
decision making power also depends on the resources they manage. Nevertheless, in practice, the
recently formed local NGOs do not have tangible organizational structures and leadership that
could fully engage in day to day management activities because they are less active due to the
lack of adequate fund needed to implement the proposed projects. Since the governance board
members are the founders, there is no regular general assembly because they do not usually have
membership and/or are not dependent on members’ contributions as funding sources. It is only in
the case of the Ethiopia Somali Youth development association which is under formation that
raising fund from members’ registrations and contributions has been noted as source of fund.
In most cases, local NGO management which is also the board lacks transparency in its functions
and decision making activities particularly in relation to finance and resource usage. Under the
existing situation where there is no monitoring system, it is difficult to expect efficiency and
effectiveness of the internal organization and their management to be transparent and accountable
to their constituencies. According to the observations of resourceful individuals consulted, there
are also cases in which NGO management board/committee members clash and enter into conflict
for personal benefits.
11. Capacity Building Needs
The existing capacity of most NSA is too limited to participate and contribute to the regional
development endeavours. Among the major capacity problems faced are the lack of skilled
manpower, the shortages of financial resource and logistic problems. In the case of member based
NSA, the registration and contribution collected from members is insignificant to cover these
costs and hence they will not be able to pursue with the existing capacity. Capacity limitation is
also a major problem for local NGOs especially the newly formed ones who have to depend on
either the INGO or sector office for logistics.
Generally, the major capacity limitations are as summarized below;
o Shortage of skilled manpower due to the high staff turnover
o Lack of access to training including on the job training
o Financial shortages to finance operational costs
o Logistics like vehicle, office furniture and equipment (computers, printers, etc)
o Most NSA do not have the knowledge and experience that enable to engage in policy and
political dialogue
27

3. Harari Regional Report
1. General remarks on NSA at territorial level.
Background about Harari
Harari is a small region by traditional relatively isolated from the major national dynamics and
therefore having a peculiar social organisation and model of social relationship.
The native population of Harari People National Regional State is estimated at 196,000,
consisting of 100,000 men and 96,000 women. 74,000 or 37.8% of the population are estimated
to be rural inhabitants, while 122,000 or 62.2% are urban. With an estimated area of 311.25
square kilometres, this region has an estimated density of 629.72 people per square kilometre.
These estimates are based on the 1994 census, in which the region's population was reported to be
131,139 and a male to female ratio of about 1:1. At the time of the census, 76,378 lived in urban
areas, while 54,761 lived in rural ones; it is the only region where the majority of its population
lives in urban area. However, a consistent decline in rainfall and water precipitation in the last
three decades and the series of attendant droughts; internal and external social conflicts; and
virulent mismanagement of human and natural resources instigated an unending series of rural
migrations and urban congestions.
Ethnic groups in the region include the Oromo (52.3%), Amhara (32.6%), Harari (7.1%), and
Gurage (3.2%). The Harari language is the official language of the State.
The religious composition of the population of the region indicated that 60.3% were Muslims,
38.2% were Orthodox Christian, 0.9% Protestant, 0.55 Catholic, and 0.1% followers of other
religions.
It is estimated in 2005 that farmers in Harari had a total 31,730 head of cattle (representing less
than 0.1% of Ethiopia's total cattle), 3,440 sheep (less than 0.1%), 26,910 goats (0.21%), 6,320
asses (0.25%), 31,430 poultry of all species (0.1%), and 670 beehives (less than 0.1%).
The regional capital town, Harar is a fortified town. The walls surrounding this sacred Muslim
city were built between the 13th and 16th centuries. Harar Jugol, said to be the fourth holiest city
of Islam, numbers 82 mosques, three of which date from the 10th century, and 102 shrines.
a. NSA in Harari - from the previous mapping
The previous mapping study highlights the fact that in Harari NSA are very few and also rather
weak. The study ascribed a considerable potential to the Harar Relief and Development
Association (HARDA) which has been found no more active and was pended by local
government.
Also the 2004 Mapping study underlines the scarce presence of organisations working on Human
rights, in the Private Sector and in the Professional Associations, excluding the regional chapter
of EWLA, which cannot be considered a Professional Association.
Major highlights of current findings
28

The Major characteristics can be summarised as follows:
• The Civil Society is relatively young: most of the Civic Associations met have been
established in the last ten years;
• High level of mushrooming of CBOs: many Iddirs and Afochas are being created or
revived in the effort to mobilise the communities in the development effort. These
two kinds of organisation at their origin where mostly gathering the Muslim for the
Afochas and the Christians for the Iddirs, but nowadays there are Christians who join
the Afochas and Muslim who join the Iddirs, mostly according to territorial
characteristics. This sector of the Civil Society is showing a high level of vitality and
has made an effort for joining the activities to achieve a critical mass and to scale-up
their activities in relationship with the government and the other sectors of the Civil
Society. Even if this process appears rather top-down it has to be considered that two
regional unions have been created the first one clustering 52 Iddirs and the second
one clustering 44 Afochas. All the 96 organisations form a Regional Network of
Iddirs and Afochas. These CBOs have 18.900 members and 300 executive members ;
• High number of associations working on highly related issues (e.g. HIV-AIDS):
the very recent growth dynamic has mobilised the youth to create associations and
clubs but the disordered growth of these organisations has produced some
overlapping between associations who work in the same territorial area. This
condition generates some concurrency effect which is likely to hinder the creation of
regional networks or thematic platforms and the merging of some organisations with
the aim of strengthening their constituencies to produce a higher impact at territorial
level;
• Specific phenomenon of young professional who create professional association
to work on development and search opportunities for employment: Harar is a
region where unemployment is an important problem and the issue of unemployment
appears more critical for the youth. So there in different cases young professional
have created an association with the dual scope of engaging in the development
process and at the same time find employment opportunities. Evidences from the
field work ( findings of the FGDs) show that the emulative effect has produced the
formation of some of these associations
• Gradual transformation of Iddirs and Afochas from the traditional role to
Social Welfare or Self-Help CBOs: as found also in other situations this is an
outstanding trend which qualifies these organisations as potential development
partners. In this case some elements have to be modified because in some of these
organisations backward-minded approaches are still adopted (for example the
practice of restricting the access to the organisation for those who have not yet
formed a family). This change has also been ratified by a recent Regional By-law.
Profile and distribution of NSA at Regional Level
b. Profile of NSA
The Organisation registered and licensed by the Bureau of Justice of Harari People Regional
State are a number of 269. The following tables show their distribution in the different
categories:
29

Table 1 Organisations registered and licensed Harari Regional State
Typology Number
NGOs and Development Associations 12
Youth Association 65
Anti-Aids Clubs 31
Charity Organisations 9
Professional Associations 12
Women Associations 9
CBOs 125
Art Associations 6
TOTAL 269
Source : Regional BoJ Register of Associations
The above data are shown in the chart below:
NGOs and Development
Associations
Youth Association
Anti-Aids Clubs
Charity Organisations
Professional Associations
Women Associations
CBOs
Table 2, below presents the profile of NSA typologies in Harari Region including the
organisation registered at federal level:
Table 1. BSG NSA typologies and size
Art Associations
NSA Categories Example
1. NGOs = 11
1 International NGOs = 3 MfM, IIRO, SOS Children, Cheshire
Services
1 National NGOs = 8 Diket Ethiopia, FAWE-Ethiopia, Ethiopia
Initiative Development (EID, SoS Infants
Ethiopia, Foundation for Community
Development, Amana Kids Organization,
Messengers of Love
1 Regional Registered NGOs =
2. Regional Development Associations =
3. FBOs (national and international) = 3 Emmanuel United Church Development,
EOC-CFAO, Harar Emmanuel Baptist
Church Child Development
31

4. Reg. apex/Networking Organisations = 1 PANE Regional Chapter Harar
5. Advocacy and Human rights Organizations
6. Economic and business interest groups
6 a) Cooperatives 233
6 b) Union of Cooperatives =
6 c) Chamber of Commerce and Sector Ass. = 1
7. Trade and labour unions
8. Professional Associations = 2
Age, gender, health-status and other
9.
occupation related Associations
9 Regionally registered Youth Association =
� Region-wide basic Youth Ass. =
� Region-wide Youth Clubs =
9 Reg. registered Associations of/for Women =
9 Reg. registered Elderly and Disability Asso. =
9 Reg. registered Asso. of PLWHA =
10. Free Press
11. Community based organisations -
Activities and Sector Distribution
On the qualitative point of view the contribution of NSA can be summarised by the following
table:
Table 2
Local
Development
Association
The local
NGOs
Qualitative areas of contribution Quantitative
contributions
No longer active and pended by BoJ
localized actions in service delivery,
awareness raising, self-help and
awareness raising, support services
for marginalised layers of the
population
INGOs Mostly engaged in Education
programs with the exception of IIRO,
engaged in Health service Provision
Iddirs and
CBOs
Grassroots
Associations
through the activity of a clinic
support services for vulnerable and
weaker segments of society, social
infrastructures, income generation
activities, HTP, HIV-AIDS
Most of them are Youth
Organisations and Anti-Aids Clubs
32
Mostly not
documented in
project agreements
even if funded by
public bodies such as
the AIDS Secretariat
Mostly documented
in project agreements
Not documented but
can be one of the
important trends to be
considered
Not documented but
can be one of the
important trends to be
considered
Trends of
Participation and
Contribution
May grow fast
Fast growing
participation and
level of
organisational
internal growth
Fast growing

Association
of
Professionals
Economic
and Business
Interest
Groups
Technical support in different fields
(legal advice, multi-disciplinary
support) advocacy on sectoral issues
Representing constituency interests,
dialogue and discussion with
government. facilitating linkages, and
creating opportunities for members
Not documented but Growing
a peculiar feature of
the region
Not documented, Weak condition
The Table 6 below shows the sectoral distribution of the pledged budget. Education has the lion
share due to the fact that it is focused on secondary education and VET whose unit cost are
remarkably higher than those of Basic education, the second level of pledges is for Child
Development.
Table 6 Sectoral Distribution of Pledged Budget
Sector Pledged budget %
Education 40.047.300 73,3
Women and girls 964950 1,8
Child Development 11.684.901 21,4
Environment 467123 0,9
Health 843000 1,5
Disabled 336000 0,6
Family Planning 259844 0,5
TOTAL 54.603.118 100,0
Source DPPA
The chart below shows the distribution:
Sectoral Distribution of pledged budget
Education
Women and girls
Child Development
Environment
Health
Disabled
Family Planning
Activities and Sectoral Contributions
c. General Overview
International NGOs mobilise the majority of the resources, followed by FBOs. Local NGOs show
a rather low capacity of resources mobilisation.
33

d. Summary of Values and Beneficiaries of Ongoing NGO Projects
The following table summarises the current ongoing projects implemented by NGOs:
Projected No
of
Total budget
pledged Birr Remarks
No of No of
NSA Typology Agencies Projects Beneficiaries
International NGOs
Faith based Nat and
4 8 24.859 41.426.300 ----
International Orgs 3 3 42863 8.731.449,5 -----
National NGOs 7 7 5161 4.445.318 ------
Total 14 18 72.883 54.603,118,5 ------
Source: DPPA Harari
e. Sectoral Participation
A large number of projects are targeted on Youth and anti-Aids issues, since the growth of the
Youth grassroots associations and Anti-Aids Associations and Clubs is an outstanding
phenomenon at regional level.
Education and Child development are the major areas where NGOs have established stronger
participation. 6 Projects are focused on provision of secondary and Vocational Education (mainly
in agricultural vocational fields). The second area is Child Development with five projects. It can
bee said that while Education and Child Development are the major operational areas for NGOs
(both national and international since Educational Activities are administered by the INGO
Menschen für Menschen, that is a good partner of the Government),
Table 5. Sectoral Focuses of NGO Projects
Core Project Focus* No of
Projects Remark
Education 5 Mostly formal secondary education and TVET
Child Development 6 Integrated care and health care
Health, including RH and
HIV/AIDS
2 Clinical Services for mothers and children
Water and sanitation 1** Including irrigation, , potable water, etc.
Population and Family 1 Integrated Family Planning
Planning
Aids and Youth Not
documented
Sensitization, awareness raising and prevention of
AIDS
Rehabilitation of disabled 1 Integrated package of medical care ,
physiotherapy and social empowerment for the
disabled
Women and girls 3 Scholarships for Girls
Prevention of HTP (FGM)
Mainly training and IGA for urban marginalised
women in the field of traditional basketry and
sewing (cooperatives) **
Environmental sanitation 1 Construction of sanitation and sewerage systems
Social Welfare, Self-help, Not Roads and community infrastructure construction,
34

micro credit and community documented water harvesting and distribution micro-schemes
infrastructure construction ****
Total 21
* Some project are based on multi-sectoral approach
**Not counted in DPPA statistics because administered by ECC-SDCOH located in Dire Dawa
although belonging to Harar Diocese
*** Several projects and non-project activities are not registered by DPPA and funded by the
local administration, International NGOs local fundraising, HIV Secretariat
**** several micro-activities not documented because are carried out by Iddirs and Afochas on
basis of community voluntary work, local fundraising and sometimes provision of material from
local administrations
f. Qualitative Information on NSA Contributions
Education
Participation of NSA: Menschen, für Menschen
o Activities undertaken: These activities include secondary education and a tailor-made (
but recognised by the government) technical and vocational education and recurrent
training and filling the existing gap between the level of agricultural technician and that
of agricultural engineer also supporting those who have potential but are not able to gain
the access to Public Institutions. The Activities include: Education BSc (degree level);
Advance diploma education, Level I Certificate training, Level II Certificate training,
Farmers short turn training.
o Approach: integrated approach aimed at providing an effective pathway for employment
in agriculture-related activities. Activities are undertaken in cooperation with the
Aramaya University and are implemented in cooperation with the Government and are an
upgrading of the former training. Currently the outreach of these activities is being
expanded with the cooperation of peasant’s associations. MFM is bridging between the
Government and the communities.
o Recognition by the Government: The Government is taking over these trainings and
launching many activities aimed at providing an intermediate level of training on the
basis of the lessons learned from the MfM approach. In this process MfM is consulted
regularly and is advising the Government.
Child Development
o Participation of NSA: SOS Children, EOC-CFAO, SoS Infant Ethiopia, Harar
Emmanuel Baptist Church Child Development, Emmanuel United Church Development,
Foundation for Community Development, Amana Kids Organization, Iddirs and
Afochas;
o Activities undertaken: Children Villages for orphans, education and Vocational
Training, extension community service in education, scholarship program, support to
government school, and different forms of integrated children community care.
o Approach: family-based and community based orphans and children care, and global
support to NGO managed and government schools, support to the families of OVCs.
o Recognition by the Government: Regional BoLSA acts in strict cooperation with these
service providers
Health, including RH and HIV/AIDS
35

o Participation of NSA: IIRO, Youth Associations and HIV-AIDS, Iddirs and Afochas,
PLWHAs (in cooperation with the NGO Window of Hope and the HIV Secretariat)
o Activities undertaken: Clinical Services (curative and preventive aspects) provision of
low cost drugs, Family Planning, awareness raising activities on STD and HIV-AIDS
implemented by different youth association (both secular and faith-based such as the
Young Muslim Women Association). These service although they are rather dispersed
and non systematic, represent an important pattern of social mobilisation of the youth on
major problem, Assistance to PLWHAs
o Recognition by the Government: High level of recognition, due to the outreach of the
services. The Government is asking IIRO to scale-up the Clinical services into a fullyfledged
Health Centre in partnership. AIDS, related activities are recognised by the HIV
Secretariat, but the issues of capacity and strategic awareness are raised.
o Lessons Learned: most of the local NSA have undeveloped policies and systems of
resource management. As a result, despite the generally satisfactory performance in
reaching targets and delivering expected services, according to the HIV Secretariat,
sizable number of Youth Associations and CBOs failed to ensure timely and proper
financial and operational accountability and also demonstrate judicious and responsible
use of the resource allocated
Water and sanitation:
o Participation of NSA: Messengers of Love, Iddirs and Afochas
o Activities undertaken: deep wells and boreholes, water harvesting and distribution
systems, micro-sewerage systems.
o Approach: Most of the activities are community-based and the communities contribute
with local fundraising and provision of voluntary work.
o Lessons Learned: The CBOs have shown a high level of capacity to mobilise the
communities. As a consequence if capacity will be built (mainly in the field of project
management and financial management) accountability is likely to be enhanced and
activities can be scaled-up in cooperation with the Government
o Recognition by the Government: The Government is participating in some cases
providing material and technical supervision and is willing to institutionalise the
cooperation with CBOs and NGOs.
Population and Family Planning
o Participation of NSA: Diket Ethiopia
o Activities undertaken: awareness raising ( training and continuous training for
community volunteers, centre-based activities for people affected by STDs including
medical care, recreational activities, awareness raising and life skills, family planning);
o Approach: community-based services, clinics, and centres, advocacy and awareness
raising on SRH, STDs and family planning, risk reduction activities such as condoms
distribution and provision of safe abortion services;
Rehabilitation of disabled
o Participation of NSA: Cheshire Services Ethiopia
o Activities undertaken: rehabilitation, provision of walking aids, psychotherapy for
mentally disabled, to prevention, to providing training and revolving credit for their
occupation of for income generation for the parents and guardians in case the disabled are
children or young people. This activity has an outstanding capacity building component
aimed at strengthening the capacity of public institutions such as hospitals, local health
36

facilities and education/training facilities for the training of physiatrist, physiotherapists,
and nurses;
o Approach: activities are base on a mix of high level service delivery and capacity
building aimed at strengthening the capacity of public institutions such as hospitals, local
health facilities and education/training facilities for the training of physiatrist,
physiotherapists, and nurses.
Women and girls
o Participation of NSA: Setina Cisher Muslim Women Association, FAWE, (Ethiopia
Initiative Development (EID)
o Activities undertaken: scholarships for girls, awareness raising and community
mobilisation on HTP (mostly FGM), support to women victims of FGM and VAW,
income generation for unemployed women. These activates are mostly based on training
for traditional handicraft activities ( basketry) and in sewing and the creation of selfemployment
opportunities in the field related to the vocational qualification received. A
number of 50 women work in the field of sewing and garment production and some of
them are employed in a Rimbaud House Cultural Centre to produce traditional baskets
which are sold to the tourists;
o Recognition by the government: The regional Government is supporting the activities
providing opportunities to work in very good locations for market outlet of the handicraft
products and a facility for the sewing cooperative (the famous “makina street” of Harar).
Environmental sanitation:
o Participation of NSA: Messengers of Love, Iddirs and Afochas
o Activities undertaken: water harvesting and distribution schemes, waste collection,
cleaning and construction of micro-sewerage systems
o Lessons Learned: The CBOs have shown a high level of capacity to mobilise the
communities. As a consequence if capacity will be built (mainly in the field of project
management and financial management) accountability is likely to be enhanced and
activities can be scaled-up in cooperation with the Government
o Recognition by the Government: The Government is participating in some cases
providing material and technical supervision and is willing to institutionalise the
cooperation with CBOs and NGOs.
Social Welfare, Self-help, micro credit support to marginalised people and community
infrastructure construction
o Participation of NSA: Iddirs and Afochas
o Activities undertaken: Micro-Credit schemes, support to IGA, support to elderly,
PLWHAs, OVCs, community road construction, awareness raising and sensitization
activities mostly in rural areas aimed at preventing HTP and also some wrong traditional
habits which undermine the economic conditions of the households (e.g. high amount of
money used for burial ceremonies);
o Lessons Learned: The CBOs have shown a high level of capacity to mobilise the
communities
o Recognition by the Government: BoLSA is coordinating the effort, has supported the
creation of the Unions and the Regional Network and provided facility within BoLSA
compound.
37

The role of the Private Sector
Private Sector Organisations
The only Private Sector Organisation active in Harari is the Harar Chamber of Commerce and
Sectoral Associations whose activity is based on a package of services provided to the
members of the four Sector Associations. This package includes administrative services (e.g.
bookkeeping, training, foreign trade information and some form of advocacy on business
issue
The Chamber of Commerce refer about a positive cooperation with the local government and
of a regular consultation for the decision-making related to business issues.
The Chamber of Commerce shows an initial level of institutionalisation and plays a
traditional role in providing services and representation for the constituency ( almost 2000
members) but the role that this organisation play in policy appear to be at an initial level and
the relationship with the government based more on personal relationship than on a systemic
partnership or dialogue.
As for the Trade Unions, in all the major working places are organised basic Unions affiliated
to the different federation of CETU. These organisations play a representation and collective
bargaining role, with some influence in the organisational process of the enterprises due to
their large constituencies and also try to play a social role by promoting recreational, cultural
and sporting activities.
Cooperatives
In Harari the cooperatives
Number of
Members
Type of Cooperatives Cooperatives Male Female Total Total Capital
Housing 93 2,452 872 3328 6,241,569.70
Saving & Credit 13 635 351 1006 4,138,849.03
Construction 66 470 188 659 310,668.00
Consumers 2 100 354 454 96,000.00
Flour mill 1 9 - 9 220,626.00
Shemane 1 1 16 17 1,340.00
Bahel sefetna allela 2 43 43 76,666.24
Sewing 2 25 4 29 8,400.00
Baltena Sera 2 - 17 17 3,800.00
Tourist Goods 4 41 33 74
Automotive 1 14 1 15 3,000.00
Home & Office furniture
production
4 70 16 86 95,000.00
Computer writing 4 17 37 54 19,200.00
Tourist Guide 3 86 4 90 53,400.00
Grave digging & Statue
building
1 17 1 18 900.00
Car & Solid waste product
cleaning
3 43 11 54 13,800.00
Municipality Works 3 12 80 92 3,672.00
Holistic Farmers 12 1264 112 1376 189,450.00
Livestock breeding & 13 399 96 495 250,016.12
38

fattening
Dairy 2 20 66 86 1,490.00
Mesno Kelle 1 64 7 71 12,000.00
Total 233 5754 2294 8072 11,739,847.09
The dynamics in the sector at regional level
NSA are growing quantitatively in Harar. The major influencing factors can be identified as
follows:
1. emerging of informal groupings due to a growing citizen’s participation;
2. Gradual level of institutionalisation of Community-Based Organisation,
mostly Iddirs and Afochas.;
3. The supportive role played by the Local Bureau of Justice;
4. Stimulation and capacity building from Local NGOs, INGOs, and Apex
organisations for the grassroots organisations.
Some trends have be highlighted, namely:
A. Iddirs are gradually assuming the role of Community-Based Social Welfare or Self-Help
Organisations. Both isolated and grouped Iddirs have gradually broadened the
traditional role of assisting the families for burial and in the mourning period (which is
kept as an initial form of social support to the family from the community and as a way
for strengthening community bonds) and have assumed a role in :
• providing social welfare support to the weaker layers of the community
such as OVCs, elderly people, widows and disabled;
• stimulating income generation activities through revolving micro-credit
activities;
• providing mutual help in family crises and difficulties such as diseases,
the death of a breadwinner etc;
• building of small-scale local infrastructures;
• cross-cutting issues, mainly gender and child protection
• cooperating with local authorities in service delivery and consultation
on social problems.
As for this network it has to be highlighted that it is showing a very high potential in
terms of social mobilisation and capacity for strengthening the social capital
(solidarity initiatives, voluntary working services etc.) and they are showing an initial
capacity to interact with the Government at least in terms of consultation for the
planning and regional implementation of the PADSDEP. This process has been
supported by the regional chapter of PANE, to whom the network is affiliated. The
initiative shows some weaknesses and controversial characteristics, namely:
• excess of personalisation and “spirit of leader”. The basic associations, the
Unions and the network have formal democratic internal life and elections are
held regularly, but there is no limit of terms for the Board Members and
Chairmen and some of them have served for more than 15 years. The influence
of powerful members, some of which play different roles in public services and
39

in different Non-State institutions or are members of elective assemblies
(Regional Council) is very strong and these members play a charismatic role.
This condition is likely to heavily influence the electoral process;
• the difficulty to detach from very backward-minded practices such as the fact that
those who have not yet formed a family are not admitted as members of the
Afochas (and in some cases of the Iddirs). This practice doesn’t belong to a
modern conditions and cannot be passed of as a cultural heritage of the
traditional rules because it acts as a form of exclusion and undermines the
possibility for a new leadership to be nurtured and empowered in the organisation
by this way facilitating the co-optation of the organisational leadership,
• organisational transparency is very low and some of the leaders, in spite of the
asserted volunteer character of their service, appear to be full-time engaged in the
organisations having some personal (social or economic) gain from this activity.
B. International NGOs have different strategies:
• MFM at regional level has phased out from a rural development activity and is
focusing on Vocational Education and training adopting a very effective integrated
approach. Moreover the organisation is gradually strengthening the capacity to
network with public institutions ( e.g. Aramaya University) and to interact with the
Government on technical education issues;
• SOS Children is planning to extend the outreach of their education program in terms
of capacity to serve the children living in communities neighbouring the Children
Villages and to focus in the support and cooperation with the government on
education issues;
• IIRO is planning to scale-up the Clinical Services to establish a general Health Centre
in cooperation with the Government.
C. The associational life is very weak and shows all the characteristics of the “nascent
status” a moment in which a blurry mix of leadership, ideas engagement come up to
promote social movements with very strong limitations in terms of resources, capacities,
institutionalisation, transparency and reliability for implementation
Networking
In spite of the positive trends in the CBOs sector highlighted above, it has to be said that
networking is completely absent in Harar with the exception of the Iddirs and Afochas
network.
On paper two networks have been created:
• Youth Network;
• HIV-AIDS network.
None of these networks is able to produce any support to their members, they are not
institutionalised and registered and the membership is vague. Moreover they never meet.
40

Dialogue and cooperation between NSA and Local Government
Cooperation with the Local Government is considered positive both by the CSOs and the Private
Sector. The major organisation has referred to be consulted when decision are made and also to
have had the opportunity to be consulted and have voice during the PASDEP process and in the
monitoring process.
A participatory process has been launched by the Regional BoFED for the coming Five Years
Plan. This process has involved the Regional Government, CSOs and the Private Sector and has
been aimed at improving the flow of information between local and regional government leveller
and promoting the highest possible level of grassroots participation to de identification of policies
and measures for regional development.
Participatory working sessions and workshops have been organised in all localities.
In this process the regional Chapter of PANE has supported CBOs ( mostly the Network of Iddirs
and Afochas gathering 96 organisation among which 52 are Iddirs and 44 are Afochas) to
participate and have voice in the process.
Engagement in Policy Dialogue
The dialogue with the Government is based on a consultation of the different categories of NSA
when some decision affecting their sector or interest is being made and also on a contribution of
some NSA (mostly APEX organisations such as PANE and INGOs such as MFM) in the shaping
of some policy measures.
The dialogue is ongoing in terms of coordination and planning to avoid duplication of activities
but the NSA are not yet prepared and organised for a systemic policy dialogue with the
government. It is explicitly recognised that the most important role of the NSA is “to fill the
gaps”.
Engagement in Political Dialogue
Engagement in political dialogue is not in the current agenda of the NSA and nobody is able or
willing to challenge or even discuss the overall and sectoral government approach.
Internal Organisation and Resources
Financial Resources
• International NGOs - implementing agreement bound multi-year programmes; with
secured funding;
• Some of the National NGOs have multi-annual agreements while some others often face
financial problems;
• FBOs have significant resources assured by their constituencies on a multi-annual basis
• CBOs show a high level of capacity for fundraising and timely contribution from their
members, both in cash and in work contribution
Human Resources
The level of professionalism is very low also professional mandate and none of the local
organisation has permanent staff.
Material and financial resources are very poor and sometimes the resource constraints hamper the
opportunities for scaling-up the initiatives.
41

Internal Processes
Internal processes not very transparent. While CBOs are affected by the problem highlighted
above, the associations don’t have a formalised associational dynamics and stand more at the
level of Clubs
At the level of CBOs the persons in charge for the Boards are mostly mass leaders but they show
neither a good level of capacity for managing an organisation nor a good level of willingness to
promote the participation. Yet it has to be recognised that the community express a positive
judgement about the work of these grassroots organisations
Policies, Systems and Structures
� Contextual participation and longer term visioning by some of the international NGOs ,
mainly MFM;
� Few of the local NSAs have policy manuals and multi-year programmes (Strategic Plan) that
guide their participation;
� Opportunities for learning and being assisted on aspects of organizational development;
including governance, constituency strengthening, resource mobilization; accountability are
not available for the majority of NSAs.
Capacity Building Needs
The CBOs have a rather good capacity to mobilise fund from membership contribution and
local/community-based fundraising, but the overall capacity is highly limited by the resource gap,
so most of the organisations highlight that to build their capacity they need to be reinforced in
terms of materials, financial and technical resources.
In terms of organisational capacity:
• The fundamental weakness is the lack of strategic conscience so that the need served are
often casually identified and there is no relationship between organisational capabilities,
strategic aim and vision of the organisations, identification of beneficiaries, kind of
services, course of action and partnership and the organisational mission. In almost all the
cases no strategic document or plan has been drafted and approved;
• The second issue is the lack of skilled manpower for service delivery and technical
issues.
• The third issue is related to Organisational Development, organisational management and
leadership and organisational accountability and transparency;
• A very important gap is found in Project Cycle Management and the Organisations
complain about their capacity to access the funding by International Partners due to their
low level of project design, implementation, monitoring and administration.
• Administration, financial management and accountability are another important need
(bookkeeping etc.).
• Capacity for advocacy is very weak and no advocacy initiative has been referred by the
organisations met with the exception of the awareness raising activities on HIV-AIDS
and the activities of the Iddirs/Afochas on HTP and wrong traditional practices.
42

4. Regional Report Dire Dawa
1. General remarks on NSA at territorial level.
a. Background about Dire Dawa
• Dire Dawa is the second largest city in Ethiopia. It was one of the fast growing cities in
Ethiopia owing to its strategic location on the rail way line which connects the capital
Addis Ababa to the Djibouti port. This has been sensible in the early 60’s when small and
medium scale industries start flourishing and rural to urban migration increased the urban
population.
• However this does not kept its pace as the centrally planned economic policy of the
former regime hindered investment and contraband trade prevailed in the late 70’s and
80’s. The slow down of port transit service via Djibouti in the 90’s cause the declining of
rail way service, which contributed to economic decline of city. Recently, the tighter
control system markedly minimized contraband trade and most of the people involved in
this illegal activity turned to be unemployed. The defective education policy of the
former regime produced vast school leaver unemployed. Currently, the unemployment
condition worsened deepening poverty condition in the city which is manifested by
increased number of marginalized groups like street children, beggars, commercial sex
workers, addicts, juvenile delinquents and squatter settlers.
• The total population of Dire Dawa is estimated to be 384,000 out of which 74%
(284,000) live in urban while the rest 26% (100,000) live in rural areas.
• Trade and industry are the predominant sectors of Dire Dawa’s economy. The city is
acknowledged to be a centre of trade and industry in East Ethiopia. The majority of the
people directly or indirectly derive its livelihood from trade, industry and related
activities.
• Dire Dawa is a chartered city and has two tiers of government structure: administration &
Kebele levels. There are 9 urban & 25 rural kebeles. Government Offices are organized
under municipality & government Executive Organs (Bureaus);
• The 1999/2000 household income, consumption and expenditure survey report of CSA
indicates that, the per capita income/expenditure of Dire Dawa was 1937 birr which is
actually greater than by 7.72 % compared to the preceding four years. Though, it seems
that the per capita income/expenditure of Dire Dawa has shown an improvement, it has
been observed over the same period that the growth is not reflected in the life of the poor,
rather the income gap between the lower and the upper class of the community is widen.
As a result the number of households that live below absolute poverty line has increased
from the year 1995/96 to 1999/2000 by 8.5 % while it slightly declined by 1.3 % at
national level.
• The current HIV/AIDS prevalence of urban and rural Dire Dawa is 10.9% and 1.3 %
respectively. On the other hand, the total positive population of Dire Dawa is currently
estimated to be 17,035 in urban and 707 in rural. Female and male HIV positive is
expected to be 9,426 and 7,609 respectively. From the total HIV positive population the
higher share lies between the age of 15-49 (15,931 positive people), which indicates that
44

the active age population is highly affected by the epidemic of HIV/aids. The number of
orphans with aids is also increasing over the years. The number of orphans due to AIDS
is expected to be 7120 and 249 in urban and rural areas respectively;
• The administration has faced multidimensional problems of implementation capacity at
all levels which can be manifested in its manpower, organization and overall operational
systems. Among these the following are the major ones: a) Wide span of Institutional
structure; b) Very poor working systems; c) Lack of proclamation, regulation &
directives; d) Lack of Administrative Policies & Strategies; e) Lack of commitment at all
level; f) Inadequate man Power in skill, qualification & number; g) No integration among
the development programs; h) Absence of vision and strategic thinking; i) Lack of
community participation; l)Lack of an enabling environment & Institutional capacity for
CSOs & Private Sector;
• According to the gender specific base line survey result, it was identified that women in
Dire Dawa spend on average 11.05 hours on work each day. Regarding employment
opportunity, unemployed urban female accounts for 71 %, this implies women have less
access for employment opportunities than their male counterparts. Resources accessed by
women at household level are largely homestead lands, small animals (sheep, goats, and
hens), milk and egg, and small farm implements. Again, from those women with access
to the above mentioned resources those who had controlling power over the resources
were found to be only 21 %. Beyond the level of household economy, access to resources
and opportunities to improve working conditions, productivity level (existing and scaled-
up) and equal participation of women in development practices is lacking to a
tremendous level;
• The total revenue of Dire Dawa is highly dominated by external sources that cover on
average about 65%, in which 52%, 8% and 5% is contributed by central government
grant, borrowing and assistance from foreign sources in their order. The local sources of
revenue on average contribute only 35%, in which municipal revenues share is only 10%
while non-municipal revenue cover 25%. These indicate that the city is highly dependent
on external sources. Moreover, out of the total amount of revenue, the recurrent
expenditure accounts for the lion share of the administration’s expenditure. It is also
observed that the wage bill as percentage of own revenue is becoming higher in recent
years;
• The recharge in the hillsides and mountainous areas of the southern, south-eastern and
south-western part of the administration is highly degraded in mainly due to expansion of
farmland, population pressure, cutting of trees, shrubs and bushes, fuel wood
consumption, poorly managed catchments rehabilitation work, and naturally low level of
moisture and vegetation cover. This aggravates the problem of soil erosion and
subsequent sever reduction of soil thickness in the escarpment zone. This in turn
influence recharge condition of the administration to be minimal with very high runoff.
As a result there is high seasonal fluctuation of groundwater level and hence decrease in
springs discharge, yield of shallow wells and moderately deep boreholes, and even drying
of many springs and boreholes;
• Refuse and liquid waste disposal sites in Dire Dawa is inappropriate and unorganized.
The waste in the city is not properly stored, collected, transported and disposed off, but
accumulated on open lands and open drainage ditches thus providing breeding areas for
disease vectors and create un-aesthetic view for the city;
45

• Land degradation is a serious concern in the Dire Dawa Administration. The problem has
its root causes to man made and natural factors: a) The soil loss rate resulting in
continuous soil erosion; b)Deforestation because of unbalanced fuel wood demand and
supply; c) Overgrazing; c) Lack of appropriate land use policies and regulations; d) Poor
forestation; e)law ;f) Lack of administration for vast open access ; g) Decrease in stream
and spring discharges, which are manifested by drying up of streams and springs in per
urban areas;
• The projected population for the years 2010 and 2015 orderly depicts an increment of
population by 206 and 285 thousands and the doubling time of the populations is
estimated to occur within 17 years time interval (2011) from the census period. The
increment in population size and the average annual population growth rate of the region
generally shows a substantial population pressure facing against development efforts with
limited resources and managing capacity in terms of spatial, environmental and technical
aspects. The fastest population growth rate accompanied with narrow population
doubling time interval has a tremendous repercussion on development practices and
outputs;
• One of the pervasive problems of urban centres in general and Dire Dawa in particular is
the existence of very high unemployment rate. Total Unemployment rate for Dire Dawa
reaches 33.5 percent, which is higher than the National urban unemployment rate of 22.9
%;
• Currently it is estimated that more than 24,000 housing backlog exist in the city. On top
of this, due to population growth, on average the backlog is expected to grow annually by
2900 for the coming five years. The housing problem in Dire Dawa is not only of
quantity but the quality of many housing units is also a prime concern. It is observed that
out of the total housing stock, about 30.5 percent are built up of wood and mud. Stone
and cement houses constitute about 26.4 percent and about 17 percent of the houses are
made up of stone and mud;
• The nature of water problem in the city is basically both shortage and pollution. The
existing water supply system of the town comes from ground water sources. In the
existing water supply system of the town there are five modes of services which are
house tap users, yard tap users, neighbourhood tap users, public tap users, and traditional
source users;
• Health care is one of the crucial components of basic social services that have a direct
linkage to the growth and development of a country as well as the welfare of the society.
Even though the physical health service coverage in Dire Dawa is relatively better
compared to other regions in Ethiopia (83.4 %), the health service delivery is of poor
quality. This can be partly attributed to capacity limitation & absence of referral system
which clearly demarcates catchments and verifies roles and duties of Health facilities at
different levels, the quality of the health service delivered in the administration is low.
The poor quality of the health service delivery has worsen the Health condition of the
society through aggravating under Five mortality rate, maternal mortality rate, morbidity,
poor hygiene and sanitation etc. Available information indicates that under five Mortality
Rate in the city is 348.6 where as infant mortality rate is 96.5 per 1000;
• The current HIV/AIDS prevalence of urban and rural Dire Dawa is 10.9% and 1.3 %
respectively. From the total HIV positive population the higher share lies between the age
46

of 15-49 which indicates that the active age population is highly affected by the epidemic
of HIV/Aids) a high level of civic engagement is found in the town;
• According to disaster vulnerability assessment report of the Disaster Prevention and Food
Security office of DDA, more than 48,275 people in rural Dire Dawa are identified to be
chronically food insecure and another 60,000 people are acutely affected in bad
production years. A complex combination of factors has contributed to the alarming
increase of rural food shortage vulnerability;
• Socially Marginalized Groups basically include individuals or households who are street
children, street prostitutes, beggars, disabled, and those poor households, which are
potentially at risk, or are the hosts where socially marginalized groups come from.
Studies conducted in this area indicate that inability of families to meet basic needs (food,
clothing shelter) of their family members followed by loss of parents, which account for
76% and 12% respectively, are the two most important factors compelling their members
to start socially unacceptable ways of life i.e. Prostitution, beggary and “streetism”.
Delinquent behaviour, lack of employment opportunity and substance addiction were also
identified as factors contributing to the process of social marginalization;
• Informal settlement in Dire Dawa town trace back to the year 1930,s and increased at an
alarming rate from the beginning of 1950's up to the middle of 1960,s where the number
of informal settlement escalated to about 6159;
• According to a CSA report, an estimated number of 84,725 youths (15 - 29 of age) live in
Dire Dawa accounting 31.6% of the total population. It is also observed that, the lion
share of the youths (51.5%) are females which are about 43,618 in number and accounts
for 16% of the total population;
• Like other urban areas of the country, the major problem related to the youth in Dire
Dawa is basically unemployment. According to CSA report on Urban Bi-Annual
Employment Unemployment Survey, 54 percent of the total unemployed people are
youths. The other major problem of the youth, is the epidemic of HIV/AIDS;
• Tremendous progress had been made in the education sector of Dire Dawa
Administration since the new Education and Training policies of the country were put in
place in 1994. However, the existence low Gross & Net Enrolment Rate, a wide gender
gap and wide location disparity indicate the overwhelming amount of work remains to be
done to achieve Universal Primary Education (UPE) targets. It is also observed that there
is very low level of enrolment in grade one at the appropriate age (i.e. at age 7). Since the
level of enrolment in grade one is a decisive factor in achieving UPE as well as for
minimizing the gender and location gaps, attention has to be given to it in order to
maximize the apparent intake rate and to reduce the gender gap in both locations. Thus, it
needs great effort and commitment to bring the rate to a higher level so as to catch up
with the target of UPE, which presupposes that the Net intake Rate level should reach
100%;
• All the rural areas of the Administration are accessed by either all - weather or dryweather
roads. The all - weather RR50 standard road branching from the Dire Dawa -
Harar road is running east to Belewa for 43km and to the east to Lege-odagununfeta for
35km. However ,the construction of the Lege-oda 35km road was suspended after
covering a distances of about 14km. Dry-weather roads having a width of 4m have also
been constructed using the income generating schemes (IGS) in various rural parts of the
47

• Most rural markets around Dire Dawa are not organized and do not have organized
marketing system. In the existing marketing condition marketing middle men get a good
share of the final price of the products while farmers did not get a price which reflects the
actual value of their product. Presence of organized market and marketing system is
believed to bring an incremental benefit to producers. An improvement in the marketing
system will also help to minimize the smuggling of products to and from neighbouring
countries via contraband trade routes. Pack animals carrying firewood and charcoal have
been making a nuisance and creating traffic congestion in the main streets of Dire Dawa
on their way to the market.
b. NSA in Dire Dawa - from the previous mapping
The previous mapping noted that in Dire Dawa NSA in the different categories were in very
limited number and among those interviewed most had limited capacity. Furthermore the
study highlighted the fact that indigenous NGOs were a minority in the NSA landscape and
most of them were either branches of international NGOs or of national NGOs.
As for the Government capacity to interact with the NSA sector, it was found even more
limited than the capacities of the NSAs themselves. The previous study also highlighted two
phenomena:
• The dynamic in the Youth sector, which was being interested by a strong effort by
the Youth Association to create local (kebele) associations and clubs with the aim of
coordinating these organisations scattered in the territory;
• The fact that several regional association were operating in the town, to gather the
settlers coming from the different regions, but whose main aim whose to collect
financial contributions.
c. Major highlights of current findings
Dire Dawa’s NSA dynamic is highly influenced by these urban characteristics:
These characteristics can be summarised as follows:
1. A general high level of citizens’ mobilisation and relatively growing capacity of
self-organisation on the basis of the constituency’s interests and/or cultural
priorities;
2. Large number of organisations are operational on cultural and awareness raising
(e.g. HIV-AIDS) issues. There is high number of organisations who work on
cultural issues to raise awareness and shape opinion of the public. This typical urban
features has been found mostly in the field of Youth Association, where the
dynamics show an initial process of institutionalisation and also the attempt to
promote some income generation activities to fund organisations’ activities;
48

3. High level of mushrooming of CBOs. CBOs are progressively growing in quantity
and strengthening their constituencies. Although CBO’s leaders and most active
people largely acknowledge their lack of organisational capacity, it has to be said
that a high level of awareness of the needs and an important effort to build capacity
and to improve the quality of internal process is being made by different CBOs and
Umbrella organisations is being made, supported by local and national NGOs
(regional chapters) and by Apex Organisations;
4. The rather recent change of Institutional Characteristics (Dire Dawa has been
established as a Chartered Town in 2004). This important change has produced the
need for a Local Planning Process for development and poverty reduction. This
process has benefited of the contribution of NSA and is currently being strengthened
during the new planning process launched in December 2007 (see below).
5. The local government has shown a relative openness to Civil Society participation
and largely recognises the contribution of NSA to fill the gaps in service delivery,
aid during the aftermaths of the 2005 flood, and the potential for a partnership with
both Civil Society and the Private Sector;
6. As found also in other situations an outstanding trend is the gradual transformation
of Iddirs from the traditional burial-related role to Social Welfare or Self-Help
CBOs. This situation is starting to qualify these organisations as potential
development partners. The Local Development Agency, a City Administration Body
is often using CBOs as partners for Local development Activities such as microinfrastructure,
water and sanitation schemes construction, and local infrastructure
construction;
12. Profile and distribution of NSA at Regional Level.
a. Profile of NSA.
The table below shows the profile of NSA typologies in Dire Dawa City. As can be seen, NSAs
representing nearly all of the typologies set are found in the DD. The NSA mix in the region is
not very different from the other regions.
49

Table 1 Table 1. DD- NSA typologies and size
NSA Categories Examples
12. NGOs =
International NGOs = 5 CARE, Handicap International, Cheshire
Services Ethiopia, ACORD
National NGOs = 6 ProPride, FGAE, JECCDO, OSSA, DKT,
Asegedetch Asfaw Elderly Support,
Regional Registered NGOs = 1
13. Regional Development Associations = 1 Dire Dawa Trust Fund
14. FBOs (national and international) = 1 ECC-SDCOH
15. Reg. apex/Networking Organisations = 1 CRDA
16. Advocacy and Human rights Organizations 1 EHRCO
17. Economic and business interest groups
a) Cooperatives 194
b) Union of Cooperatives =
c) Chamber of Commerce and Sector Ass. = 1
18. d) Ethiopian Employers Federation: 1
19. Trade and labour unions 1
20. Professional Associations =
Age, gender, health-status and other occupation EWA, EYA
21.
related Associations 3
Regionally registered Youth Association = 1
� Region-wide basic Youth Ass. = 2
� Region-wide Youth Clubs = 2
Anti-Aids Clubs, Virgin Girls Association
Reg. registered Associations of/for Women =
Reg. registered Elderly and Disability Ass. = 1
Reg. registered Ass. of PLWHA = 1 Association of Women Living with HIV-
AIDS
22. Free Press 3
23. Community based organisations -
The Organisation registered and licensed by Dire Dawa Bureau of Justice are a number of 119.
The following tables show their distribution in the different categories:
Organisations Number
NGOs 11
FBOs 1
Youth Associations and Anti-Aids Clubs 15
Development Associations 13
Alumina Associations 1
PLWHAS Associations 3
Self-Help Associations 3
Cultural Associations 10
Women Association 9
Private Sector Organisations 3
Professional Associations 4
CBOs 41
Age, Gender and Health association 5
TOTAL 119
50

The above data are shown in the chart below:
13. Activities and Sector Distribution
3.1. Qualitative areas of contribution
Associations
Source: Regional BoJ Register of
NGOs
FBOs
Youth Associations and Anti-
Aids Clubs
Development Associations
Alumnia Associations
PLWHAS Associations
Self-Help Associations
Cultural Associations
Women Association
Private Sector Organisations
Professional Associations
CBOs
Age, Gender and Health
association
On the qualitative point of view the contribution of NSA can be summarised by the following
table:
Table 3 NSA Sectoral Contribution
Qualitative areas of contribution Quantitative
contributions
Mass Based
Associations
Local
Development
Association
Community mobilization; campaign-based
activities, lobbying, HTPs, addressing
vulnerabilities, income generation and
social rehabilitation, recreational and
cultural activities
51
Mostly
documented in
project agreements
Trends of
Participation and
Contribution
Growing and in
same cooperating
with national
Apex or
international
organisations

(Dire Dawa
Trust Fund)
The local
NGOs
The Local
Associations
localized actions in service upgrading,
cultural sensitization and awareness
raising, support services for marginalised
layers of the population
Cultural sensitisation and awareness
raising (opinion making), specific services
(AIDS prevention) and support to
marginalised layers of the population such
as OVCs
NNGOs rural and urban development programmes,
Child Rights, HIV/AIDS and SRH
services, CBO strengthening, Support
services for children and other weak
segments
INGOs Integrated rural development programmes,
Safety net (Relief & Rehabilitation),
capacity strengthening,
FBOs Relief & Rehabilitation, Social Services
(Child development) including
infrastructure
Iddirs and
CBOs
Advocacy
and HR
organizations
Economic
and Business
Interest
Groups
support services for vulnerable and weaker
segments of society; social infrastructures,
credit and saving
Legal support to people in need related to
HR. Advocacy and cooperation with local
law enforcement institutions ( Judiciary,
police) in terms of training and joint action
on HR case management
Representing constituency interests,
dialogue and discussion with government.
facilitating linkages, and creating
opportunities for members
52
Mostly
documented in
project agreements
Not document, but
highly dynamic
and growing in
quantity and in
qualitative terms
Mostly
documented in
project agreements
Mostly
documented in
project agreements
Mostly
documented in
project agreements
Not documented
but can be one of
the important
trends to be
considered
Not documented
bus highly
important and
sometimes highly
successful
Not documented,
but with some
important case in
terms of tripartite
social dialogue
and cooperation
with the
Government
May grow fast
Appreciated and
growing
Shifting focus to
cross-cutting
issues, policy
dialogue and
governance
Some best
practice identified
both at sectoral
level and with
relations to
organisational
model
Fast growing
participation and
level of
organisational
internal growth
Growing
Good starts and
plans

3.2. Summary of Values and Beneficiaries of Ongoing NGO Projects
The following table summarises the current ongoing projects implemented by NGOs:
Table 4. No of beneficiaries and total budget of ongoing NGO Projects in BSGR
Summary of NGO's Ongoing Projects as of
Projected
No of No of Number of Total Budget
S/No NSA Typology Org. Projects Beneficiaries Pledge in Birr Remarks
1 International NGOs 5 8 20.069 16,383,442.00
Faith based Nat and
The ECC
works in
2 International Orgs 1 7 45.944 20.421.681,98 other regions
Beneficiaries
not indicated
3 National NGOs 7 7 34.226 16.157.642,75 for FGAE
Regional Dev't.
Beneficiaries
4 Associations 1 1 89.860,00 not indicated
5 Regional CSOs 1 1 100 52.000
Networking
6 Umbrella Orgs 1
activity
4. Sectoral Participation
Total 16 24 100.399 36.721.184,73
Based on BoFED DD Administration data
There is a highly differentiated range of activities in Dire Dawa: several projects have a multisectoral
intervention.
Table 5. Sectoral Focuses of NGO Projects*
Core Project Focus** No of
Projects Remark
Education 2 Provision of Community -based ABE, construction
and running of formal schools
Child Development 3 Integrated Community-based children care and
development (NFE, health, VT, legal aid, livelihood
Health, including RH
HIV/AIDS, communicable
diseases and family planning
Integrated programmes (food
security)
promotion)
5 Provision of Community –based health care, HIV
and STD care and prevention, centre-based health
care, eradication of HTP
5 Implementation of Productive Safety net program,
promotion of IGA
Water supply and sanitation 1 Construction of water harvesting and distribution
systems
Gender, Women and girls 4 IGA for marginalised women, prevention of HIV-
53

empowerment Aids, awareness raising
Age, gender and disabled 5 Rehabilitation of disabled, Elderly people home
care, Capacity Building
Youth 3 Youth Clubs, cultural initiatives, awareness raising
on HIV-AIDS
Agriculture and Urban 2 Agro-business promotion, cooperative creation,
Agriculture
technical assistance
Governance and Urban 2 Capacity Building and mobilisation of Iddirs
Governance
Advocacy and mobilisation on Urban Governance
issues and Governance Resource centre
Total 32
* Several projects and non-project activities are not registered by BoFED and funded by the local
administration, International NGOs and local fundraising
** Some project have multi-sectoral focus
3.1. Qualitative Information on NSA Sectoral Contributions
Education
o Participation of NSA: Dire Dawa Trust Fund, FSCE, ProPride;
o Activities undertaken: The Education- related activities range from Urban and Rural
schools construction to the delivery of Education (mainly at basic level). In this field the
testing and implementation of new approaches to NFE and ABE are to be considered).
Several CBOs and NGOs provide additional education service to the most disadvantaged
children (such as week-end classes and tutorial classes), but the leader player has to be
considered ECC- SDCO
o Recognition by the City Administration: the City Administration recognises the
activities in education because this sector is one of the priorities of the IDP and the sector
for which a highly integrated range of activities and projects has been planned. Moreover,
the issue of street and marginalised children is one of the most critical problematic area at
urban level;
HIV-AIDS, and communicable diseases
o Participation of NSA: FGAE, OSSA, ECC-SDCO, ProPride, Youth Associations and
Clubs, EWA.
o Activities undertaken: These activities are based on raising awareness (training and
continuous training fro community volunteers, centre-based activities for people affected
by STDs including medical care, recreational activities, awareness raising and life skills,
family planning). The most important player in this field is FGA with the largest array of
services (community-based services, clinics, and centres, advocacy and raising awareness
on SRH, STDs and family planning, risk reduction activities such as condoms
distribution and provision of safe abortion services). FGA is followed by OSSA. Yet it
has to be highlighted that, being HIV-Aids an important threat for the development of the
A number of grassroots youth organisations and also the regional chapter of Ethiopian
Youth Association are active and are gradually structuring their activity and relationship
with Government Bodies in charge for HIV-Aids issues. The approach is mainly based on
prevention and risk reduction and also in awareness raising using different methodologies
( from community action through coffee ceremony, to condom distribution, to the cultural
action and personal witness on virginity of young women
54

o Recognition by the City Administration: From the interviews and FGD with the
organisation engaged in this field, emerged that recognition by the City Administration is
very high and the local administration supports financially and in other modalities
(facilitation, provision of premises) the organisation at all levels working in this sector
and tries to integrate the efforts since HIV-AIDS is a very critical issue and one of the
cross-cutting priorities of IDP;
o Results: Stigma and discrimination is dramatically reduced, awareness growing within
the youth, there is a city movement against AIDS, grassroots organisations work together,
several school clubs are being created;
o Next Steps: enhanced level of institutionalisation and networking among grassroots
organisations, HAPCO will produce and disseminate knowledge, stimulate creation and
strengthening PLWHAs associations, promote training and support to IGA for people
infected and affected by AIDS.
Agriculture and Urban Agriculture
o Participation of NSA: ECC-SDCOH, JECCDO
o Activities undertaken: diffusion of crop production (provision of seed, tools and
training), a strong agri-business promotion (agricultural marketing) and the support
(training, technical assistance and management accompaniment) for the creation of
cooperatives. These activities have produced also a networking alliance called Marketing
and Agro-Business Stakeholders Learning Alliance Group with other regional, national
and international partners, both from the NSA sector and the research sector (Research
Institutes and Universities).;
o Approach: The support is based on market chain strengthening so as to promote local
producers to produce commodities based on market demand. This approach would
ultimately reduce the risk of falling price on agricultural products and finally increase
income of the rural producer in the long run.
Child Development
o Participation: ECC-SDCOH, JECCDO, PROPRIDE
o Activities undertaken: Support to OVCs organised in an integrated package of activities
based on nutrition, education (provision of education materials, uniforms and tutorial
classes), life skills, legal protection (in this case an interesting practice has been
developed to mobilise the different institutional level in charge for law enforcement to
protect the legal rights of the vulnerable children, and also liaising with local VET
institutions to provide the children with some vocational skills which can ensure an
income generation for their future, provision of health services and nutrition programme.
o Approach: Although the organisations are different and don’t cooperate they use mostly
a multi-tiered approach whose focus is on promoting the fulfilment of the multi-pronged
developmental rights of disadvantaged children and street children by implementing
community-based activities to empower both children and their parents. JECCDO has
created a city Forum for the Street children.
Gender, Women and girls empowerment
o Participation: ECC-SDCOH, EWA
o Activities undertaken: Advocacy and raising awareness on gender, gender violence,
HTP, Social Rehabilitation of former CSW through provision of long term training in
sewing and support for self-employment through provision of premises and equipments
to start the activity. This activity is struggling to become sustainable to generate a source
of stable income for the beneficiaries
55

o Approach: the approach is based on the activity of peer community mobilisers,
promoters and educators, formerly trained. These peer promoters carry out all the
activities and periodically undergo refreshment training.
Care and social empowerment for the disabled
o Participation: Cheshire services Ethiopia, Handicap International
o Activities undertaken: The high-quality services for the disabled people starting from
medical care (rehabilitation, provision of walking aids, psychotherapy for mentally
disabled, to prevention, to providing training and revolving credit for their occupation of
for income generation for the parents and guardians in case the disabled are children or
young people. This activity has an outstanding capacity building component aimed at
strengthening the capacity of public institutions such as hospitals, local health facilities
and education/training facilities for the training of physiatrist, physiotherapists, and
nurses.
o Approach: The advocacy, training and joint action with the town government related to
these activities is aimed at creating room in the policy agenda for the issue of disability,
to be considered not as a medical, but rather as a cross-cutting issue. Cheshire service is
working on this area, also with the aim of strengthening the capacity for service delivery
of national institutions. Handicap International although service delivery is an important
components is mainly focused on Institution strengthening and capacity building
Youth
o Participation: EYA, Youth Association Dire Dawa
o Activities undertaken: The activity for the youth is largely focused on cultural issues
and raising awareness at community level, formation of school clubs, library service,
condom distribution, peer education training and peer learning promotion, recreational
activities, and advocacy on youth issues, 23 Youth Clubs have been created in urban and
rural areas.
o Recognition by the City Administration: High level of City Administration recognition
and support (provision of premises, funding of activities against HIV/AIDS). At kebele
level the exchange with local authorities
o Next Steps: creation of Unions at city level.
Water supply and sanitation
o Participation: ECC-SDCOH
o Activities undertaken: digging of shallow wells, drilling of deep wells and boreholes,
reservoirs and thanks for rain water harvesting, building of distribution schemes,
empowering communities on the use and maintenance of water and water distribution
infrastructure and management of the systems;
o Results: The international networking practice launched by ECC-SDCO in the Water
Supply and Irrigation sector which involves the Aramaya University and the International
Water Management Institute IWMI
o Recognition by the City Administration: the recognition by the City Administration is
very high and the city government has involved ECC-SDCOH not only in service
provision but also in the policy making and in mainstreaming technical solutions and
approach which have revealed highly productive and low-cost
Integrated programmes (food security)
o Participation: ECC-SDCOH
o Activities undertaken: increasing the productivity of micro-agricultural activities and
differentiating crops, increasing cultivation of marketable crops, off-farm IGA.
56

o Recognition by the City Administration: The City Administration has indicated food
security as one of the major problems, especially at rural level and is cooperating with
NSA. Lessons learned from ECC-SDOCH experience are being incorporated in the new
Five-year plan.
3.2. Qualitative Information on NSA Non- Sectoral Contributions
o Governance and Urban Governance:
o Participation: ACORD, CARE ETHIOPIA
o Activities undertaken: creation of city forum and promotion of a resource centre,
awareness creation and strengthening CBOs capacity, sectoral dialogue with the
Government.
o Recognition by the City Administration: The City Administration has established an
IDP representative forum and is starting an ongoing sectoral cooperation with NSA.
Human Rights
o Participation: EHRCO
o Activities undertaken: Follow-up of HR situation, Election Observation, Monitoring of
Universal Declaration on Human Rights and International HR Covenants, Training and
Awareness Raising of Public Official from the Judiciary and Law Enforcement Bodies
(Police), advocacy on HR and constitutional rights, legal counsel on HR,
o Recognition by Public Bodies: A positive interaction has been created to the delivery of
training and advocacy activities and sometimes EHRCO is requested to give advice on
cases which are sensitive in relation with HR.
14. The role of the Private Sector.
The Private Sector deserves a specific attention in the situation of Dire Dawa. In this sector
two organisations are operating the Dire Dawa Chamber of Commerce and the Dire Dawa
Employers’ Federation.
The former gathers mostly small and medium enterprises, the latter gathers mostly bigger
enterprises in the town.
The strategies and mandate of the two organisations are rather different. While the Employers
Federation action is essentially based on representation and tripartite activities, the Chamber
of Commerce focus on a package of services provided to the members of the four Sector
Associations. This package includes administrative services (e.g. bookkeeping), marketing
service (analysis of opportunities and linkage with distribution chains), training, foreign trade
information etc.)
The Employers’ Federations refer about a positive cooperation with the local government and
of a regular consultation for the decision-making related to economic issues, while the CoC
doesn’t stress the importance of the cooperation with the Government and the engagement in
the policy dialogue.
Both organisations show an initial level of institutionalisation and they play a traditional role
in providing services and representation for their constituencies but their role in policy and
social dialogue appear to be at an initial level.
57

Trade Unions
As for the Trade Unions, the Eastern Ethiopia Branch of CETU plays a traditional
representation and collective bargaining role, with some influence in the organisational
process of the enterprises due to their large constituencies. Mainly they represent the workers
of the major enterprises. Basic Unions are established in all major industries and workplaces.
Cooperatives
Table 6 shows the dimension of the cooperatives in Dire Dawa:
Table 6 Registered Cooperatives in Dire Dawa
Number of
Members
Type of Cooperatives Cooperatives
Total Capital
Male Female Total
Saving & Credit 16 23 373 396 355.494,05
Multi Purpose 6 79 120 199 140.895,50
Housing 105 38 92 120 647.058,27
Consumer 2 25 14 39 83.620,00
Agriculture 2 9 20 29 2.374,00
Industrial, Artesian &
others
28 256 76 332 28.735,20
Small Scale Irrigation 2 178 1 179 35.725,35
Construction 9 97 25 122 22.702,25
Service Rendering 13 192 32 224 17.172,50
Livestock development &
Marketing
11 68 29 97 40.100,50
Total 194 965 782 1767 1.373.877,62
15. The dynamics in the sector at regional level
NSA are growing quantitatively in Dire Dawa.
The major influencing factors can be identified as follows:
5. emerging of informal groupings (clubs and non registered organisations)
due to a growing citizen’s participation;
6. Gradual level of institutionalisation of Community-Based Organisation,
mostly Iddirs;
7. The momentum offered by the social mobilisation process related to the
local dialogue on governance and local planning;
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8. The facilitation of CSOs structuring provided by the government with initial
but very important support (e.g. availability of premises, advice from the
Bureau of Justice for the registration and licensing of organisations);
9. The high level of cooperation at kebele level (kebele largely recognise NSA
contribution, consults them and often ask NSAs advice in the decisionmaking
process);
10. Stimulation and capacity building from Local NGOs, INGOs, and Apex
organisations for the grassroots organisations.
Some trends have been highlighted, namely:
D. Iddirs are gradually assuming the role of Community-Based Social Welfare or Self-Help
Organisations. Both isolated and grouped Iddirs have gradually abandoned the traditional
role of assisting the families for burial and in the mourning period (some of the
organisation keep the traditional activities as a way for strengthening community bonds)
and have assumed a role in :
• providing social welfare support to the weaker layers of the community
such as OVCs, elderly people, widows and disabled;
• stimulating income generation activities through revolving micro-credit
activities;
• providing mutual help in family crises and difficulties such as diseases,
the death of a breadwinner etc;
• building of small-scale local infrastructures;
• cross-cutting issues, mainly gender and child protection
• cooperating with local authorities in service delivery and consultation
on social problems.
E. A promising process of institutionalising and bottom-up networking has been enacted
during the last 3 years. An umbrella organisation has been stimulated by ACORD and
PANE. This umbrella organisation (ADMAS) gathers 7 Iddirs Unions or Boards which in
turn gather a total of 62 Iddirs in the town with 2064 members and wide capacity of
serving community needs. This process is leading to registration of the organisations
(mostly the Boards) and the constitution of formal organisms and to a regular and rather
democratic internal process and to a gradual participation in the dialogue with the
Government;
F. International NGOs and National Apex/Networking Organisations have re-formulated
their strategy shifting their focus on cross-cutting issues (e.g. Women’s Empowerment
for CARE) or Policy Dialogue and Governance Issues. This is gradually accompanying
and facilitating the CBOs supported by these organisations in achieving a growing
awareness, capacity and willingness to engage in cooperation with the government. It has
to be said yet, that only in few cases these cooperation reaches the policy level, with few
exception at the kebele level;
G. A number of Local NGOs while continuing funding CBOs activities are currently
stressing their role in capacity building for CBOs not only in terms of training but also in
stimulating the capacity for income generation, mobilisation of community resources and
fundraising;
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H. All the NGOs active in Dire Dawa have Capacity Building components in their programs,
most of which involve both the communities and public institutions (family guidance,
HIV-AIDS, OVCs, Education etc.). For example Cheshire Services Ethiopia, working in
the field of high level assistance for the disabled includes in the activities a referral
system and a cooperation and integration with Public Health Services, with in the long
term will produce his results in terms of capacity building; also Handicap International
has capacity building for hospitals as an outstanding component. This is likely to produce
effective policy cooperation in the specific field.
16. Networking
In spite of the positive trends in the CBOs sector highlighted above, it has to be said that
networking is rather weak in Dire Dawa.
The dynamics are positive there are contacts between Civil Society Organisations but there are
neither sectoral partnerships nor territorial networks. A certain degree of competition is still
hampering the development of networks.
The only important forum currently active and engaged in the participatory planning process is
the Governance Action Learning Program which provides the ground for an active partnership
between Local and National NGOs, CBOs, INGOs, Private sector and the Government. But in
spite of this promissory GO/NGO arrangement NSA themselves find hart to network. This
condition is found also among Business and Economic Interest Groups, the Organisations of
Private Sector: in fact the two organisations so far haven’t established any for of cooperation and
work with different (but complementary) priorities with no integration.
17. Dialogue and cooperation between NSA and Local Government.
The city Government has shown a rather high degree of openness in cooperating with the NSA.
The willingness to create of a basically enabling environment is shown by the facilitation for
registration and licensing (the Bureau of justice adopts an advisory stance to facilitate the
compliance with law requirements and speed-up the licensing process) and by providing premises
in public-owned building for different organisations.
The participatory approach is embedded in the participatory process established for the drafting
of the IDP, the regional PASDEP.
Different approaches have been used to facilitate participation in each planning stages of Dire
Dawa IDP, namely:
• the plan had benefited from ideas generated from future search conferences,
discussion with representatives of the rural community and various
stakeholders;
• An IDP representative forum consisting of all cabinet members, sector office
heads, urban and rural kebele officials, representatives of the urban and rural
communities, youth and women associations;
• NGOs, religious organizations, the business community, renowned persons and
professionals have been established and deliberated on every stages of the
planning process and passed important suggestions which are incorporated in
the plan;
• Successive in-house discussions of professionals have been conducted on
various issues;
• A workshop has also be organized at Addis Ababa Ghion hotel in which
professionals from FUPI; DDDIPO, Private consultants and other professionals
working in urban management area are participated;
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• Project study teams had also made discussions at various levels with
beneficiaries, implementing agencies and their employees, possible partners &
other relevant stakeholders
By these features the Government was willing to incorporate participation into the planning
process
Apart from the ideas obtained through various formal meetings and face to face discussions, an
attempt is also made to gather additional ideas by popularizing the planning process via
brochures, banners, news paper articles, posters and by organizing competitions and an
exhibition.
The review process aimed at aligning IDP with the PASDEP has given the opportunity to
strengthen and make more effective this process through different actions:
1. Strengthening the sector policy dialogue and joint planning process through the
establishment of a standing sectoral cooperation which acts through regular (weekly)
meetings and the identification of NSA’s capabilities and willingness for cooperation at
sector level. The process has shown overlapping and most of all lack of coverage from
some thematic areas. The ongoing process will be aimed at stimulating a larger
participation and establishing new partnership. The organisational capacity of the overall
IDP review machinery has to be strengthened and the action sharpened to maximise
NSA’s contribution and to give continuity to the pace of implementation;
2. Establishing a permanent forum of the stakeholders of the development process;
3. Establishing a permanent learning forum which brings together different categories of
GO/NGO actors;
4. promoting resourcefulness and disseminating information at the grassroots level, by
making the information available to CBOs;
5. Giving to NSA a stake in the monitoring process at the same level of Government
Bodies.
18. Engagement in Policy Dialogue.
The dialogue with the Government is based on:
• Consultation of the different categories of NSA when some decision affecting their sector
or interest is being made;
• The establishment of the IDP representative forum
• The creation of some permanent fora mostly initiated by the NSA.
The dialogue is quite effective in terms of coordination and planning to avoid duplication of
activities, although the recent sector dialogue has shown that the capabilities and interest of NSA
doesn’t cover completely the needs.
Yet it has to be said that it is rare that the dialogue involve the policy level.
19. Engagement in Political Dialogue
Engagement in political dialogue is not in the current agenda of the NSA, although the
opportunity offered by the planning exercise offer some room for an engagement if crafting the
rule of the game and shaping the quality of NSA participation in the policy making process.
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20. Internal Organisation and Resources
Financial Resources
Material and financial resources are very poor and sometimes the resource constraints hamper the
opportunities for scaling-up the initiatives.
� International NGOs implementing Multi-Annual activities on the basis of secured funds
from donors or fundraising;
� Some National NGOs implement programs under a multi-tiered process and have multiannual
agreements while some others have staggering sources of funding on annual basis;
� FBO (The Catholic Secretariat) have Multi-Annual Agreement with International (mostly
European) Faith-Based organisation (Caritas International, Misereor, Mission), specific
funds from International Donor Agencies) and occasional funding from Humanitarian
Organisations which trust the high capacity of emergency response (UN-OCHA, ECHO);
Human Resources
� The level of professionalism is rather low and permanent staff is limited, with the
exception of ECC-SDCOH, which shows a level of excellence in all the sectors and have
permanent specialised staff for all the fields of activities;
� Some of the stronger National and Regional NGOs - having some project-based full-time
professionals in the key engagement areas - but finding it challenging to maintain due to
turnover
� Opportunities for training and skill development are rather low;
� Volunteerism in terms of concrete engagement in the organisation operations and
management is rather weak.
Internal processes
Internal processes are rather democratic but the most of the organisations are based on a high
level of personalisation and top-down model of management and relationship. Often also the
relationship with the constituency is top-down (both the NGOs/CBOs relationship and the
CBOs/Community relationship).
Leadership
The relationship between the Board and the salaried staff of the NGOs show very hierarchical
features.
At the level of CBOs the persons in charge for the Boards are mostly mass leaders but they don’t
show neither a good level of capacity for managing an organisation nor a good level of
willingness to promote the participation and empowerment of the members and the organisations
don’t show a high level of transparency and accountability both in social and financial terms. Yet
it has to be recognised that the community express a positive judgement about the work of these
grassroots organisations
Policies, Systems and Structures
� Few of the emerging NSAs have policy manuals and multi-year programmes (Strategic Plan)
that guide their participation
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� Opportunities for learning on aspects of organizational development; including governance,
constituency strengthening, resource mobilization; accountability are not available for the
majority of NSAs,
Facilities
� Some NSA having their office facilities made available by the City Administration- Iddirs,
Women Association and Youth Association, Youth and Anti-Aids Clubs
� Most of the local organisations are operating from rented facilities
� Some NSA do not have their own office and are hosted in shared facilities with commercial
activities or other CSOs.
21. Capacity Building Needs
The overall capacity is highly limited by the resource gap, so most of the organisations highlight
that to build their capacity they need to be reinforced in terms of materials, financial and technical
resources.
The low level of resource mobilisation from the members and the communities is a constraint,
due to the fact that these constituencies belong to the most disadvantaged layers of the population,
but the issue can be considered also in terms of capacity for income generation (marketable
services, sponsorships, capacity for generating credible project proposal for funding by the
international partners).
The second issue is the lack of skilled manpower for service delivery and technical issues.
The third issue is related to Organisational Development, organisational management and
leadership and also on administration.
The merging process which has involved some CBOs has generated a positive attitude towards
the creation of bigger scale organisations and capacity for networking and resource-sharing is
another important field where capacity has to be built or strengthened.
A very important gap is found in Project Cycle Management because the Organisations complain
about their capacity to access the funding by International Partners due to their low level of
project design, implementation, monitoring and administration.
5. Regional Report Oromia
1. General remarks on NSA at territorial level
1.1. Background about Oromia NRS
Oromia National Regional State (ONRS) is the largest of all the nine regions in terms of both
population and geographic area. The total area of the regions about 30 percent of the entire
country and its total population is estimated to be over 30 million. Geographically, ONRS is
located at the centre of the country engulfing the nation’s capital, Addis Ababa at its heart and
stretches further to the West, East and also extends to the most Southern part of the country where
it shares border with Kenya.
In terms of its agro-ecology, the ONRS combines highland, med-altitude and lowland ecological
zones. The major proportion of the region falls into the first two zones which have enormous
agricultural potential and conductive weather condition suitable for farming and livestock
husbandry. Most of the region’s population also lives in these areas because of the natural
condition and a relatively more developed infrastructure like road network and commercialization
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facilities and hence the proximity to commercial centres and market outlets that stimulates
economic activities.
Nevertheless, in spite of the existence of road network and improved infrastructure particularly in
parts of the region which are well connected with the central market, high incidences of poverty
and livelihood vulnerability is common in some zones of the region. Thus, a considerable parts of
the rift valley, wider areas covering East and West Hararghe as well as the lowland areas
inhabited by the pastoral and agro-pastoral population including the Kereyu in East Shewa
bordering Afar region and also the pastoral and agro-pastoral households in the South-East and
Southern parts of the regions particularly Borena. In these areas, the scarcities of pasture and
water are the major problems that affect livestock production and hence disrupt the agro-pastoral
and pastoralist livelihoods. Apart from the hot and dry weather pattern, these areas are also hit by
major shocks resulting from the recurrence of drought and rain shortages. As a result, livelihood
vulnerability and food insecurity would be further aggravated due to the devastation of livestock
resources and life threatening famine incidences which are common phenomena particularly in
the pastoral and agro-pastoral areas of the region.
Even though the social and economic infrastructure in Oromia is relatively in better conditions by
the standard of development in most of the other regional states, the region also embraces
considerably large areas where the infrastructure development is still at a very low level.
Therefore, the region’s population that have access to basic social services like education, health
and water supply is very low in these areas. This is particularly the case in less developed and
inaccessible remote rural areas particularly the pastoral and agro-pastoral communities which
includes Borana, Guji and lowlands of Bale, Arsi, East and West Hararghe. Apart from the lack
of access to basic social services and the prevalence food insecurity, backward tradition, HTP and
the high level of poverty also characterize communities and household livelihoods in these parts
of the region. Thus, in order to address the backward socio-economic situation and the vulnerable
livelihood of the population particularly in the areas just mentioned, there are diverse NSA
typologies that have become operational undertaking various development projects and service
provision activities in Oromia.
1.2. NSA in Oromia - from the previous mapping
The major points from the previous study findings include
o Presence of the greatest number of INGO and NNGOs and also ODA, women’s, farmers’
and youth associations.
o The Government subsidized the women’s and youth associations but officially they are
considered as free and independent organizations despite the fact that the People’s
Organisation and Community Mobilisation Co-ordination Bureau oversees their
activities.
o NGO guidelines has been developed on the basis of the federal guideline
o The region has GO-NGO forum which meets annually to share experience while NGOs
engaged in relief work also meet regularly to discuss common problems.
o There is a three year regional strategic plan and NGOs participated in their respective
sectors of development (education, health, etc).
o The study indicated the negative attitudes of some lower level officials towards NGOs as
noticeable particularly amongst woreda and kebele level officials. This was based on the
interview of unnamed staff who indicated the Government suspicion of an NGO
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2. Major highlights of current findings
� There is a strong dynamism taking place in the NSA sector of Oromia with a growing trend
in number, typology and resources that NSA mobilize;
� Apart from a large number of INGO, FBO and NNGOs, NSA typology in ONRS also
includes CSO such as MBO, CBO, economic interest groups like cooperatives, credit and
saving institutions; professional associations, labour unions and private sector
organizations;
� In terms of membership and the resources mobilized, the NGO sector is the largest NSA
typology that reaches over 40 million beneficiaries across the region;
� While the NNGO, INGO and FBO are the three NGO typologies with total number of 156,
53 and 33 respectively, the INGO is the largest in terms of the resources mobilized as well
as total beneficiaries of on-going project activities;
� On matters related to operational issues, relation between Government and NSA sector is in
good condition. Particularly NGOs and sector offices have good cooperation and
collaboration and hence implement projects based on the regional priorities and the sectoral
development policy as set by the PASDEP.
� NGOs undertake project activities according to the guideline that was developed and
became effective a couple of years ago. The guideline was developed taking into account
the diversity and number of NGOs operational in the region, the disparity among zone in
the administrative costs of NGO projects and also the existing human resource capacity of
the regional administration at different levels;
� On the basis of the existing NGO guideline, the share of administrative costs in the total
budget of NGO projects could be up to 20 percent depending on the location and type of
activities involved. The guideline articles include provisions for the delegation of authority
regarding the signatory power for project agreements at different levels of administrative
organs. Accordingly, the BoFED head has the authority to sign agreements for NGO
projects worth a value of up to Birr 5 million while the zone administration is authorized
for project budget not exceeding Birr 2 million. In this guideline, signatory authority is
delegated to zone administration because of the existing woreda level human resource
capacity limitations.
� At the woreda level however, relations between Government especially town municipalities
and the NSA sector appear to be looser with less cooperation and collaboration. The case of
Chiro town in W/Hararghe zone is an example of such a loose relation.
� Despite the high urban poverty and low NSA participation, the relation between
municipality and the existing CBO like Iddirs is very loose. It is only with the capacity
building support of Pro-pride, a local NGO, that the two Iddirs namely Kebele 01 and
Wondimamachoch were able to initiate institution building and participated in the provision
of support and care for OVC in the town. Nevertheless, their activities did not get the
recognition of municipal and woreda officials.
� The two Iddirs of Chiro are exemplary of CBO in that they were able to raise awareness of
community and to contribute (by raising monthly payment of membership fee as a top-up)
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� Next to NGOs, the ODA is an important GONGO operating in 110 woredas with primary
focus on education, reproductive health and water supply projects directly implemented or
through the autonomous branches which are functional in their respective zone
administrations;
� In addition to ODA and its branches, there are also a large number of membership based
development associations including Abdi Boru, Abdi Guddina, Abdi Jiregna, Tullu Bollo,
Jarso self-help association, etc which are organized in different zones and woredas of the
region;
� Apart from regionally registered development associations, there are also associations of
gender, age, health-status and also associations related to occupation constituting a large
number of elders and/or retired civil servants, disability groups, women, etc;
� Cooperatives are the other important NSA typology in which there is dynamism in social
mobilization, growing and expanding scale and/or scope of activities undertaken.
Horizontally, cooperatives have grown significantly with about 3,198 basic cooperatives
having a total membership size of 1,227,686 and nearly 134.3 million capital available;
� Activity wise, multi – purpose cooperatives are the leading type and are followed by
mineral (gold, sand, aggregate, etc), irrigation users and dairy farmers cooperatives in terms
of membership size and capital;
� A more recent phenomenon in cooperative development is the growth of cooperative union
that include Oromia Coffee Farmers Cooperative Union that exports organic coffee to
major importing countries in Europe, North America and Oceania. Currently, the union has
grown significantly in terms of membership size; total capital and the annual export
earnings from a large volume of organic coffee and also washed and/or dry coffee that it
export annually.
3. Profile and distribution of NSA at Regional Level
3.1. Profile of NSA
Table 1. NSA typologies and size in Oromia national Regional State
NSA Categories Examples
2. NGOs = 209
International NGOs = 53 Goal, Carter Centre, IMC, Action Aid, CARE, FHI,
MFM, SCUSA, SC Denmark, OXFAM GB, SCUK,
Farm Africa, SOS Infants, etc
National NGOs = 156 HUNDEE, OSRA, Oromo Self-Help Org.,
RVCWA, LEM Ethiopia, Waqo Gutu Foundation,
ISAPSO, JeCCDO,
3. Regional Development Associations = ODA & the 17 zone associations
66

20
4. FBOs (national and international) =
33
5. Reg. apex/Networking Organisations =
2
6. Advocacy and Human rights
Organizations
7. Economic and business interest
groups
EECMY, ECC-SDCO, WV, Muluwongel,
Missionaries of Charity Int., Lutheran World
Federation, Int. Islamic Relief Org.
Assela Environmental Forum, Forum On Street
Children Ethiopia (FSCE) & Network of Oromia
People Living With HIV/AIDS
Oromia Credit & Saving S.C., Shashemane Iddir
Yelimat Agar
a) Cooperatives 3,198 Multi – purpose, Coffee Dairy farm, Irrigation
development, Fruits & vegetables, Sugar cane
farming
b) Union of Cooperatives = Oromia Coffee Farmers Coop union, Lome
vegetable farmers Coop union, etc
c) Chamber of Commerce and Sector Ethiopian Chamber branches in Nekemte, Jimma,
Ass. = 1
Adama, Assela, etc
8. d) Ethiopian Employers Federation: 1
9. Trade and labour unions 1 Branches of CETU in Adama, Jimma, etc
10. Professional Associations = Oromia Professionals Ass, Arts Ass, Ass of Oromia
11. Age, gender, health-status and other
occupation related Associations = 621
Lawyers & Law Attorneys ass
Ass of Women, Elderly, Disabled and PLW/ HIV
includes Ass formed in Adama, Mattu, Wochacha,,
Ada’a, Shashemane, Jimma, etc
Oromia Youth Ass, Woliso Youth Ass, Addis Hiwot
Youth Ass, etc
OYA
Regionally registered Youth Association
= >3
� Region-wide basic Youth Ass. =
� Region-wide Youth Clubs =
Reg. registered Associations of/for OWA, Abdi jiregna, Burqa Guddina, etc
Women = 217
Reg. registered Elderly and Disability
Ass. = 336
Reg. registered Ass. of PLWHA = 68 Brhan, Addis Hiwot, Seena Naqamte, etc are ass of
WLW/HIV & Abdi Namoota PLW/HIV HIV/AIDS
4. Activities and Sector Distribution
On the qualitative point of view the contribution of NSA can be summarised by the following
table:
Table 3 NSA Sectoral Contribution
Qualitative areas of contribution Quantitative
contributions
Mass Based
Associations
Social & recreation services, IGA,
community sensitization/mobilization for
natural resource & environmental
protection, awareness raising of
HIV/AIDS spread & its prevention
67
Mostly documented
in project
agreements
Trends of
Participation and
Contribution
Increasing trend;
more contribution to
OVC & child
development

Local
Development
Association
The local
NGOs
The Local
Associations
Mobilization of community & donor
resources for construction/service
provision (education, health, water, etc),
capacity building, small-scale irrigation &
relief distribution for food insecure &
new settlement areas,
Gender, HTP, FGM, child development,
OVC & child sponsorship, awareness
raising on HIV/AIDS &the control of its
spread, care and support for PLW/HIV
Sensitisation and preservation of Oromo
history & culture, art centre, etc and also
self-help groups to support the elderly,
disabled, poor and the marginalised
(OVC, women, etc)
NNGOs Integrated rural development, natural
resource protection, water supply,
education (ABE), food security, gender,
lobbying and combating HTP, capacity
building, skill training and IGA
INGOs Integrated rural/urban development,
pastoral & agro-pastoral livelihood
initiatives, Safety Net Program (SNP)
administration to promote
agricultural/natural resource development
and address food security problems, IGA,
women empowerment, research &
capacity building
FBOs Construction of health and school,
FP&RP health, care & support for
PLW/HIV, child
development/sponsorship, emergency,
food security and drought cycle
management programmes for pastoral
communities and vulnerable population,
the development and rehabilitation of
Iddirs and
CBOs
Economic
and Business
Interest
Groups
water supply
Community mobilization for
infrastructure, organize savings and
credit, IGA, awareness & fund raising for
OVC support, sensitization on
environment/natural resource protection.
Protect the interest of their members and
represent them in all affairs concerning
members
68
Mostly documented
in project agreement
and increasing in
number & coverage
Mostly documented
in project
agreements
Growing
(quantitative and
qualitative) but
undocumented
mostly
Mostly documented
in project
agreements
Mostly documented
in project
agreements
Mostly documented
in project
agreements
Not documented but
growing
organizations
Growing participation
and contribution to
local development &
service provision
Increasing
significantly
Dynamic in growth
and contribution
Fast growing trend
Increasing
participation with
focus on long term &
multi-year projects
Some best practice
identified both at
sectoral level and
with relations to
organisational model
Fast growing trend
for social
mobilization and
participation
Not documented At initial stage but
likely to grow

5. Qualitative Information on NSA Contributions
NSA participation and contribution
NGOs
NGOs are the leading NSA that reaches over 40 million beneficiaries population across the
region. With The enormous resource potential and diversified project activities that cover
multiple sectors, NGOs contribute significantly to the regional development. Despite the
resources mobilized and the numerous development activities undertaken, the equity aspect of
NGOs project is a major concern because nearly 50 percent of the project budget goes to the 4
zones of Shewa (East, West, North and S/West Shewa) with E/Shewa receiving the lion’s share
which is over 33 percent. Thus, it is only the remaining 50 percent of the NGO project fund that
will be distributed for beneficiaries in the 13 zones of the region.
Despite the inequity in the distribution of NGO projects and resources, regional authorities feel
that on-going projects fall within the development priority of the regional and are also in line
with the sectoral development and poverty reduction programme objectives. Even though many
NGOs tend to avoid operating in zones and woredas far from the centre, there are still highly
committed and dedicated ones like for example Menschen fur Menschen, Farm Africa, CARE
and other INGO and also World Vision, EECMY, Catholic church, etc among the FBOs.
Major NGO, Sector of focus, participation and contribution
Ethiopian Catholic Church
The church undertakes numerous development activities in the region with major focus on health,
water supply, child development, HIV/AIDS, food security, agriculture and livelihood recovery.
There are a large number of on – going projects implemented and coordinated by the Ethiopian
Catholic Church Social and Development Coordination Office (ECC_SDCO) in different zones
of the region. The ECC-SDCO is among the major NGOs that allocate large amount of budget for
the various the on-going projects.
World Vision
World Vision is the other NGO that undertakes development projects and service provision
activities in Oromia region. Major intervention areas include agriculture, health, water supply and
other project activities implemented as integrated development projects. Currently, the FBO has
more than 20 on-going project activities implemented in different zone. On the basis of the data
obtained from the BoFED of Oromia, the total project beneficiaries are over 1.3 million while the
total project budget allocated for the on-going projects is estimated to be over Birr 200 million.
CARE
CARe has on-going project activities in the areas of Productive Safety Net Programme (PSNP),
Reproductive Health and Early Warning System (EWS) development in Chro, Habro and Kuni
woreda of W/Hararghe zone and also Bedeno, Grawa, K/Chale and other woredas in E/Hararghe
zone. In addition, the NGO also implements pastoral livelihood enhancement projects which are
on-going in Dire, Bule Hora (H/Mariam), Taltale and Yabello Woredas of Guji and Borana
zones.
HUNDEE
Among the major NNGO that play important roles in Oromia is the Oromo Grassroots
Development Initiatives or HUNDEE. The primary focus of HUNDEE and its on-going projects
include gender and women empowerment, child development, civic education and also food
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security enhancement program. In addition, the promotion of cereal banks and market access are
also among the on-going projects activities of the NGO.
In terms of coverage, HUNDEE is present in W/Shewa (Welmera, Dandi, Jeldu and Chaliya);
N/Shewa zone (Wuchale Jida, Kuyu and Worra Jarso0; E/Shewa zone (Lume, Ada’a, etc); Arsi
and W/Arsi Zones (Kokosa, Kofale and Gedeb Asasa) as well as Sinana and Dinsho woredas of
Bale zone covering a large beneficiary population.
Regional Development Associations
Next to NGOs, regional development association, cooperatives, mass based and local
development organizations are the largest NSA typology in terms of both participation and
contribution to the regional development objectives.
Oromia Development Association (ODA)
The Oromia Development Association (ODA) takes the lead in thematic area as well as
beneficiary population it reaches. Apart from the contributions of a large membership (over half
million), the ODA undertakes local fund raising and also receives considerable funding support
from the donor community (Packard Foundation, USAID, Glimmer Hope Foundation,
Engendered Health, SIDA, ESW, etc) to implement various project activities that primarily focus
on education, health, water supply and food security. In terms of geographic area coverage, ODA
is the largest NSA that has on-going project activities in more than 110 woredas of the region. In
its reproductive health programme alone, ODA provides house to house services for over 700,000
women and as a result it has helped curbing the birth rate (preventing nearly 1.1 births). The
water supply projects have created access to potable water for about 350,000 people. In addition,
ODA constructs new schools that enroll thousands of children and also provides capacity building
support for schools and educational institutions in the region. As parts of its food security
programme, ODA has on-going irrigation project with the capacity to irrigate 350 hectare farms
and over 1,900 beneficiary households in Jarso woreda of E/Hararghe zone. Apart from the
programmes and project activities coordinated by the main regional office, ODA branches in the
17 zones of the region also implement numerous development and service provision activities in
their respective zones.
In spite of the implementation capacity built and its effectiveness so far, ODA leaders appear to
have dissatisfaction with the modality that SIDA uses namely umbrella or apex organizations as a
channel for the provision of funding to CSO projects. The two important reasons are 1) the
allocation of fund between the umbrella/Apex organization and the NSA that actually implement
projects is irrational (Apex organizations take about 30 percent of the fund allocated for projects
but are not involved in project implementation); and 2) It is not legitimate to combine small
NGOs with larger NSA like the ODA that have larger constituencies/beneficiaries and more
transparent and accountable un in their operation.
6. Summary of Values and Beneficiaries of Ongoing NGO Projects
The following table summarises the current ongoing projects implemented by NGOs in ONRS:
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Table 4. No of projects, beneficiaries and total budget of ongoing NGO Projects in ONRS
Summary of NGO's Ongoing Projects as of
Projected Total Budget
No of No of Number of Pledge in
S/No NSA Typology Org. Projects Beneficiaries Birr Remarks
1 International NGOs 53 216 27,230,094 1,606,189,680
Faith based Nat and
The ECC
works in
2 International Orgs 33 203 9,070,772 1,478,296,640 other regions
Beneficiaries
not indicated
3 National NGOs
Regional Dev't
156 419 4,271,913 1,331,449,609 for FGAE
4 Associations* 1 4 8,389,174** 18,279,227
5 Regional CSOs - -
Networking
6 Umbrella Orgs 2 2
activity
Total 245 844 40,572,779 4,434,215,156
* The Oromia Development Association (ODA) has branch associations that undertake their own
development activities in all the 17 zones of the region.
** On-going development projects and service provision activities cover over 110 woredas of the
region.
Source: Compiled on the basis of data from the BoFED of Oromia
As indicated on the above Table, NGOs in Oromia mobilize enormous financial resources for the
project activities they undertake in different zones of the region. Nevertheless, in terms of equity
there is wide disparity among zones in the distribution of on – going NGO project activities and
hence the project budget with E/Shewa zone receiving over 33 percent while the share of zones
likes Guji and Horro is about zero. (see Chart 1 below).
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W/Wol 1%
W/Har 3%
S/W/Sh 5%
Chart 1. Distribution of NGO budget among Oromia zones
> 1 zone 19%
W/Shewa 7%
W/Arsi 4%
N/Shewa 5%
7. Sectoral Participation
K/Wol 0% Jimma 1% Ilu Ab. 5%
Arsi 4%
Bale 3%
Guji 0%
Boran 4%
Horro 0%
E/Har 3%
E/Shewa 33%
E/Wol 1%
The on-going NGO project activities are multi-sectoral and diverse in their intervention activities
that are also highly differentiated. However, there is a wide disparity among sectors in the
percentage of projects activities that are on – going in each sector. Thus, about 20 percent of ongoing
project activities focus on children and child development including child sponsorship
while the share of natural resource and environmental protection activities is only about 3
percent. Even though the range between the sector with the largest and smallest activities appear
to be wide, major sectors like health, education and water supply have nearly equal share. Major
sectors of on-going NGO projects and their distribution have been summarized and shown on
chart 2.
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Chart 2 Sectoral distribution of NGO project activities
Natural res/env
3%
Gender 6%
Cap Building
3%
Water/san 9%
Integ dev 15%
HIV/AIDS 6%
FS/emergency
4%
Other 5%
Agric/Past 10%
Children 20%
Education 10%
Health 9%
Apart from the diversity in the sector of on-going activities, NGOs undertake different project
activities within their major sectors of activities. For example, child development activities will
include intervention activities like child sponsorship, care and support, etc. Thus, the total number
of projects activities that fall within each sector and also the types of project activities that NGOs
undertake in each of the sectors are briefly described on the following table.
Table 5. Sectoral Focuses of NGO Projects
Core Project Focus No of
Projects Remark
Agriculture 51 Extension/training of farmers, introducing improved
seeds, organic farming, pest control, small-scale
irrigation, heifer supply to improve breeds, dairy
farming, fishery development, cooperative
organization, capacity building, etc
Agro – pastoral 30 Pastoral economic diversification, prevention of tick
infestation, water scheme development, pastoral and
agro-pastoral post drought recovery, capacity building
in water resource management & peaceful coexistence
and support to reduce vulnerability, improve livelihood
and enhance good governance
Education 85 Provision of ABE, youth-centred non-formal and
vocational training, primary school construction and
running of formal schools
Child Development 170 Orphanage centre, child sponsorship, integrated
Community-based childcare and development, support
for orphans and vulnerable children (NFE, health, legal
protection of child right and livelihood promotion),
empowerment of parents & care givers
Food security & emergency 37 Livelihood based pastoral emergency response,
drought cycle management, drought mitigation,
preparedness and risk management, support for
Productive Safety net program, promotion of IGA
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Health, including RH and
family planning
77 Expanding community –based health care, provision of
RH services, FP, construction of health posts, clinics
and health centres, centre-based health care,
eradication of HTP
HIV/AIDS 53 Awareness raising on HIV/AIDS, home-based care &
support for PLW/HIV, prevention and control of
spread through the promotion of abstinence,
Integrated development
programmes
faithfulness & the reduction of sexual partners
122 Rural and urban community-based development
(health, education, water, community organization and
capacity building, etc) for integrated development
Water supply and sanitation 74 Shallow and deep water well and hand dug well
construction, to supply water for rural and small rural
towns, rehabilitation of ponds, spring development,
Gender, HTP and women
empowerment
Natural resource &
environmental protection
water sanitation and hygiene education
48 Promote gender equality, awareness raising on HTP
and combating FGM, skill training, IGA, handicraft &
capacity building support to promote the social and
economic empowerment of women
27 watershed-based soil & water conservation, micro
catchments conservation, forest land management,
environmental protection, solar energy and mud
technology promotion to reduce pressure on natural
resources (forest) & community awareness creation
Others (energy, research, 40 Energy resources, support and networking of
ICT, etc)
PLW/HIV, forum on street children, Agro-business
promotion, support for the disabled, etc
Total 838
8. The role of the Private Sector
In terms of private sector growth, the Oromia regional state is the second major regions next to
Addis Ababa where most of the manufacturing industries are concentrated. Therefore, the major
towns in Oromia namely Adama, Jimma, Assela and also Nekemte are the most active in the
network of the Ethiopian Chamber of Commerce. The major business owners in these towns are
also permanent members of Employers Federation. Apart from the private business companies
that have been operational long ago, a number of new firms have been established in different
towns of the region during the last 10 – 15 years. Private sector growth was particularly
significant during the late1990s particularly after the market liberalization and the reform
measures taken to create a more enabling environment and thereby attract private investment.
As a result, there are many private companies that are engaged in the business of manufacturing,
agriculture, mining, etc in various sectors. In order to facilitate cooperation and collaboration,
private entrepreneurs undertaking business in different sector of the region have formed
associations and among these, the Oromia Private Commercial Farmers Association, Ethiopian
Coffee Growers, Producers and Exporters Association and also the Ethiopian Flower Producers
Association are the most active in the region since most of their businesses are in this region.
Cooperatives of Oromia NRS
ONRS has the largest number of cooperatives as compared to all the other regions. Thus, the total
number of registered cooperatives was 3,198 that have about 1,227,686 members and available
74

capital of about Birr 134.3 million. The Multi-purpose cooperatives are the leading type with a
total of 2,035 basic cooperative that have about 1.15 million members and approximately Birr
107.27 million. In terms of capital and membership size Mineral, irrigation users, and dairy
farmers cooperatives respectively take 2 nd to 4 th positions after the multi-purpose cooperatives
(see Table).
Table 5. Basic Cooperatives in Oromia (up to 1998 Ethiopian fiscal year)
S/N Type of Basic No. of Basic Membership Size
Capital
Cooperatives Coops. Male Female Total In Birr
1 Multi - purpose 2,035 1,059,699 89,318 1,149,017 107,267,163
2 Dairy farm 46 1,859 775 2,632 2,471,267
3 Irrigation 167 9,205 1,191 10,396 6,127,126
4 Fruits & vegetables - 568 56 624 168,362
5 Sugar cane farming 15 1,311 453 1,764 1,938,588
6 Coffee 27 2,015 195 2,210 994,942
7 Chat 32 5,209 283 4,492 446,621
8 Fishery 25 1,1196 33 1,229 854,940
9 Animal trading 79 1,593 280 1,873 958,373
10 Animal fattening 95 2,364 431 2,795 132,789
11 Abattoir 8 201 7 208 796,856
12 Tide and skin 2 25 1 26 18,983
13 Bee keeping 10 190 5 195 170,032
14 Grain Bank - 1,577 555 2,132 1,112,490
15 Grain trade - 145 11 156 58,387
16 Seed propagating - 950 78 1,028 1,564,777
17 Forestry 21 1,752 433 2,185 395,283
18 Incense production - 83 0 83 62,044
19 Water users - 321 2 323 142,340
20 Mineral 476 34,148 1,411 35,559 6,225,438
21 Consumers 48 1,727 306 2,035 392,207
22 Craftsmen 60 969 146 1,113 378,340
23 Electric users 30 4,721 487 5,208 1,040,500
24 Animal health - 74 15 89 185,820
25 Employment
generation
- 197 94 291 367,860
26 Eco tourism - 10 2 12 1,700
27 Health post 22 9 2 11 100,00
Total 3,198 1,142,118 96,570 1,227,686 134,273,228
9. The dynamics in the sector at regional level
Child sponsorship, care and support are a more apparent dynamism observed in the NSA sector of
the region. The number of NGOs, MBA and local association engaged in these activities is
growing significantly particularly among the NNGOs. Similarly, large numbers of these NSA
also participate in the care and support for people living with HIV/AIDS (PLW/HIV). Another
important dynamism is the expansion and growth of cooperatives that play an active role in the
economic life the rural population.
10. Networking
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Except the major national networks and forums like the Network of PLW/HIV and the Forum for
Street Children, NSA networking activities are less significant in Oromia region. Apart from the
lack of legislation that permits networking, the slow dynamism in networking could be attributed
to the presence of most NSA whose management/coordination is in Addis Ababa and who would
more likely prefer to join existing networks and forum instead of creating regional focused
networks.
11. Dialogue and cooperation between NSA and Local Government.
The dialogue between Government and NSA sector is generally related to operational issues.
Both dialogue and cooperation is smoother at regional level particularly between NSA like NGOs
and sector offices. In the case of NGOs, dialogue on operational issues are less frequent since
their joint meetings are conducted only once in a year.
12. Engagement in Policy and Political Dialogue.
So far there is neither policy nor political agenda raised for dialogue between NSA and the
regional government. The existing guideline does not have provision for NSA engagement in
these types of dialogues. As indicated above, the only dialogues between NSA especially NGOs
and Government is on issues relating to NGO operation. Even in this case, the opportunity to
engage in such dialogue since meetings is held once in a year.
13. Internal Organisation and Resources
Financial Resources
Except the INGO and FBOs, most NSA have very poor material and financial resources which
hamper their operation and scaling-up. The lack of adequate financial resources a major
bottleneck for local NGOs, MBA and self-initiated local development associations. Even though
the ODA, the regional development association of Oromia receives funding support from major
donors, the leaders believe that shortages of funding is also attributable to the use of
Apex/umbrella organizations that cut funds channelled by SIDA. Instead, the proposed modality
is the provision of funds directly to NSA that have large institutional and also implementation
capacity. Even for the small NSA that receive donor fund, mechanisms should be design to
minimize the administrative cost associated with channelling donor funds.
Human Resources
Some National NGOs and also the regional development association (ODA) have full-time
professionals in the management and key engagement areas. However, even these NSA face the
challenge of staff turnover since they do not have financial resources to retain experienced
professionals. The problem of human resource shortage is more pronounced in the case of smaller
NGOs that have very poor financial resources.
Internal processes and leadership
Very often, internal processes depend on the quality and capacity of leadership because the nature
of internal process is one way in which the leadership quality is manifested. There are mixed
feelings about the internal processes of NSA in the region. The internal process of some NSA
especially the member-based are rather more democratic and transparent since they usually build
healthy relationship with their constituency through bottom-up approach employed in their
activities (identification, selection and implementation of projects). On the contrary, internal
processes of many other NSA are often unclear and hence these NSA have usually weak
constituency base.
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In the NSA that are hierarchical, leadership activities are unclear and less visible since they are
far from their constituencies, These strategy is common among the directors and/or managers
NSA particularly NGOs and also regional development associations whose leaders would stay on
position for a very long period before they are replaced.
Policies, Systems and Structures
CBOs like Iddirs established to provide funeral services do not have structured functional
systems. Despite the existence of structures and systems, strategic programmes are also rare with
even in the case of the newly emerging NSA that are often engaged in the implementation of
short tem projects. Thus, apart from the uncertainty of funding availability particularly for
projects of long term, lack of experienced professionals also constrain the development of
policies and systems that guide the strategic goal of newly emerging NSA.
Facilities
� Most NSA including the regional development association (ODA) do not have their own
offices but rent from government or private builders.
� Some other NSA particularly mass and community based organization use office facilities
made available by regional administration. For example, women associations often share
offices with the Women Affairs at different levels. In rare cases like in Chiro, Iddirs have
rented houses which made available through kebele administration.
14. Capacity Building Needs
Capacity limitations is the major problem for NSA particularly NNGO, mass based and
community based associations. The existing capacity limitations the mass and community based
NSA are in most cases associated with the weak financial resource position of these NSA because
they depend on the finance mobilized through the contribution of members which is often
inadequate to cover even their administrative cost. Thus, the capacity building needs of these
NSA could be met through financial, material and technical support to reinforce;
o The provision of training for their staff in project cycle management (design, implementation,
monitoring and evaluation) in order to develop their capacity for the preparation of project
proposal and enable them solicit fund
o Strengthen the organizational leadership and management capacity in the skills of community
and resource mobilization, project management and service provision.
o Logistic support including (materials, office equipment, vehicles, office furniture, etc) to
strengthen internal capacity and improve efficiency.
o Financial, technical and logistic support the networking initiatives of NSA and to strengthen
existing net works. This is particularly important in Oromia where the dialogue, cooperation
and joint actions among NSA (MBA, Professional associations, NGOs and regional
organization) as well as the regional government appears to be very weak.
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6. Regional Report SNNPR
1 General remarks on NSA at territorial level.
1.1. Background about the SNNPR
The Southern Nation, Nationalities and Peoples Region (SNNPR) is the most multi –ethnic
regional state of Ethiopia SNNPR embraces populous nations and nationalities like Sidama,
Wolaita, Kembata, Hadiya, Gurage and Gedeo and also a large number of ethnic groups. It is also
the region representing people from varieties of large nations and numerous small nationalities
with distinct language, tradition, culture and custom. Thus, the SNNPR is unique in that it
represents an extensive geographic area and a large population of high diversity that live in unity.
Like the diversity in the ethnicity, culture of its people, language, etc, the SNNPR also comprises
a very large geographic area with considerable variation in agro – climate, weather pattern and
socio-economic condition. The livelihood of the region’s population is primarily dependent on
sedentary agriculture while a large proportion is also dependent on livestock production
especially in the pastoral and agro-pastoral areas bordering with Kenya. Even though SNNPR is
one of the most fertile regions, it is one of the regions where there is lack of access to basic social
services and hence the coverage of services like education, health, water supply, etc is very low.
Apart from the underdeveloped social and economic infrastructure, there is widespread poverty
resulting to a large proportion of the population that live below the poverty line.
On the basis of the 1995/96 poverty indices, the poverty index (Po) estimated for the SNNPR is
0.56 as compared to the national average of 0.46 1 . According to this study, in 1995/96, more than
50 percent of people living in consumption poverty resided in two regions which are the SNNPR
and Amhara Regional States. Despite improvement in the incidences of poverty, a poverty index
of 0.51 was estimated in 1999/00 indicating still a very high level of poverty incidence in this
region. On top the persistence of high poverty level, there is a rapid population growth, land
degradation and natural resource depletion that lead to the loss of agricultural productivity, food
shortages and the aggravation of food insecurity of the region’s population. Moreover, the
suffering of households and people in the region also results from major shocks and disasters and
shocks that are caused by famine and food shortages due to the lack of rain and crop failure. The
vulnerability and shocks of livelihood is especially more aggravated in the lowland or Kolla areas
where the recurrence of drought and rain shortage results in the scarcity of pasture and water
supply results in the suffering of pastoral population that depend on livestock for livelihood.
Due to the high poverty incidence and livelihood vulnerability, currently there are numerous NSA
of diverse types that operate in the SNNPR. As the problems faced by the people are diverse and
multi-faceted, different project activities are undertaken to address the various problems of the
people. The types of NSA operational in the region, thematic areas, activity sectors and coverage
have been assessed and mapped as described below briefly.
1.2. NSA in SNNPR from the previous mapping
The previous mapping study briefly describes the NSA in SNNPR and the findings include;
1) BoFED is responsible for the registration and supervision of NGO activities while the
responsibility of Civil Association and Public Participation for the registration of mass
and membership based organizations. As noted from the spokesperson, it is the mass and
membership based organizations that have more roles in policy making through public
1 MoFED, Ethiopia: Sustainable Development and Poverty Reduction Program, Addis Ababa, 2002,
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mobilization than NGOs lobbying and advocacy.
2) The study identified that World Vision and Action Aid which were working on human
rights are some of the large international NGOs present while the Ethiopian Women
Lawyers Association and Progynist working on human right and women empowerment
were taken as some “interesting” Ethiopian NGOs
3) The Ethiopian Pastoralists Research and Development Association has been identified as
an example of NGOs working on conflict resolution and many faith-based organizations
present in the SNNPR are mainly working on development more than in other regions.
4) However, instead of stating ‘some NGOs’ or ‘other small’ or “unnamed organisations”,
the study should have clarified NGOs which the Government spokesperson referred to as
exemplary for effective lobbying and advocacy and/or conflict resolution between Omo
and Oromia people s but does not clarify the which NGOs.
5) SEPDA is the main development association which is an umbrella organization for 21
mostly ethnic based smaller development associations which it assists in capacity
building, fund raising and project proposal preparation. According to the study, SEPDA
works differently…..because its inputs appear to have fewer acceptances in government
policy making.
1.3. Major highlights of current findings
• SNNPR is endowed with NSA of diverse nature including CSO such as CBO including
Iddir, self-help associations and also interest groups organized by age and sex like youth
and women associations as well as clubs such as anti-HIV/AIDS, environmental, etc. There
are also local and regional development associations, cooperative organizations and unions,
savings and credit, labour unions and professional associations.
• NGOs are the most active NSA which are large in number and diverse in typology, sector
and thematic area as well as coverage. Currently there are nearly 115 NGO operational in
the region while the on-going project activities are about 336 covering a wide range of
sector and thematic areas. In terms of their typology, there are 70 national NGOs 28
international NGOs while the remaining 17 are FBO.
• Even though NGOs mobilize enormous resources and reach a large beneficiary population,
there is inconsistency in the estimates of project budget and the number of beneficiaries
served. On the basis of the DPPA data, the total NGO project budget for the period 2004 –
2007 is about 1.47 million Birr and over 47 million project beneficiaries. According to the
SNNPR BoFED however, the estimate of on-going project budget and the total number of
beneficiaries are about one billion Birr and nearly 12.7 million respectively. Nevertheless, a
single NGO alone, like World Vision has over 1.2 million project beneficiaries and
mobilizes over USD 1.4 million or about 12.8 million Birr. Thus, the inconsistency appears
to have emanated either due to the weakness of the MIS in use or the intention to
overshadow the resource potential and role of NGO as development partners.
• Nevertheless, the regional state including sector bureaus do recognize the important role
and also the significance of NGOs contribution in the development endeavours of the
SNNPR. Their participation and contribution is well recognized specially in the sectors that
include agriculture and agro-pastoral, food security and emergency programmes, water and
sanitation, education and health which are pro-poor and community based on-going
projects. They also undertake project activities that target marginalized groups and the
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disadvantaged groups, gender, child development, HIV/AIDS prevention and control, as
well as activities aimed at awareness, capacity building and the empowerment of
communities.
• Next to NGOs, cooperatives are the NSA with nearly one million members organized into
2690 basic cooperatives and 29 unions that undertake numerous business activities in
various sectors. There are about 3100 youth associations which are also part of the basic
cooperative organizations. Apart from the services provided to members, the cooperatives
and their unions have also created employment opportunities for over 22,000 people. The
SNNPR cooperative development is remarkable and full of dynamism in its growth trends
and enhanced role as one of the important players in production, marketing and service
provision for their members. The formation of cooperative federation in February this year
is a good indicator of the dynamism inherent in the cooperative development of the region.
• Currently, the region’s cooperative unions undertake major businesses and service
provision activities that include production, credit and saving, and marketing service that
include imports of inputs and the exports of farm products to the international market.
Thus, as a result of farmers empowerment and bargaining power, the tasks of importation,
distribution and supply of input especially fertilizers which were once the sole businesses
of parastatal enterprises, private firms and party affiliated companies are now fully under
the control of the cooperative unions.
• Cooperatives play major role in product marketing linking the producers with the
international market and contribute significantly to an increase in foreign exchange
earnings of the country. They also provide producer price guarantee against product price
fall through contract sales arrangements that ensure minimum price for members who
deliver export products. Through such an arrangement, the unions were able to increase the
volume of haricot beans export to 10,000 quintals during 2007. Apart from the economic
advantage accruing from the direct supply of exportable commodities like coffee,
cooperatives have also managed to get significant cost reduction for the importation of
inputs. For example, in comparison with the fertilizer price of companies that were main
importers of fertilizer, the reduction in the import cost of fertilizer during the previous year
was as high as 100 birr per quintal.
• The relationship between the Government and NSA sector in the SNNPR is currently in
good condition and this is attributable to the existence of a more enabling operational
environment. In order to create a more enabling environment, GO – NGO forum has been
formed to facilitate consultation and cooperation of regional government, sector bureaus
and the NGOs operational in SNNPR. Since its formation, series of joint meetings have
been conducted and issues that could have relevancy in improving the operational have
been addressed and discussed.
• An important outcome of the GO – NGO forum is the preparation of NGO guideline in
which NGOs also participated. The outstanding points and issues contained under in the
guideline and its articles have been raised during the forum meetings and thoroughly
discussed and debated upon to reach consensus. Among the issues or articles that were
revised and amended are NGO project over head cost, the delegation of woreda authority to
sign project agreements up to 2 million Birr and also the relation between NGO and sector
office, roles and responsibilities with regard to the coordination, cooperation in project
implementation and monitoring activities. As a result, the draft guideline has been revised
and amended to incorporate the comments, inputs and feedback from the NGOs. Thus, the
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GO – NGO forum has been instrumental in improving the operational environment of NGO
particularly the ratification of the amended NGO guideline final document.
• Apart from the GO – NGO forum, the networking initiatives of NGOs in the SNNPR also
covers wider sectors of development. The existing networks include food security, gender,
OVC and environmental networks while non-formal education and HIV/AIDS are among
the major forums established after 2004. In addition, the Civil Society Resource Centre in
Awassa is also an important forum for NSA in terms of availing resources needed for
capacity building, to facilitate the coordination and engagement in collective actions.
• Despite the guideline, good relation between government and NGO and hence a more
enabling operational environment existing in the region, there is a lack of legislation to
enforce the institutionalization of NGO operational framework. This would be a major
bottleneck to NGO operation since the guideline can’t substitute the federal legislation
which was enacted 40 years ago and is still effective. In spite of the positive attitudes
among the authorities in the regional government, relationships which are based on good
wills of individuals would prevail as long as these authorities will be on power. Therefore,
unless there is legislative that enforces the existing relationship, most NGO representative
feel less confidence due to the likelihood of relationship deterioration given the high
turnover of authorities in the regional government.
• The GO - NGO forum has also debated on the need for an autonomous government body
which will be responsible to monitor the NGO sector. Among the major reasons that justify
the necessity of such an organ include the potential increase NGO resource flow to
development and its effective use, the possibility to create well defined relationship that
will enhance efficiency and responsiveness to NGO affairs and also to overcome the
existing capacity limitation of NGO desk at woreda level. The proposed autonomous
government body is also justifiable in that its budget requirement would not be significant
in comparison with the increase of resources that NGO could inject as a result of improved
NGO administration and coordination system.
• Apart from the GO – NGO forum, the networking initiatives of NGOs in the SNNPR also
covers wider sectors of development. As a result of these initiatives, currently there are
networks that include food security, gender, OVC and environmental networks while nonformal
education and HIV/AIDS are among the major forums established after 2004. In
addition, the Civil Society Resource Centre in Awassa is also an important forum for NSA
in terms of availing resources needed for capacity building, to facilitate the coordination
and engagement in collective actions.
• Participants in the networks and forums are more limited to NGOs while the involvement
of other NSA such as women and youth associations, representatives of CBO, etc is low.
Moreover, most of the existing networks and forums are not operating actively due to
various reasons. The lack of clear understanding about the purposes of networking is one of
the reasons for weakens of participation while wrong perceptions and the expectations of
some members to use networks as funding sources is the other reason. The lack of adequate
knowledge about networking and its importance for collective voice is the main reason for
the low level of membership and participation of other NSA typologies like professional
and teachers associations. Moreover, the weakness and ineffectiveness of networking in the
region could also be attributed to the lack of resources (finance, material and logistics) and
capacity limitations to raise NSA awareness, mobilize, network and to engage them in
policy and political dialogues among themselves and with the government.
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• In spite of the existing limitation in the capacity and resources of networks and forums,
there is a significant improvement in the initiatives, especially an improving trends in GO –
NGO dialogue and engagement after 2004. Even though a growing number of NGO are
interested to participate in network and forum, most of them are interested to engage in
dialogues which are related to operational issues and sector specific NGO project activities
(education, food security, gender, etc) while the knowledge and experience to engage in
policy and political dialogue is very limited. Apart from the lack of understanding on the
role of NSA in policy dialogue, it is considered synonymous with political dialogue which
is perceived to be too sensitive area for NGOs.
2 Profile and distribution of NSA at Regional Level.
\ Profile of NSA.
Table 1. NSA typologies and size in the SNNPR
NSA Categories Examples
12. NGOs =
International NGOs = 28 Action Aid, Inter Aid France, Farm Africa,
Goal Ethiopia, Lay Volunteer International,
CHFI,
OXFAM GB, SC Finland, SC Norway
National NGOs = 70 JECCDO, Tila Ass of WLW/HIV, Action for
development, Agri-service Ethiopia, Action
for Environment Public Advocacy, Ethio-
Wetland & Natural Resource Ass, etc
Regional Registered NGOs = Numerous groups and zonal associations
13. Regional Development Associations =
>10
SEPDA and many zonal and ethnic
development ass like Sidama, Wolaita,
Guraghe, etc
14. FBOs (national and international) = 17 ECC-SDC, Muluwongel, EECMY, World
Vision,
Swiss Evangelical Mission, CCF, Meserete
15. Reg. apex/Networking Organisations = 2
+ 4
Christos, Norwegian Lutheran, etc
CRDA chapter and HIV/AIDS forum and
other unregistered networks and forums like
SCRC, gender, education, food security,
Malaria, environmental forums.
EHRCO and EWLA branches
16. Advocacy and Human rights
Organizations 2
17. Economic and business interest groups
a) Cooperatives 2690
b) Union of Cooperatives = 29
c) Chamber of Commerce and Sector Ass. The Ethiopian Chamber of Commerce in
= 1
Awassa
18. d) Ethiopian Employers Federation:
19. Trade and labour unions 1 CETU Southern Ethiopia branch office in
Awassa
20. Professional Associations = Ethiopian teachers Ass
21. Age, gender, health-status and other EWA, EYA, EYA network
occupation related Associations 3
82

Regionally registered Youth Association =
1
�
egion-wide basic Youth Ass. = 2
�
egion-wide Youth Clubs = 2
Reg. registered Associations of/for
Women =
Anti-Aids Clubs, Virgin Girls Association
SNNPR Women Association
Reg. registered Elderly and Disability Ass.
= 1
Reg. registered Ass. of PLWHA = 1 Tila Association of Women Living with HIV-
AIDS
22. Free Press 3
23. Community based organisations -
NB: Regional development associations NGOs registered by the SNNPR too many to list.
3 Activities and Sector Distribution
Zonal distribution of NGOs
As shown by chart 1 and 2 below, the activities of NGOs cover all the zones and special woredas
in the SNNPR. NGO project activities are significant in the major zones like Sidama, Gamo
Gofa, Gurage, South Omo and Hadiya (see Chart 1).
Chart 1. Distribution of NGO project activities by
major zones of SNNPR
Wolayita, 23
South Omo, 28
Silti, 14
> one zone, 13
Kaffa, 6
Sidama, 39
Kembata T, 20
Awassa+town,
27
Gamo Gofa, 29
Hadiya, 26
Gedeo, 11
Gurage, 28
Except Kaffa zones, almost all zones of the SNNPR are also constitute the major
populous regions of Ethiopia where there is rapid population growth coupled with high
level of poverty. This is also the likely reason for relatively large number of on-going
NGO project activities as compared to the special woredas that are less populous (see
Chart 2 below).
83

Chart 2. Distribution of NGOs in the Special
woredas & towns of SNNPR
Konso, 7
Sheka, 7
Derashe, 6
4 Contributions of NSA in SNNPR
Special
woredas &
towns,
Dawro, 5
Alaba, 6
A/Minch/Amaro/
Basketo/Burji, 6
Bench Maji, 7
4.1. Qualitative areas of contribution
On the qualitative point of view the contribution of NSA can be summarised by the following
table:
Table 3 NSA Sectoral Contribution in the SNNPR
Qualitative areas of contribution Quantitative
contributions
Mass Based
Associations
Local
Development
Association
The local
NGOs
Awareness raising of community,
mobilization; advocacy, lobbying and
combating HTP like FGM and IGA and
EGA
Training and capacity building of
community, mobilization of community
resources and funds for education, water
supply, health, etc
Primarily in specific services (HIV/AIDS,
care & support, OVC/child sponsorship &
gender
NNGOs Water and sanitation, OVC, HIV/AIDS,
capacity building, conflict resolution,
ABE & emergency relief
INGOs FP & Reproductive health, integrated
development (agriculture & natural
resource conservation), irrigation, pastoral
livelihood development, food security
FBOs Health infrastructure and service
provision, capacity building, awareness
raising, IGA & gender, Child
84
Mostly documented
in project
agreements
Mostly documented
in project
agreements
Mostly documented
in project
agreements
Mostly documented
in project
agreements
Mostly documented
in project
agreements
Mostly documented
in project
agreements
Trends of
Participation and
Contribution
Growing
participation and
contributing
More participation
and contribution to
capacity building
Growing focus on
child sponsorship,
care & support of
PLW/HIV
Participation/contri
bution is tends to
target OVC &
HIV/AIDS
Increase in long
term agricultural &
rural projects
Increasing trend in
both participation
and contribution

Iddirs and
CBOs
Advocacy &
HR
organizations
Economic &
Business
Interest Groups
sponsorship/child development, OVC,
care & support for PLW/HIV,
Mobilization of communities for social
infrastructure & support for OVC children
Women and child right advocacy, legal
support and the capacity building of law
enforcement institutions
Ensure the protection of members rights
and promotion of their interest
Not documented Growing
involvement &
participation
Not documented
but cases
completed & ongoing
4.2. Summary of Values and Beneficiaries of Ongoing NGO Projects
through NGOs
growing
participation &
significant
contribution
Not documented Growing trends
The following table summarises the current ongoing projects implemented by NGOs:
Table 4. No of beneficiaries and total budget of ongoing NGO Projects in BSGR
S/No NSA Typology
Summary of NGO's Ongoing Projects as of
No of
Org.
No of
Projects
Projected
Number of
Beneficiaries
Total Budget
Pledge in
1 International NGOs 28 84 3,650,165 388,751,032
2
Faith based Nat and
International Orgs 17 110 2,171,878 339,039,219
3 National NGOs
Regional Dev't
70 118 6,691,339 276,707,883
4 Associations - - - -
5 Regional CSOs
6 Umbrella Orgs - - - -
Total 115 312 12,513,382 1,004,498,134
85
Birr Remarks
Missing values
of budget &
beneficiaries
Missing values
of budget &
beneficiaries
Missing values
of budget &
beneficiaries
No records
available
Based on BoFED of the SNNPR data
No records
available

4.3. Sectoral Participation
There is a highly differentiated range of activities in SNNPR: several projects have a multisectoral
intervention.
Table 5. Sectoral Focuses of NGO Projects
Core Project Focus No of
Projects Remark
Agriculture 11 Seed and improved inputs, small scale irrigation,
marketing and capacity building
Agro-pastoral 3 Pastoral livelihood initiatives, food security and
emergency, water supply and sanitation
Capacity building 48 Training, awareness raising, skill and business support
for IGA and EGA
Children/Child development 44 Community-based child care and development that
integrates NFE, health, nutrition, legal aid, and
livelihood promotion
Conflict resolution &
12 Manage conflicts, resolve problems that cause conflict
management
(resource use, border, etc) and build peace
Education 29 Provision of non-formal education services and
community - based ABE, the construction and running
of formal schools and provision of materials
Food security & emergency 19 Food and cash for work, saving life through relief
provision, the management of Productive Safety net
program, promotion of IGA, etc
Gender 11 Awareness raising, combating HTP, FGM, etc; IGA
for marginalised women, awareness raising for the
prevention of HIV-Aids,
Integrated development 36 Agro-business promotion, cooperative creation,
technical assistance
Good Governance 1 Advocacy and mobilisation of resource, capacity
building and community mobilisation to fight corrupt
Health/reproductive health
HIV/AIDS
Natural resource &
environment
56
11
11
Social 11
practices of local authorities.
Provision of Community –based health care, centrebased
health services, reproductive and preventive
health care, HIV testing/counselling, services, etc,
eradication of malaria and communicable diseases
Awareness raising for the prevention and control of
HIV/AIDS, care and support for PLW/HIV
Watershed management, reforestation, conservation
and management of forest resources, wild life, soil and
water
Rehabilitation of people with disabilities, support and
care for the weak and elderly people, training and
capacity building
Water and sanitation 24
Construction of water supply and distribution systems,
pond and spring development, deep and shallow well,
water & environmental sanitation
Other 15 Socio-economic surveys, studies, etc
Total 312
4.4. Qualitative Information on NSA Sectoral Contributions
86

Agriculture, Natural resource & Environment
o Participation of NSA: Farm Africa, SOS Sahel UK, SIM, Catholic Church, etc
o Activities undertaken: Development of Small Scale Irrigation Project, Seed bank, dairy
production, goar breeding and husbandry, generation; soil and water conservation,
participatory and community based forest management, improved land use, Agro
biodiversity and Conservation, capacity building support and skill training.
Agro-pastoral development
o Participant NSA: Ethiopian Pastoral Research & Development, Farm Africa,
o Activities undertaken: Rangeland and pasture development, water supply and sanitation
pastoral livelihood recovery and enhancement; conflict resolution and management
Health
o Participant NSA: ORBIS, SEPDA, SIM, Catholic church, Swiss Evangelical Mission
o Activities undertaken: Reproductive health, FP, post-abortion care, malaria prevention
and control, construction of health facilities (clinics, health post and health centre) health
service provision and health extension programmes, mother and child health (MCH),
comprehensive rural eye care, health workers training and capacity building support for
health institutions.
Child development
o Participant NSA: WCDO, CCF, Hiwot Birhan Church, ABFA, Bereket Orphan,
Bethezata
o Activities undertaken: Child sponsorship, care and support for orphans and abandoned
children, community-based child care, legal aid, counselling support and protection of
child rights, prevention of child trafficking, establish and run child – centre and
integrated child care services.
Integrated development
o Participant NSA: Progynist, Refuge Trust Int., Self-Help Dev Int., SIM, WCDO, WV
Ethiopia
o Activities undertaken: integrated development programme in urban and rural setting
through support for income generation, water, sanitation, health, etc; community – based
development, integrated rural development; multi-purpose community development,
integrated child care and family development services
Education
o Participant NSA: DV, EECMY, Catholic church, Love in Action,
o Activities undertaken: Alternative basic education (ABE), improving access to basic
education and functional literacy, capacity building of schools through material support,
promotion of equity in basic education, literacy empowerment and adult functional
literacy services; construction, renovation and upgrading schools;
HIV-AIDS
o Participation of NSA: Tila Ass WLW/HIV, EECMY, ERSHA, YLM, CISO, GZDA
o Activities undertaken: Empowerment of communities to respond to HIV/AIDS, RH,
FP, HIV/ AIDS Prevention, Care and support for PLW/HIV, sustainable community
participated HIV/AIDS vulnerability reduction and impact mitigation, capacity building
and community – based HIV/AIDS eradication programmes
87

Water and sanitation
o Participant NSA: IRC, HIDA, NCA, PSI – Ethiopia, Support Africa Foundation
o Activities undertaken: water supply sanitation, hygiene promotion, integrated
community water supply, rural water rehabilitation, water well drilling, community based
solar water supply, safe water system and zinc based diarrhoea treatment, health for
sustainable livelihood projects
Food security and Emergency
o Participant NSA: ACLF, Agri-service, CHF, EECMY, Catholic church, Farm Africa,
SC Norway
o Activities undertaken: Provision of food and nutrition, construction of food storage
facilities, consolidating integrated food security programme, managing household asset,
water supply schemes, safety net, food for work programmes for
Gender
o Participant NSA: Initiative Africa, WCDO, Farm Africa, BIFG, Catholic church
o Activities undertaken: Legal aid and counselling services for women; awareness raising
and prevention of FGM and other HTP; women’s enterprise development; skill training
and capacity building support, integrated projects to enhance the economic and social
empowerment of women.
Capacity building
o Participant NSA: AFEPA, BIFG, CHFI, World Vision Ethiopia
o Activities undertaken: Promotion and capacity building of indigenous community
association (ICAS) generating employment and building independence, literacy and
vocational training of grassroots community and institutional building and revitalizing
community Institutions
Social, conflict resolution & management
o Participant NSA: Al-Birr DCA, Arbaminch rehabilitation centre, BECFA, Catholic
church
o Activities undertaken: Physical rehabilitation of people with disabilities, alternative
caring service for elderly and the disables; skill Training and social work in
disadvantaged communities
Good governance
o Participant NSA: Action Aid
o Activities undertaken: Social subtraction period of Minjio, community awareness
creation and mobilization to eliminate corrupt practices
5 The role of the Private Sector
The SNNPR regional capital is one of the fast growing urban centres where private business
development has been remarkable. Therefore, private sector organizations especially the
Chamber of Commerce has an office that gathers private enterprises in the region particularly
enterprises operators in Awassa town. Enterprises which are the active member in this
Chamber of Commerce obtain various services. The most relevant are marketing and the
provision of market information, linking businesses and match-making for joint venture
between local and foreign companies. In addition, members also get training services and
participate in trade tour which is often organized in cooperation with the national chamber of
commerce.
88

6 Trade Unions
One of the main CETU Branch offices is located in the regional capital Awassa which is the
Southern Ethiopia representative offices of the national trade union umbrella organization.
The organizational structure of CETU is industrial based and does not follow the federal
structure of the government. Therefore, the Southern branch of the labour union represents all
the union members in SNNPR and also many enterprise workers in the South-central Oromia
(Western Arsi zone) and also Eastern Oromia (Bale, Borena and Guji zones).
The services that the branch office provides for its members include the formation and
strengthening of new associations, ensuring that members’ employment rights are protected
and follow up on legal issues and employment agreements.
Participation in policy dialogues and contribution to the democratization process is less
significant. It is only when the government invites/requests that the branch office
representatives will take part in policy dialogue and consultation. Nevertheless, there is no
regular work relationship between the branch office and the SNNPR state. The main factors
that limit an active engagement are the lack of awareness, shortage of finance and the lack of
interest on the part of workers. Workers seem to have lost interest to participate in policy
dialogue because it is only if Government invites CETU that workers would participate in
such dialogues.
7 Cooperatives in the SNNPR
There are a total of 1768 cooperatives that have about 960,847 members and about Birr 148.3
million available capitals. The three major cooperative types are 894 multi-purpose cooperatives,
559 savings and credit and 66 irrigation cooperatives. Among the remaining 249 cooperatives
housing, fishery and irrigation users’ cooperatives are the most important in terms of capital (see
Table below).
Table 6 Basic Cooperatives in SNNPR (up to 2006)
S/N Type of Basic Number of Membership Size
Available
Cooperatives Basic Male Female Total Capital
Cooperatives
In Birr
1 Multi-purpose 894 806,973 95,087 902,954 114,179,848
2 Saving & credit 559 24,664 16,220 40,884 4,542,800
3 Fishery 7 667 - 667 1,123,541
4 Irrigation users 66 4,785 427 5,212 1,000,649
5 Forestry protection 4 283 13 296 46,657
6 Fruits & vegetables 19 1,430 203 1,633 332,856
7 Dairy farming &
21 1,313 338 1,651 462,294
8
farm products
Vet service 3 712 10 722 110,440
9 Craftsmen 19 268 208 476 446,082
10 Hide and skin 3 81 5 86 46,940
11 Residential
construction
house 100 2,725 458 3,183 2,972,062
12 Consumers 29 967 385 1,352 850,832
13 Construction 9 179 3 182 173,103
14 Educational training 2 138 49 187 235,823
15 Lake Awassa boat
services
1 22 0 22 12,522
89

16 Abattoir 1 38 0 38 15,750
17 Mineral 3 177 21 198 14,356
18 Coffee 1 16 4 20 350,000
19 Hule Geb 4 76 108 184 30,328
20 Bee keeping 11 649 65 714 147,956
21 Silk 1 0 23 23 1,000
22 Rural electrification
services
2 421 30 451 4,000
23 Live cattle 5 351 7 358 344,683
24 Building materials
1 9 3 12 22,500
producers
suppliers
&
25 Parking 1 5 6 11 3,000
26 Telecommunications
associations
1 202 6 208 52,000
27 Tea development 1 16 3 19 6,500
Total 1,768 847,167 113,682 960,849 148,258,845
8 The dynamics in the sector at regional level
The growth and active involvement of cooperatives as an NSA typology is important
dynamism that would strengthen the NSA participation and contribution to development.
Apart from their horizontal expansion through the inclusion of new members, vertically they
have also integrated to form unions that jointly established the SNNPR Cooperative
Federation. The growth has also brought about functional dynamism through the expansion in
the span of business activities that cooperatives undertake. Thus, cooperative unions are
becoming the major importers of inputs specially fertilizer while they are also the main
exporters of products that members supply. As a result of functional dynamism, the
competitive position of the major actors has also changed in favour of the cooperatives. In
addition to the dynamism in the growth of cooperatives, the NGO networking initiative is
also an important manifestation of dynamics in the NSA sector.
9 Networking
As indicated above, networking is an important dynamism which is observed in the growth of
the NSA sector in the region. The networks and forums that were formed over the last three
years include HIV/AIDS, education, food security, gender, OVC and environmental
networks. Even though the networks and forums formed have their own weaknesses, the
initiatives indicate that there is a growing interest among NGOs to engage in dialogue, joint
activities and collective action among themselves.
10 Dialogue and cooperation between NSA and Local Government.
There is a very good and healthy working relationship between NSA and the regional
government. Different NSA including NGOs, Iddirs and other CBO, regionally organized
women and youth associations, etc have good relation with the regional government at
different levels namely regional, woreda and kebele administration. At each level, NSA and
government organs engage in dialogue and cooperate on operational issues.
The GO – NGO forum is an example of the progress achieved in the level of dialogue and
cooperation between NSA and government. Apart from the forum which created wider
opportunity for dialogue and cooperation, the ratification of the NGO guideline has also
contributed to the improved relations and cooperation.
90

11 Engagement in Policy Dialogue.
NSA engagement in dialogue with the regional government on operational issues is quite
effective. The dialogue is also useful for the coordination of projects and planning
development and service provision activities in order to avoid duplications. Particularly after
the formation of GO – NGO forum, there is relatively better environment for engagement in
policy dialogue between NGO and the Government.
A major policy dialogues is the NGO operational environment and the subsequent debates
and discussions conducted on the guideline which the regional government improved as a
result of such dialogues. The forum and particularly the dialogue on the regional policy
towards NGO is a good indicator of the willingness of regional government to engage in such
dialogue. It also shows the existence of a more enabling environment for NSA engagement in
policy dialogue as compared to the situation at Federal level.
12 Engagement in Political Dialogue
So far, the exercise of the forum was only operational issues and the creation of an enabling
environment for NGO operation. Therefore, engagement in political dialogue is not the
current agenda of the GO – NGO forum. Moreover, engagement in political dialogue is less
likely because there is lack of legislation, knowledge and experience among the NSA
themselves. Even if they are offered the opportunity, NSA would be more comfortable to
participate in policy dialogue and policy making process since engagement in political
dialogue is not perceived as a task in which NSA do not have a role to play.
13 Internal Organisation and Resources
Financial Resources
FBO and INGO mobilize financial resource that are adequate the development and service
provision activities they initiate. Apart from the diversity of their funding sources, they are
also the main sources of financial resources for the national NGOs. On the contrary, the lack
of funding sources is the major constraint that often hampers the activities of the local NGOs.
Human Resources and leadership
In terms of human resource also, the status of International NGOs and FBOs are much better
because they have the financial resources that enable them to retain professionals working in
key positions including the core staff in the leadership.
However, local NGOs often face human resource problem since there is a high turnover
because experienced employees would be taken over by organizations particularly the
resourceful NGOs with a better salary scale. As a result, dependence on juniors and less
experienced technical staff is one of the main challenges for national NGOs operational in the
region.
Facilities
� NSA like Iddirs, Youth and Women Association, Mary Joy and WVE have their own
offices while many others are dependent on rented office facilities
91

� Tila WLW/HIV, a local NGO, has built its own office which became functional with the
inauguration of the NGO by the FDRE President,
� Regional Development Associations (SEPDA, SDA, etc) have a more privileged position
to secure office than most others.
� Even though some NGOs have the resource capacity to construct their own offices (e.g.
JeCCDO), Awassa town administration did not respond to their request for the allocation
of land free of lease payment
14 Capacity Building Needs
1. Both the existing and the emerging need capacity building support for organizational
development, to strengthen capacity and internal processes of planning, management
systems and policies;
2. Mechanisms that create access to donor funding need to be designed in order to build the
develop the logistic capacity and also to ensure the sustainability of funding for the
project activities of local NGOs and other CSO;
3. The on-going dynamics in the regional NSA including the networking initiatives requires
capacity building through the provision of technical and funding support to develop their
logistics capacity while also strengthening the technical and human resource capacity that
hamper NSA and the activities of existing networks and forums.
7. Tigray Regional Report
1. General remarks on NSA at territorial level
1.1. Background about Tigray
� Tigray is the far northern region of Ethiopia bordering Eritrea. The region has one of the
highly rugged topography and ecologically degraded natural resource bases; and hence
prevalence of widespread food insecurity. For this reason, ensuring food security through
integrated approaches is a major development agenda in the region.
� In addition to the natural resource aspects, the region over the last couple of decades has
been the centre of conflicts and battlefields. The border conflict with Eritrea is still not over,
and hence peace and security are still vital issues for the regional socio-economic process.
� Regional actors point that the extended war and conflicts hosted by the region has left
behind huge social and services need gaps that demand for coordinated and intensified
action. For example, the region is standing first in terms of percentage of women-headed
households (35%), who are widowed by the war; and some of the women as well exfighters.
� Administratively, Tigray is divided into 6 zones, including the Mekele special Zone. The
region is amongst the first groups of regions who implemented the woreda decentralization
initiative. As a result, woreda administration is relatively well organized and attempting its
best to coordinate the development process.
� Some sector policies making NSA participation important - e.g. government not financing
primary level school construction, and
92

� Historical roles, linkages, legitimacy and capacity of some of the regional NSA.
1.2. NSA in TNRS as described in the previous mapping
The previous exercise has underlined the following specific aspects regarding NSA in Tigray:
� The political history of the region as a defining factor on the prominence and positioning of
the regional Associations and organizations - that is, all (REST, TDA, Farmers, Youth and
Women Associations) were formed during the struggle and have close ties with and access
to the Government, both at regional and federal levels,
� That the regional MBAs were able to participate in policy process and represent interests of
their constituency (e.g. during the PRSP and the regional Family Law discussion
processes),
� That the regional politicians spoke strongly about the role of civil society organisations in
the development of democracy and referred to a change of policy of the Government with
respect to their roles, and,
� The fact that, apart from the Red Cross, World Vision and some faith based organisations,
there were relatively fewer number of international and national NGOs when compared to
Amhara or Oromia.
Apart from the above, the report did not shed light on the internal dynamics as well as fields of
participations of these Associations.
1.3. Major Highlights of Current Findings
� Growing number of NSA forming and legalizing - diversification
� Marked progress in regional networking
� Framework for dialogue and cooperation with regional government further enhanced
� Frustration with donor conditionality and decisions,
� Growing strength of major regional NGOs and Development Associations, in the face of
declining visibility of international and national NGOs
� Participation of NSA in local governance structures not mainstreamed as outlined in
PASDEP, and
� Growing resource transfer to NSA from government
2. Profile and distribution of NSA at Regional Level
2.1. Profile of NSA
Table 1 overleaf presents the summary on the typology and size of NSAs identified. The regional
NSA profile, to a large extent remains as it was in 2004: strong regional NGO (REST) and
regional development association (TDA having about 175,000 members globally); and visible
and active regional membership-based associations of farmers (256,000 members), women
(515,230 members), and youth (~325,000 members). During the period, some of these NSA have
enhanced their capacity as well as programme coverage.
Despite the above, some other developments are also observed. The survey has learned a total of
224 NSA have been registered by the regional justice bureau between 2004 and March 2008.
These are important additions to the regional NSA profile. The previous mapping exercise has
93

noted the presence of cooperatives in the region, without specifying the size and distribution. This
time it is learnt 2,279 formal cooperatives having 637,348 (44% women) members are in
existence. In addition, there are 22 unions of multipurpose cooperatives across the region. The
Mekele Chamber of Commerce and Sector Associations, with about 1300 full-members is
another NSA that has come to prominence in the landscape.
The Tigray Disabled Veterans Association (TDVA) is another NSA firmly establishing its place
in the regional NSA landscape. Because of the successive struggles and wars, the region has a
disproportionately high number of disabled adults, and this association is engaged in promoting
interests of the close to 100,000 members. The mapping has also verified the presence of other
disability associations (like Tigray branch of Ethiopian National Association of the Blind), but
these categories are neither active nor linked to the TDVA.
Regarding international and national NGOs the status and pattern identified during the previous
mapping is still apparent: their numbers are few, and operational presence undeveloped (on-andof
type) focusing on humanitarian relief for IDPs and drought victims (the MSFs', NACID and
Rado). Others provided discrete donations or supports (e.g. Menschen fur Menschen), and are
maintained in the regional registry.
94

Table 1. TNRS NSA Typologies and size
NSA Typologies and size Examples
24. NGOs = 66
International NGOs = 14 AAE, DKT-Eth, Helvetas, IPAS, MSIE,
MdM, MSF, Panos & MfM
National NGOs = 9 NACID, OSSA, Rado, ERCS
Regional NGOs = 43(5+38) 2 REST, Elshaday, Human Beings Association
of Brotherhood,
25. Regional Development Associations = 1 Tigray Development Association
26. FBOs (national and international) = 8 EOC/DICAC & CYFAD, EECMY,
ECS/ADCS, WVE, SIM
27. Reg. Apex/Networking Organisations = 2 ACSOT, Mekele Children Forum
28. Advocacy and Human rights Organizations
29. Economic and business interest groups
Cooperatives = 1,406 (Rural only) (Refer Table 3)
Chamber of Commerce and Sector Asso. = 1 Mekele Chamber of Comm. & Sector Asso.
30. Trade and labour unions
31. Professional Associations = 8 Tigray Regional Teachers Association
Age, gender, health-status and other
32.
occupation related Associations
Regional Youth Association = 1 Tigray Youth Association
Reg. Associations of/for Women = 7 Tigray Women Asso., Mums for Mums
Reg. Elderly and Disability Asso. = 10 TVDA, ENAB Tigray Branch
Reg. Asso. of PLWHA = 1 SYGA
Reg. Farmers Association = 1 Tigray Farmers Association
33. Free Press;
34. Community based organisations - 152 Iddirs
and other self-help groups
2.2. Distribution of NSA in TNRS
� Most of the CBOs registered by the regional Justice Bureau are from the various urban
centres of the region. Expectedly, those from Mekele are numerous.
� According to the data from the Cooperatives Promotion Agency, there are a total of 1,406
rural cooperatives in the region; thus they are omnipresent in the region.
� The regional membership-based associations (that is Women, Youth and TDA) by default
have members in all kebeles of the region. Moreover, particularly TDA has groupings of its
supporters within Ethiopia as well as abroad, which are primarily engaged in resource
mobilization.
� As per the 2003 law, in all major zonal towns Chambers of Commerce's and Sectoral
Associations are established. Amongst these, it is the Mekele Chamber which is the strongest
and operational.
� Distribution of the 66 ongoing NSA projects 3 is shown on Table 2, overleaf. In terms of
number of NSA Mekele stands first, primarily due to the presence of the social service
organizations, like OSSA, MSIE, ECC/Daughters of Charity, SIM and Elshaday. In the
Central zone only REST, EECMY and ECC/ADCS have project agreements for
2 The 40 are regional NGOs were without operational agreements with the Regional DPP
3 These are projects with agreements known by the regional DPP desk, and include projects of national,
international and regional NGOs, FBOs and development associations.
95

implementation. On the other hand, the data from the DPP shows that most of the indicated
ongoing NSA projects are targeted to the rural areas and the population therein. For example
all the 12 ongoing projects of REST are being implemented in rural woredas.
� In summary, depending on the nature of typologies, NSA are widespread in the different
administrative structures and settlement patterns of Tigray.
Table 2. Zonal Distribution of ongoing NSA projects
Zones
No of Projects No of
NGOs
Mekele 16 15
Southern 13 10
Eastern 10 5
Central 8 3
Western 7 6
Regional and multi-zone
projects
12
66
10
Source: based on Data from DPP Desk
3. Activities and Sectoral Contributions
3.1. General Overview
� The participation and contribution of NSA is desired and facilitated by the regional
government - delegation for implementation; urban land/plots; equipment, and special advisor
to President in place,
� Reach/coverage and outputs of the Regional NGO (REST) and development association
(TDA) are conspicuous,
� The regional NGOs are the lead actors in promoting and responding to socio-economic and
development needs of such groups as OVC, persons with disabilities (war veterans), the
PLWHA and destitute women, and
� Apart from the more formal third-party serving NSA (particularly those clustered as NGOs
and FBOs), other typologies of NSA usually do not enter project implementation agreements
with regional governmental regulatory departments (sector bureaus). Instead, initiatives are
implemented either with (informal) endorsement or with (formal) approval of local
government officials. As a result, documentation at regional level on participation as well as
quantitative contributions is not available. Despite this, the survey is convinced that such
NSA, too, are making important contributions to the regional development process. For
example, members of the Youth and Women Associations (in hundred-thousands) participate
in tree planting and other environmental rehabilitation works on annual basis, and this should
be counted as a noteworthy contribution, and
� Tigray has close to 1,500 rural cooperatives that have a total membership-base of about
400,000 people. These cooperatives promote the economic participation and benefits of their
constituency in different fields. Refer Table 3, overleaf for the details.
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Table 3: Basic Cooperatives in Tigray (up to 1997 Ethiopian fiscal year)
S/N Type of Basic No. of Basic Membership Size
Capital
Cooperatives
Coops. Male Female Total In Birr
1 Multipurpose 568 238,131 77,806 315,937 32,243,612
2 Irrigation development 174 2,001 2,776 11,777 722,234
3 Animal rearing 21 752 32 784 372,350
4 Fishery 3 16 - 16 500,000
5 Handicrafts 35 79 11 90 28,182
6 Loading and unloading 2 10 - 10 36,454
7 Saving & credit 110 5,153 2,331 7,484 10,560,882
8 Dairy farm 42 - - 513 0*
9 Residence house 98 - - 547 1,665,150
10 Construction 244 2,237 101 2,338 745,538
11 Beekeeping 29 194 5 199 47,985
12 Mineral 28 355 2 357 36,021
13 Poultry 14 106 4 110 35,775
14 Consumers 22 - - 144 1,127,140
15 Electrification 3 153 85 238 5,950
16 Cattle fattening 13 272 48 320 158,850
Total 1,406 249,459 83,201 340,864 48,286,123
3.2. Summary of Values of Ongoing NGO Projects
Table 4 below illustrates the financial value of 53 of the 66 ongoing projects 4 of NSA extracted
from the regional DPP data-base. The indicated amount is a pledge and is not inclusive of project
values of, among others: TDA 5 , DKT Ethiopia, ACDI/VOCA, the MSFs and OSSA. Leaving
aside value of these projects as correction factor, as a best estimate, it is concluded that the NGOs
and FBOs operating in Tigray have injected about half-billion Birr to the regional socio-economic
development process during the four-year period (2004 to 2008). In other words, on average
about 125 million birr per annum was mobilized from donors and used for operation in Tigray.
Table 4: Value of ongoing projects by typologies of NSA
Typology
Value of ongoing
projects % of all
No of
Projects
Regional NGOs 279,440,570 56.8 18
REST, Elshaday, TDVA, Human
Beings Asso of Brotherhood, Mums
for Mums
Faith-Based
EOC-DICAC & CYFAD, EECMY,
Organizations 115,414,002 23 22 ECS/ADCS, WVE, SIM
International
AAE, DKT-Eth, Helvetas, IPAS,
NGOs 89,188,385 18 15 MSIE, MdM, MSF, Panos & MfM
National NGOs 8,026,875 2 10 NACID, OSSA, Rado, ERCS
Regional Devt.
TDA
Asso. 1
492,069,831 66
4
Implementation of most projects started in 2004, and except for few, end around 2008
5
In the DPPA data-base the value of the TDA project (Education, Mekele Institute of Technology) is
indicated to be 44,556,000 Birr
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Regarding typologies, the findings showed that regional NGOs are the most important NSA in
terms of amount of resource mobilized (57%). More specifically, REST alone has 12 ongoing
projects the total value of which is about 95% of the indicated regional NGO projects. The
resource inputs of the national and international secular NGOs is dwarfed by the amount
mobilized and used by REST to implement the capital intensive and extensive rural food security
projects.
3.3. Zonal Distribution of Ongoing Projects
As shown below (Table 5), a good amount of the financial contributions from NSA went to the
Central Tigray Zone. It is interesting to note that the zone where many NGOs are operational
(Mekele) is the least in the financial value of projects. This illustrates as how the urban-based
social projects are small-scale in nature compared to the rural projects.
Table 5: NSA project finance by zones
No of No of
Zones
Projects NGOs Value of the Projects, Birr
Central 8 3 161,029,651
Southern 13 10 57,442,136
Western 7 6 57,250,313
Eastern 10 5 55,859,482
Mekele 16 15 30,589,197
Regional and multi-zone
projects
12 10 129,899,053
66 492,069,831
3.4. Sectoral Participation
The disaggregated profile of ongoing NGO projects with respect to core sectoral focuses is
illustrated on Table 6, below. Integrated food security programmes, often comprising agricultural
development supports, infrastructures (access roads, irrigation), environmental rehabilitation,
WATSAN, HIV/AIDS, basic education, entrepreneurship, and institutional strengthening, are the
most important participation areas of the NGOs, both in number of projects and total resource
allocated. REST, WVE, AAE, EEC/ADCS, EOC/DICA and EECMY are the lead organizations
involved in this area.
Child development, particularly care and support for OVC, in institutionalized as well as noninstitutionalized
arrangements is the second important participation area of NSA in Tigray. In
this area, on top of the long-established child-support centres of the FBOs (EOC/CFAD and
ECC/ADCS) the innovative and community-based projects of the newly established regional
NGO Human beings Association of Brotherhood (HAB) is fast expanding coverage of NSA
involvement in OVC support.
The level of resource allocation for the other sectoral and cross-cutting areas appears to be small
for two major reasons. In the first place, most of these activities are promoted as component
elements of the integrated rural food security projects and programmes. Secondly, some of the
sectoral projects are implemented by the regional NSA without entering formal project
agreements at regional levels. Hence, resource allocated is not included in the survey. For
example, CBOs like Iddirs, Anti-AIDS and SRH Clubs, and the MBAs are involved in: child
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development; HIV/AIDS; environmental protection; and in promoting rights of their respective
members.
Table 6: Core focuses of ongoing projects
Budget for
ongoing % of total
No of projects, budget Examples of NGOs
Programme Focus Projects Birr allocated engaged
(Integrated) rural
REST, WVE, AAE,
development and Food
EECMY, ECC/ADCS,
Security 24 340,634,034 69.2
Child Development 8 56,304,142
HAB, EOC/CFAD,
11.4 ECC/SDCO
Health 13 43,411,149
MFM, IPAS, ECC/DOC,
8.8 REST
Agriculture 3 16,402,683 3.3 Helevtas, REST & VOCA
HIV/AIDS 5 14,054,320 2.9 OSSA, MSIE, DKT, MSFs
Education 4 9,089,370 1.8 TDA, SC/US, Wofla
Women empowerment and
Panos Ethiopia & Mums for
gender focused 2 8,418,413 1.7 Mums
Water Supply & Sanitation 2 2,091,426 0.4 EOC/DICAC, EID
Youth 1 1,316,404 0.3 SIM
Support for PWDs &
TDVA, RADO, ADCS &
elderly 4 347,890 0.1 GG
Total 66 492,069,831
3.5. Qualitative Information on NSA Contributions
� In responding to and linking the short and longer-term needs of communities - the lead
organization in this regard is REST. It is learned that, in the past, about 70% of the
humanitarian relief work was used to be handled by REST 6 . Then since 2005, with financial
support from USAID, REST is implementing the PSNP in 6 Woredas (reaches about 400,000
people with 600,000Q of grain /Annum). Because of the complementary and additional
supports, the REST PSNP performance is already judged as 'impact oriented', and the agency
is hosting visitors coming from other regions to learn from the experiences.
When it comes to participation in development, REST claims the credit for innovating and
demonstrating effectiveness of watershed based agricultural development approaches, water
harvesting possibilities, the appropriateness of treadle-pumps for water lifting and dripirrigation
by small scale farmers. Most of these initiatives are already integrated into the
national agricultural extension system and implemented, but with varying levels of success.
In terms of project coverage, REST has operational presence or some project activity in 25 of
the 35 woredas of the region. In 12 woredas it has ongoing integrated watershed based
agricultural development programmes, and in all the 25 there are water and health
infrastructure development projects. With 730 full-time staff (100 first-degree and above),
REST is said to have stronger overall capacity than some of the sector Bureaus.
6 From the discussion with Ato Yemane Solomon, Programme Coordinator, REST
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Despite the levels of participations/contributions and the capacity, the leaders of REST
express the available fund from donors is not commensurate with its implementation
potentials. That is, full-potential is not exploited. To address this gap, it has started exploring
possibilities of domestic resource mobilization. Moreover, it is learned that REST also faces
some challenges from the regional sector bureaus in the form of resistance/reluctance to
support and recognize some of the innovations (e.g. water harvesting). It is encouraging that
REST is aware of the importance and actually facilitating the regional NSA emergence and
networking process. This will be explained under section 5.
� Lobbying on behalf of constituency - the survey learned that leaders of regional
membership based associations are both strategically linked and involved in promoting
interest of their constituent members. Linkage to decision makers (executive and legislative
levels) is facilitated by the shared identity from the struggle period: for example: women who
are members of the regional council are as well senior members of the regional Women
Association. Likewise, leaders of the Women Association are ex-fighters who yield equal
accolade and ownership of the political achievements. Hence, the linkage between the two
remains live.
The previous mapping has noted the advocacy engagement of MBAs with respect to the
Family Law and the PRSP process. From the discussion with the leaders, during the last four
years the Associations were involved in the following key areas:
o The Women Association in collaboration with the Women Caucus of the regional
council challenged the gender imbalance in appointments of bureau heads, and this
resulted in appointment of more women in key positions (as deputy bureau heads),
o The Women Association submitted a petition challenging provisions in the draft
regional Family Law, which was accepted and incorporated in the final law endorsed
in 2007. Moreover, the Association has also challenged and managed to introduce
revisions in the administrative guideline for public works (food for work) which
happened to be discriminatory against women.
o In relation to land administration, the Youth Association is said to have lobbied the
regional council so that rural youth have the right to access and make use of plots
from public land (hilly area, waste-lands and forest foot-slopes) to sustain their
livelihoods.
o The Tigray Disabled Veteran's Association has persuaded the Mekele Municipality to
specifically reserve and allocate certain number of housing-plots for its members as
part of the annual lot allocation plan. With this arrangement in the current year (E.C)
100 plots are allocated and so far 7,400 members are said to have built their
residences. In addition to the land access, TDVA is also involved in lobbying for
mainstreaming special needs of members in public infrastructures (example the rump
in Mekele University).
On the other hand, leaders of the MBAs are members of vital regional decision making
committees, and this raises the appropriateness of the positioning or role and also the strategy
as to how the lobbying was done. For example, the MBAs of Farmers, Women and the Youth
are members of councils for the administration of judges and lawyers, and that of land
administration at different levels. Then, it can be said that the lobbying is done within the
committees, and the MBAs are equally responsible for the decisions and indecisions. It would
be an important intervention if these organizations are assisted to have a more articulated,
proactive and process oriented advocacy programmes for the future.
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� Supporting basic education - The Tigray Development Association (TDA) is the lead
organization in terms of the magnitude of support for basic education. This is not to
undermine the innovative ACCESS programme promoted by AAE in parts of the region.
Though not listed in the DPP data base, the leadership of TDA claim to have constructed
and/or upgraded over 100 primary schools during the last 15 years 7 . The continued
participation of TDA is necessitated by the poor infrastructural standards of most of the
primary schools in the region and the inadequacy of local government and community
resources for upgrading. About one-third 8 of the existing primary schools still need major
upgrading and TDA remains dedicated to support the endeavour. In this regard, mobilizing
the Diaspora is one of the effective strategies being promoted by TDA. During the time of the
field visit TDA was coordinating construction of 20 primary schools financed by Diaspora
groups.
TDA is also involved in implementing the USAID supported Basic Education Strategic
Objective (BESO) programme, focusing on community-government partnership in basic
education services delivery, and on quality and equity of services. Through the programme,
TDA has reached about 400 schools and with a shortly anticipated new-phase of support from
USAID it will be implementing a PTA capacity building initiative in 150 non-BESO schools.
When it comes to fulfilling interests of members and supporters, TDA admits that there is a
mismatch between expectations of some members and priorities of the Association. These
members want TDA to accomplish some-thing in their places of origin or residence (What
have you done to my town? my school? my village?, etc.). On the other hand, TDA primarily
works in the less-served parts of Tigray (equity). This situation seems to have fuelled the
formation of many localized development associations in the region. As if to align with the
trend, TDA has repositioned its role as a facilitator to initiatives of both the Diaspora and the
localized NSA groupings in the region. For many reasons, this repositioning process should
be encouraged and supported.
4. The dynamics in the sector at regional level
The consistent increase in number of regional organizations forming in successive years (Chart 1
below) and regional networking are the two major dynamics observed. Increase in regional
organizations is boosted by the registration of Iddirs and their unions (refer Chart 2, overleaf).
Out of the total 224 organizations registered since 2004, 125 are Iddirs and their unions. On the
other hand, 47 organizations are RNGOs established for participation in development and social
services for the poor (charitable objectives). The motivation comes from possibilities of resource
mobilization (from within and without) and the desires of participation in local level socioeconomic
processes (e.g. support for OVC, the sick and elderly).
7
Discussion with Ato Woldai Kidanu, Executive Director & Ato Asmelash Asrat, Head of Projects Dept.
8
500 out of the 1600
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No. of NSA
400
350
300
250
200
150
100
50
Chart 1: Growth in Regionally Registered NSA in Tigray
0
02/03 03/04 04/05 05/06 06/07 07/08
Years
No. of RNSA Registered Cumulative No. of NSA formed
Moreover, it appears that both decentralization and supportive roles of the Diaspora are important
factors for the growth in regional NSA forming. The regional networking process is explained
under section 5 below. Regarding decentralization, it is said that block grant allocated to local
administrations is often inadequate to finance service development and upgrading, and hence
communities have to act. Such endeavours of communities are supported by the Diaspora groups
who want to see some local development process in motion. The dynamics in this regard should
be further monitored and facilitated.
Regarding involvement of politicians in the governance of major regional NSA, the survey has
noted a marked shift in the make-up of the TDA governing board. For example, the chairperson
of the board is neither a politician nor a civil servant, but rather a respected civil society leader in
the national NSA landscape. If such transition is deliberately pursued, it would constitute an
important development for the regional NSA transformation process.
Chart 2. Typology of NSA registered by the Justice Bureau (2004 - 2007)
Prof Asso Youth
Disability
4%
4% 2%
RNGOs
21%
Anti AIDS
4%
Other Self-Help
6%
Iddirs
56%
Iddirs Other Self-Help Anti AIDS RNGOs Disability Women Prof Asso Youth
One of the impressive phenomenon's in the regional NSA dynamics relates to the growth in the
number of cooperatives, in both rural and urban areas. Table 6, below illustrates the make-up of
cooperatives in Tigray.
5. Networking
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� A regional network that brings together a fairly diverse typologies of NSA has been
established and legalized (at regional level) in the last quarter of 2007, and is currently
operational. The lead initiative of forming the network (Association of Civil Society
Organizations in Tigray- ACSOT) was taken by REST, TWA and major FBOs in the
region (EOC, ECC, EECMY and ISCT). In addition to the above, a mix of NSA comprising:
MBAs, PAs, Association of PLWHA, PWDs and Elders, Unions of Iddirs, and regional
NGOs are affiliated as founding members 9 .
� Before embarking upon founding the network, the initiators commissioned a survey (using
appreciative enquiry technique) on the overall aspects of civil society in Tigray. Through the
survey process, a collective appreciation on shared-identity and the importance of
contributions being made emerged, and this in turn led to the idea of forming a network.
� The Network has two major objectives: facilitating interactions/dialogue between CSOs and
the regional government, and strengthening efforts of members. On the part of the
government, a dedicated senior advisor to the regional president on popular and civil society
participation is already in place, and has been closely working with ACSOT. Regarding the
capacity strengthening role, it has organized some forums for sharing information and
learning.
� For the stronger regional NSA, like REST and TDA, ACSOT is seen as a means for
broadening the base and make-up of the regional NSA landscape. According to the leadership
of REST, emergence of other strong organizations taking charge of local actions is needed so
that the direct participation demands on REST are reduced.
.. with the support to the ACSOT formation process, REST is communicating to others that it
doesn't want to remain the only dominant and 'big' NSA in the region. We also want to
delegate some of the tasks to others, and this is best facilitated if we have strong regional
network. Ato Yemane Solomon, REST
� In addition to ACSOT, there are other networking initiatives of NSA in the region. The
PANE regional chapter for Tigray is one such example. With REST and TYA as lead
promoters, the Chapter is engaged in coordination of group initiatives revolving around
PASDEP and MDG introduction and monitoring. The Mekele Child Centred Forum is a
registered regional network promoted by the Labour and Social Affairs Bureau. It has 10
member NSAs, and during the field survey the forum was observed to be inactive due to
transfer of the lead facilitator.
� It is learned that CRDA has also a plan of establishing a regional Liaison Office in Tigray.
From experiences in other regions, facilitating interactions between members, on one hand,
and between members and the regional government is the major functions of the Liaison
Offices. Then, it is important that the Liaison Office is established to build-on and contribute
to the effectiveness of the regional process of networking and interactions amongst NSA and
with other major actors.
6. Dialogue and Cooperation between NSA and Government
The following are indicators of the levels and nature of dialogue and cooperation between NSA
and the regional government:
� the simplification of registration of regional NDA through the Notary office of the Justice
Bureau,
9 27 NSA are founding members of the ACSOT
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� the creation of staff position in the office of the regional president for facilitating
interactions and dialogue with civil society,
� the willingness in inviting NSA to observe council and sectoral meetings, and
� the displayed performance in allocating available resources to support NSA operation and
participation.
The resource allocation and sharing experience is a best practice worth sharing. All of the major
regional NGOs and MBAs have their own office complexes constructed on land allocated by the
regional city administration. Even the emerging RNGOs like Mums for Mums (MfM) and HAB
are able to acquire and develop urban-plots for expanding service delivery to their target groups.
Efforts of the above two RNGOs us also boosted by the financial and material supports from the
regional government. The only old vehicle of MfM, which is used for the outreach to the target
towns, is a donation from the population Bureau. Likewise, HAB gets occasional financial
support from the BOLSA, which delegated it to implement the OVC programme supported by
UNICEF.
According to the CSO advisor, the regional government is interested to delegate more social
service oriented activities to NSA. The conviction is that: one has to be delegated to play the role
where it has comparative advantage in terms of effectiveness. To this effect the ongoing
networking endeavour is expected to facilitate such negotiations in role allocation, and further
strengthen and formalize resource allocation and sharing.
Some of the NSA leaders consulted pointed that there is a relative lull in the consultation between
regional regulatory bureaus and NGOs implementing sectoral programmes at local levels. The
scaling-down of DPP profile, from a self-standing bureau to that of a section within a bureau
(Agriculture), is partly blamed. On the other hand, the woreda decentralization is said to have
contributed to enhanced interaction and dialogue between the NGOs and local administration,
thus shadowing the dialogue with regional Bureaus. Implications of this trend are further
discussed in the next section.
7. Engagement in Policy Dialogue
Information collected from the different regional actors shows that there is no doubt on the
importance of roles and contributions of NSA. According to the deputy head of the BOFED 10 , the
government is working on a strategy how best to involve NSA in the regional development
coordination processes. The view expressed by the civil society advisor of the regional president
(insert below) is also consistent with the above direction of the regional government.
No doubt that they are participating and contributing to the development process. Hence, we
should provide them with the opportunity to speak/reflect to us on their experiences'.
Ato Zemichael G/Medhin, Advisor to the Regional
President
Much is expected from the regional CSO network (ACSOT) in this regard. However, as it stands
now the policy dialogue engagement of NSA at regional level is undeveloped. Sector-based
consultation frameworks between NSA and bureaus are rare. For example, the Potable Water
Development division 11 of the Water, Mine and Energy Resources Development bureau has
acknowledged the weak coordination and integration with NSA efforts. Even where organized,
NSA participation is not coordinated (and rather is in individual capacity).
10 Ato Yemane Yosph
11 From the discussion with Ato Kiros Negash
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At woreda level NSA have relatively better opportunity to participate in planning processes.
However, from the discussion with NSA reached by the survey few have managed to promote
alternative courses of decisions or actions emanating from their operational experiences. Various
factors, including capacity and authority, do affect this situation, and should be strategically
tackled after a more in depth investigation of contexts.
8. Engagement in Political Dialogue
As indicated under section 3.5, only the MBAs are best-placed and involved in some political
dialogue with respect to interests of their constituency. More capacity strengthening support is
needed to facilitate the evolvement of the political dialogue to address strategic issues in a
proactive manner.
9. Internal Organisation and Resources
It can be said that the internal organization and resource base of NSA in Tigray, compared to
those in similar contexts, is not that minuscule. The established RNGOs, FBOs and the RDA
have the linkages to the national donor institutions, and are able to secure multi-year funding for
their projects (USAID, EU, CRDA, AAE, GHF, etc.). Projects of the emerging RNGOs and
CBOs are supported by NGO-donors, regional HAPCO, and to some extent complemented by
material and financial supports from the regional government. When it comes to the MBAs,
annual subscriptions from the 'large' membership pool (refer Table 7, below) are used to off-set
administrative expenses. In addition, members (the Youth, Farmers and Women Associations)
contribute 20-days of free labour each year, which is used for public work (in environmental
rehabilitation) as part of the regular programme of the Associations.
Table 7: Membership and resource base of MBAs
Size of Size of resource mobilized
Name of MBA Membership from membership
Tigray Youth Association (TYA) ~ 325,000 Birr 4/member/year
Tigray Farmers Association (TFA) ~ 256,000 same a above
Tigray Women Association ~ 520,000 same a above
~35% of annual budget
Tigray Development Association
raised from members &
(TDA) ~ 175,000
supporters
Mekele Chamber of Commerce and ~1,500 varying levels, from Birr 30
sector associations
Tigray Disabled Veteran's
to 500/member
Association (TDVA) ~20,800 No information
Source: based on interviews with each MBA
The above explanation should not be interpreted to mean that the regional NSA have adequate
resources for their participation. Instead, the regional NSA in unison expressed the shortage and
unavailability fund to respond to needs and demands of communities. The huge demand gap is
expressed in relation to the prolonged unrest and conflicts and the degradation of the natural
resource base of the region. Both TDA and REST expressed, the actual level of operation is
below full-implementation capacity due to the resource gap. The coordinator of EOC/DICA also
pointed that the number of ongoing integrated programmes has declined from seven to three due
to lack of donor support. During the debriefing session of this survey in Mekele, participating
have expressed the strong view that the donor community has colluded and marginalized the
regional NSA from accessing fund after the May-2005 national election. The fact that none of the
105

six proposals submitted to CSF are approved is counted as an example. Another regional NGO,
MfM, pointed that out of the 30 proposals submitted to donors, only two got favourable
responses.
Absence of a capacity building or funding NGO at regional level is, indeed a challenge for the
emerging NSA. Information on available supports from donors may not reach in time. Besides, it
is also difficult to talk of qualities of project proposals produced and submitted. The regional
network, ACSOT, has started addressing these core issues, and should be supported to respond
effectively.
10. Capacity Building Needs
In summary, it is advisable that the regional NSA is supported in the following core areas:
� Enhancing leadership skills and transition,
� Strengthen the apex/networking structures - for coordination of engagements, facilitating
communication, training and sharing;
� Strengthening the cooperation/dialogue amongst and joint actions by MBAs and
corresponding emerging localized NSAs having shared objectives and constituencies (for
example between TWA, the EWLA regional chapter, Regional Association of Women
LWHA, etc., between TDA and the emerging localized development associations)
� Establishing a decentralized funding and capacity strengthening arrangement,
� Strengthen researching and informing institutions,
� Capacity to expand coverage and scale-up activities, and
� Capacity to develop systems and infrastructure for sustained participation;
8. Amhara Regional Report
1. General remarks on NSA at territorial level
1.1. Background about Amhara National Regional State
Amhara is the second biggest region in terms of both land area and population. The region is
administratively divided into 11 zones, 140 Woredas, 3,469 kebeles (rural 3099 and urban 370).
About 20 million people live in the region, of which 89.2% are rural residents (BoFED 2004).It is
sub-divided into 11 administrative zones, including the Bahir Dar City Administration. Most of
the highly degraded mountainous areas of the country are located in this region. As a result of
natural (drought) and man-made disasters, significant proportion of the population often gets
subjected to food shortage. It is known that most of the earlier NGOs and FBOs started operation
in Ethiopia to respond to the famine induced emergency needs of the population in Wollo (North
and South), parts of Gonder and North Shoa.
As for the regional socio-economic needs, addressing the high level of poverty and food
insecurity in ANRS still remains as one of the top priorities. The participation of NSA in the
regional processes is anticipated by the government to contribute to this core agenda.
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The Region has executed the Woreda decentralization process, and hence Woreda Administration
is considered as the 'centre of development administration', that is self-planning and
implementation.
1.2. NSA in ANRS
Over the years, NGO participation in Amhara has been transforming and diversifying. A number
of organizations have prolonged participation in environmental rehabilitation and water resources
development for domestic and agricultural purposes. Some are involved in community
mobilization for participation in the socio-economic process. Child development including
education was another area targeted by initiatives of the government as well as the regional NSA.
The previous mapping noted that there was a reasonable presence of all kinds of NSAs, including
two development associations (ORDA and ADA). Autonomy and close ties of the development
associations and that of the women association was one of the aspects highlighted in the previous
mapping. It was highlighted that prominent regional politicians were associated with the boards
of these organizations.
As for NGO’s participation in the region, the report distinguished presences of Save the Children
and World Vision (international) and Anti-Malaria and Goh Children, Youth and Women’s
Associations (national). Moreover, the report has pointed that an atmosphere of competition
dominates the relations between NGOs.
In terms of coordination and regulation, the previous report notes that the regional Government
(together with regional NGOs) has developed guidelines for NGO operations. Regarding mass
organisations, the-then Bureau of People’s Participation has been extending assistance to the
organisations to develop their own internal governance.
In summary the report highlighted that the regional government was "not averse to talking to
NGOs and working with them, although this may be more within the context of harnessing their
activity to Government development plans rather than engaging in policy dialogue".
1.3. Major highlights of current findings
The primary and secondary data and information collected as part of this survey shows the
following aspects of NSA emergence and participation in Amhara Region:
� More and more national and regional NGOs coming into the picture,
� Some NGOs have established Regional offices in Bahir Dar - and this contributing to
improved interaction with regional government,
� Encouraging starts in Regional networking and cooperation,
� Expanding opportunities and avenues for dialogue and participation created by the regional
government,
� Some International NGOs phasing-out (pulling-out) from field-based operations, while
some new ones coming to the picture,
� Fast growth in unionized Iddirs - constituency based NSA, and
� Cooperatives taking on social sector agendas as well.
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2. Profile and distribution of NSA at Regional Level
2.1. Profile of NSA
The findings show that there are diverse groups of regional, national and international NSAs in
the region. Table 1, overleaf, summarises (partially) the number and mix of the NSA from
different typologies. The list does not include the profiles of the many hundreds of regional and
zonal level registered NGOs, CBOs, Clubs and Associations. Table 2 presents such NSA from 6
zones. A closer look into the regional/zonal NSA mix shows that Anti-AIDS and Reproductive
Health Clubs/Associations and unionized Iddirs are among the most important and widely
available typologies. Besides these, the registry acquired from the Bureau of Justice shows that
localized Development Associations and associations of the elderly, PLWHAs and persons with
disabilities have come to be common organizational features across the regional urban centres.
International NGOs and Faith-based organizations are perhaps the most important and visible
ones' in terms of rural-based operation and broader participation. Agencies like World Vision
Ethiopia, MfM, Care and Plan Ethiopia and FHI have large scale area based integrated
programmes in various woredas. Others like AAE and PFI mostly support state and other NSA
initiatives.
The regional NSA landscape is further enriched by the presence of a good number of national
NGOs implementing multi-year programmes in the region. In this regard, NGOs like PADET,
ANPPCAN, FSCE and JeCCDO, on one hand and others like EDA, HORCO and FCO are
participating in the region to scale-up their core engagements. For example, the Child Rights
promotion work is highly facilitated by the participation of such NGOs.
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Table 1. ANRS NSA typologies and size
NSA Typologies
35. NGOs = 90
International NGOs = 34 AAE, SC/UK, FHI, MfM
National NGOs = 41 PADET, ANPPCAN, EDA, AMA
Regional NGOs = 15 ORDA, GRRDA,
36. Regional Development Associations = 1 Amhara Development Association
37. FBOs (national and international) = 14 WVE, EMWBCDO, EOC/DICAC, EMDA
38. Reg. apex/Networking Organisations =
39. Advocacy and Human rights Organizations =
40. Economic and business interest groups
Cooperatives = 2,609
Chamber of Commerce and Sector Asso. = 1 Bahir Dar CC and Sector Associations
41. Trade and labour union - 1 CETU Regional Branch
42. Professional Associations = 1 Regional Teachers Association
Age, gender, health-status and other occupation Amhara Youth & Women Association
43.
related Associations
Regionally registered Youth Association =
� Region-wide basic Youth Asso.
� Region-wide Youth Clubs
Reg. registered Associations of/for Women = 2
Reg. registered Elderly and Disability Asso. =
Registered Asso. of PLWHA = 1
44. Free Press;
45. Community based organisations
The regional NSA mix profile includes organizations that have hierarchical and region-wide
structures. For example, the ADA, AWA, AYA and Amhara Teachers Associations claim to have
subscribing members and coordinating structures at all administrative levels (i.e., Zone, Woreda
and Kebele). Nevertheless, because of the growing emergence of similar but localized
associations, the region-wide Associations are increasingly pressurized to co-exist and cooperate
with others. (This will be further discussed in subsequent sections).
Table 2. Number of CSOs Registered at Zonal Level (Partial)
Zones Number
Waghemra 15
South Gonder 59
Semen Wolo 64
Bahir Dar (at the Bureau of Justice) 68
Oromia Zone 30
Awi Zone 76
312
Source Regional Bureau of Justice
The information from the Regional Cooperative Promotion Agency illustrate that the 10,000
cooperatives bring together a total of about 6.4 million people as members.
As for the cooperatives it can be said that in the rural areas of the region Cooperatives have
became the major institutions to which most of the households relate and interact.
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The Amhara Cooperative Promotion Bureau that was established in 1991 E.C. as per
proclamation no. 40/1991 with three departments and two services has been operational with a
total of 2,851 personnel that are placed from regional to woreda levels. However, in 1994 E.C.,
the Regional Cooperative Bureau along with all other government offices, was reorganized
(proclamation no. 60/1994) with the number of departments reduced to two, the zonal cooperative
structure cancelled and establishment of cooperative desk at Woreda level. Again the cooperative
promotion bureau was reorganized and renamed as Amhara Regional State Cooperative
Promotion Agency (proclamation no. 124/1998).
Some of the major activities carried out by the Agency (formerly by the Bureau) until 1998 E.C.
include the following: provision of different types of agricultural inputs (such as fertilizer, farm
seeds), farm machineries, and insecticides; facilitate conditions for cooperatives to get involved in
marketing of agricultural and animal products; provision of working capital to basic cooperatives
on loan; supporting cooperatives in urban areas engaged in construction of residential houses and
employment generating; market stabilization through purchase of whole sale and distribution and
purchase of agricultural products from surplus producing areas and supplying to deficit areas;
establishment of flour mills and promoting of animal carts that are reducing specially the work
load of women; provision of technical support and professional secondment to lower structures;
organizing and executing various relevant training programs aimed at building the capacity of
professional and management staff of cooperatives; provision of guarantee to banks to allow
cooperatives have access to loan services; attempt to improve the participation of women in
cooperatives and in management which has resulted to increase their participation from 5% in
1995 E.C. to 10% in 1998 E.C.; involved in enhancing the roles of cooperatives in prevention
and control of HIV/AIDS through provision of training programs and supply of condoms. Table
3, below shows the size and makeup of cooperatives in the region
Table 3 Basic Cooperatives in Amhara (up to 1998 Ethiopian fiscal year)
S/N Type of Basic Number of Basic Membership Size
Available
Cooperatives Cooperatives Male Female Total Capital
In Birr
1 Multipurpose 1,546 1,502,071 194,713 1,696,784
2 Milk Production 68 1,925 22 1,947 804,272
3 Incense Production 10 1,164 70 1,234 103,391
4 Irrigation 105 8,039 740 8,779 4,405,247
5 Fishery 2 247 16 263 1,386,893
5 Bee keeping 16 3,670 90 3,760 686,013
6 Livestock fattening 7 346 16 362 199,382
7 Saving & credit 361 18,997 7,082 26,079 22,781,378
8 Housing 319 11,328 4,811 16,139 11,638,787
9 Electric users 3 933 435 1,368 82,472
10 Electr. Installation 4 78 26 104 3,465
11 Consumers 3 342 177 519 89,465
12 Craftsmen 160 30 0 30 3,300
13 Mineral 1 2,089 1,758 3,847 2,997,281
15 Grain and forestry 4 694 102 796 742,923
Total 2,609 1,551,953 210,058 1,762,011 45,924,269
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2.2. Distribution of NSA in ANRS
The distribution pattern varies according to the typologies. Most of the international NGOs and
FBOs are concentrated in the drought prone and food insecure zones of the region. Table 4
presents the zonal distributions of NGOs and their projects within Amhara. North Shoa, which is
the closest to Addis Ababa and also the drought prone zone, has the highest rank both in number
of operational NGOs and their programmes and projects. It appears that a number of national
NGOs have opted to roll-out their programmes out of Addis Ababa to this zone as the logistical
requirements are relatively affordable or manageable.
Table 4. Zonal Distributions of ongoing NGO projects in ANRS
S/No Administrative Zone
No of
NGO's
No of ongoing
Projects
% of
Projects
1 North Shoa 34 61 19
2 South Wollo 30 51 16
3 North Gonder 24 29 9
4 North Wollo 22 45 14
5 Bahir Dar 22 31 10
6 South Gonder 16 38 12
7 Region 11 15 5
8 West Gojjam 10 14 4
9 East Gojjam 11 16 5
10 Waghemra 6 9 3
11 Oromia 4 4 1
12 Awi 4 4 1
Total 317
Source based on data from the Regional FS&DPPO
To a large extent the NSA landscape is dominated by institutions that have urban-based origin
and focus. This situation is expected and unavoidable. For example, the HIV/AIDS pandemic had
the greater impact so far on the urban population; hence most of the anti-AIDS clubs and
Reproductive Health Associations are of urban origin and focus.
In the rural areas cooperatives and local branches of the region-wide membership-based
associations are omnipresent. According to the Cooperative Promotion Agency, about 1.88
million people (which is about 64% of the rural house-holds) are members of the various
agricultural cooperatives. At local level, particularly the region-wide membership-based
associations are invisible, due partly to capacity and positioning. In Gubalafto Woreda of North
Wollo, the Secretary of the Woreda Women's association is sharing the office space and
operational budget of the Woreda Women's Affairs' Office. On the other hand, apart from ORDA,
it has no operational partnership and linkage with other NGOs and FBOs operating in the
Woreda.
In summary, the current distribution of NSA is biased and in favour of urban and drought prone
parts of the region. Perhaps more coordinated effort is needed to ensure that more and more NSA
focused to the rural and agricultural innovation and intensification fields are brought to the
picture.
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4. Activities and Sectoral Contributions
4.1. General Overview
As indicated elsewhere, some segments of NSA (NGOs and FBOs) have protracted duration of
participation in the regional socio-economic transformation process. In addition, many of the
international and some regional NGOs have large scale and integrated programmes. Ongoing
projects of Munschen für Munschen and WVE in parts of North Shoa and South Wollo, the food
security and environmental rehabilitation projects of NGOs like ORDA, EOC/DICAC, LWF,
SCF/UK, FHI and Concern are spread across woredas in the drought prone woredas of the region.
Moreover, NGOs in the region are directly involved in the implementation of the Productive
Safety Net Programme (PSNP). Implementation in sixteen of the 64 woredas is being coordinated
by 4 NGOs (ORDA, CARE, SCF/UK and FHI). Because of these factors the activities as well as
contributions of NSAs are more prominent and visible compared to the other regions.
4.2. Summary of Values of Ongoing NGO Projects
Table 5 below, presents the summary on pledged values of ongoing or active NGO and FBO
projects and programmes. The regional government has pledge based agreements with 106 NSA
to implement 317 projects the total financial value of which is about 1.88 Billion Birr.
Expectedly, 75% of the financial pledge comes from INGOs (54%) and FBOs (21%). The share
of the regional NGOs stands third (14%) while that of the national-level registered NGOs is next
at 9%. Of the total pledge, ADA (the regional development association) has agreements for 8
projects the total value of which is 2% of the overall regional NGO investment pledges.
On top of the financial pledges, some NGOs like ORDA, FHI, ADA and SC/UK make in-kind
contributions of food-items (as part of the PSNP) and items like refurbished computers. The
survey has found it difficult to quantify the size of beneficiaries of the ongoing projects. In the
first place, the nature of benefits varies according to the nature of intervention, and hence direct
summing-up is not appropriate. Secondly, there is a high overlap in programme coverage between
different component activities of same NGO, and also between specialized activities of different
NGOs working in same geographical areas. During the regional debriefing in Amhara,
participants have agreed to take-forward the issue and discuss in future government-NGO
coordination forums. Despite this, from the nature of project settings and activities it is possible
to conclude that significant proportion of the target population is benefiting from the operation.
For example, the community works associated with the PSNP, the irrigation and access road
construction activities directly involve rural community members.
Table 5: Financial values of ongoing NGO Programmes in Amhara
No. of
The NSA (e.g.)
Ongoing Value of the
Typology of NSA No Projects project, Birr
15 37
ORDA, GRRDA,
Kindu Erdata, Albuko,
Regional NGOs
272,793,969 etc.
1 8
Amhara Development
Regional Devt. Association
28,577,682 Association
PLWHA Association 1 1 1,999,374 MEKDIM
41 89
Eth. AID, PADET,
National NGOs
176,067,370 ANPPCAN, EDA
34 103
SCD, MfM, SC/UK,
International NGOs
1,012,945,214 AAE
14 79
WVE, LWF,
Faith-based Organizations
389,495,217 EOC/CYFAD
Total 106 317 1,881,878,826
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Source: Based on FSPC&DPP Office Data
4.3. Zonal Distribution of Ongoing Projects
In terms of NGO distribution intensity North Shoa zone stands first, and is followed by South
Wollo. Table 6, below presents the distribution of projects and pledged financial values across
zones of the region. When it comes to resource allocation, North Shoa, South Gonder and North
Wollo are the relatively best-served zones, and Awi, Oromia and East Gojjam are on the opposite
end. The distribution is consistent with the established pattern of more NGO presence in droughtprone
and food-insecure parts of the country.
Table 6 - Zonal distribution of NGO projects
No of No of Total Project Project
S/No Admin. Zones NGO's Projects Budget in Birr Beneficiaries
1 North Shoa 34 61 409,802,222 1,679,715
2 South Gonder 16 38 284,696,519 2,708,867
3 North Wollo 22 45 241,278,532 1,682,742
4 North Gonder 24 29 224,405,272 2,181,911
5 South Wollo 30 51 175,937,847 1,799,858
6 Waghimra 6 9 156,459,576 907,359
7 Region-wide 11 15 104,085,232 10,186,665
8 West Gojjam 10 14 79,526,871 919,524
9 Bahir Dar 22 31 77,959,344 647,933
10 East Gojjam 11 16 59,547,462
11 Oromia 4 4 55,970,927 618,832
12 Awi 4 4 12,209,022 532,284
Total 317 1,881,878,826
Source Regional FSPC&DPO
4.4. Sectoral Participation
The data from the regional food security programme coordination and disaster prevention Office
points that the larger share of programme resources is dedicated to the food security and disaster
prevention work in rural areas. Table 7 below shows the disaggregated sectoral allocation. About
50% of the resource is tied to implementing integrated or specialized rural development projects.
Support to child development and provision of alternative basic education is the second distinct
participation area in terms of resource allocation. The various health sector activities including
HIV/AIDS, reproductive health, nutrition, and other preventive health education against trachoma
and communicable diseases are the third important participation areas.
The clustering of sectoral programmes, below, is simply an attempt to shed light on the major
focuses of ongoing projects. Otherwise, the study team is aware that there is an overlap and
integration of activities in each other. For example, most of the integrated rural development
programmes have components on education, HIV/AIDS, potable water development and
environmental protection. Because of such configuration of projects and programmes, it can be
said that, agriculture, education, health water development and environment are the core priorities
of NGOs in the region.
As a new development, the survey found some unique types of NGO projects that are best
described as advocacy and good governance focused interventions. The woreda capacity building
for responsive planning & service delivery (SC/UK), the South Wollo Good Governance
Programme (HELVETAS - Ethiopia), the capacity building training for the social court judges as
a means to enhancing the rule of law (AARDR), the Older Citizens Basic Service Delivery
Monitoring Project (WSA) and Child Rights Committee strengthening engagements (ANPPCAN,
FSCE and PADET) are some of the examples in this regard. Through such projects the respective
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NGOs are aiming to capacitate local officials and governance structures, while at the same time
promoting accountability to citizens in delivering the various socio-economic services. The
interventions are mostly in a pilot phase and closer follow-up is needed to tap from the lessons.
Table 7: Sectoral/thematic focuses of ongoing NGO Programmes in Amhara
Core Project Focus No of Value of
Projects Projects, Birr Examples
Education and Child 104 391,788,099 Child sponsorship, OVC care & support
Development
services, provision of alternative/NFE
education, & strengthening infrastructure
Health, including RH and
HIV/AIDS
75 325,951,175
Integrated rural
68 946,004,281 Includes projects entitled as food
development and food
Security, PSNP, ADPs, IRDP and
security programmes
specialized agricultural projects
Water supply and 19 125,594,759 hand-dug and deep wells, gravity
sanitation
schemes, etc.
Women and girls
empowerment
7 4,406,597
Environment
17 43,187,525 Ecological protection, reforestation and
(rehabilitation &
protection)
community management
Advocacy and good 16 28,741,468 Child rights, HTPs, training to judges of
governance focused
social courts, good governance, support
educational and capacity
to planning and local monitoring of
strengthening projects
public service delivery
Support for Persons with 5 3,395,308 Community based rehabilitation, and
Disabilities
education
Others 6 12,809,615 shelter and relief services for the ill
Total 317 1,881,878,827
4.5. Qualitative Information on NSA Contributions
4.5.1. Innovation in Alternative Basic Education
Amhara region was one of the first to adopt and scale of the alternative basic education strategies
promoted by NGOs. Various NGOs including SCNE, SCD, AAE, ADA, Pact Ethiopia Plan
Ethiopia piloted and demonstrated the effectiveness of the ACCESS and ABE approaches for
improving the educational participation of children from remote areas. Since 2005, the regional
education bureau has assigned personnel and reserves budget for facilitating the operation of the
teaching centres. At local level, the woreda Education Bureau does also allocate budget to top-up
the community resources for running the centres.
According to the Head of the regional education bureau 12 about four million school-age children
have already gone through the alternative systems of basic-education delivery, and close to
400,000 children are currently enrolled across the region. Moreover, the Bureau head
acknowledged that the alternative approaches promoted has enabled the region to raise the basic
education access and enrolment to over 99%.
12 from the ER News of 17 February 2008
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On the part of NGOs, the engagement in alternative basic education has to a large extent has
produced the desired outcome. As an indicator to this some of the actors (for example SCD) are
in the process of phasing-out operational presence at zonal levels, and instead reposition presence
at strategic level for higher level advocacy.
4.5.2. Innovation in Agricultural intensification
One of the areas where NGOs have had a visible contribution relates to the collective
participation in agricultural intensification. A study commissioned by CRDA and World Vision
Ethiopia 13 concluded that there was a trend of NGO-led agricultural intensification process that
involved moves from field to garden and from cereals to fruits and vegetables production,
complemented with irrigation. One can note such developments in programme areas of NGOs
like WVE, LWF, ORDA, ASE and MfM, in parts of north and south Wollo, Oromiya and North
Shoa zones of the region. The beneficiary communities from these programmes have increasingly
become suppliers of high-value agricultural produce (fruits and vegetables). In summary, selected
NGOs in Amhara have demonstrated the approaches to agricultural intensification and marketbased
production which is adopted and being scaled-up by government at the moment.
4.5.3. Empowering Community self-help structures
Most NGOs either make-use of existing community structures or establish new ones' as entry
points for or facilitators of project delivery. In the past, it was common to hear the collapse of
such structures upon withdrawal of the NGO support. But, this time the survey has detected a
pattern on the emergence of vibrant local level civil society actors as a direct effect of deliberate
NGO actions. Some specific developments observed are outlined below.
In Bahir Dar the Community Development Committees established by JeCCDO for coordinating
project implementation are by now independent and registered organizations, recognized and
supported by other actors and involved in scaling-up and diversifying programmatic actions.
In Woldiya town the unionized Iddirs through the facilitative work of PADET and the Woldiya
Labour and Social Affairs Office are accepted local actors and participants in the local socioeconomic
governance structure (consultative). In a similar way, the Bahir Dar Iddir Union (with
28 member Iddirs, comprising 6,643 households) is establishing its participation in innovative
social services delivery by mobilizing resources from within the constituency and from other
governmental and non-governmental sources.
Information from the regional cooperative agency indicate that the regional cooperative
strengthening process was strongly supported and facilitated by NGOs, like VOCA, WVE, LWF,
SoS Sahel and Plan International.
It is true that some other factors too have contributed to the emergence of stronger local self-help
structures. For example, the simplification of regional NGO registration and availability some
fund (like for HIV/AIDS) at local levels are important external factors. In addition the capacity
strengthening and regulatory roles of the cooperative agency can be counted. Despite these,
NGOs are establishing themselves as actors contributing to the strengthening of local level selfhelp
and community empowerment structures.
4.5.4. Awareness and Actions for Child Rights Promotion
During the last five years, some NGOs have made focused and intensive investments in the area
of child rights promotion in Amhara. A mix of national and international organizations, including
13 NGO Contributions to Food Security in parts of Amhara Region, 2004, by Dejene Aredo
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SCNE, SCD, FSCE, ANPPCAN and PADET, are the key actors in this field. In selected woredas
of North Wollo, SCD and its two-partner national NGOs (PADET and ANPPCAN) have
successfully accomplished the tasks of general child rights awareness creation, mobilizing and
organizing child rights clubs and community structures, and also in strengthening capacities of
governmental institutions (example the judiciary and Law enforcement bodies) for the protection
of child rights.
ANPPCAN alone is behind the formation and participation of over 50 child rights clubs in
schools across North Wollo woredas. It has also similar project in North Gondor (Dabat and
Wogera). Likewise, PADET and ANPPCAN have jointly mobilized other local level NGOs,
CBOs like Iddirs, religious leaders and local officials (Woreda and Kebeles) in Woldiya town,
Gubalafto, Kobo and Habru woredas, and this has contributed to both enhanced local level care
and support for OVC and to the nurturing of non-tolerant culture against child abuse.
The following are some of the indicators learned from the field work:
� In Kobo and Mersa towns, Kebele-based OVC committees have established income
generating schemes for targeted OVCs,
� Child Rights Clubs from schools in Mersa town and the surroundings are actively
participating in the protection and prevention of harmful tradition of early marriage and
abduction affecting educational participation of the girl child,
� With the support of the above mentioned NGOs, Police stations in selected woredas of
the zone have established children and mothers protection units.
� At zonal level, an initiative of forming all inclusive child rights advocacy forum is in
motion.
On a region-wide scale, the FSCE has facilitated the introduction as well as the operation of the
Children and Mothers' Protection Units in the Police Commission Structures. The supports
provided include training of personnel in child rights, developing formats for compilation of
information on incidences of child rights abuses and children in conflict with the law. With these
supports, the regional police commission has started producing monthly statistical reports on
cases of children and mothers rights, which is shared and fed into the FSCE data-base in Addis
Ababa. Moreover, as part of a phase-out strategy, FSCE is currently coordinating a task of
developing a regional Guideline for Police Officers in Managing Cases related to Child Rights.
By taking into account these diversified actions and the corresponding results at different levels;
the survey is convinced that child rights promotion is one of the visible contributions of NGOs in
Amhara. The current children who are well aware of child rights, when grown up, will not allow
the perpetuation of such abuses as early marriage, abduction, and denial of education rights of
children.
4.5.5. Environmental protection and community asset creation
This is one of the long-established engagement areas of NGOs and MBAs in Amhara. Physical
conservation structures like terraces, hill side tree plantations and backyard tree plots have
become common features of the regional landscape. Of course, the credit is shared among various
stakeholders. But NGOs like ORDA, FHI, SC/UK, WVE and EOC/DICAC, through their safety
net and other agricultural extension programmes have played vital role in promoting the
environmental rehabilitation and protection agenda in the region. In the 14 woredas where NGOs
coordinate implementation of the ongoing PSNP, environmental rehabilitation and community
asset creation are core activities.
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“Our finger-prints are visible on the hills and the valleys of the region”
Ato Wuletaw, Director of ORDA
As recent additions, organizations like: Lem Ethiopia; Ethiopian Wetlands and Natural Resources
Association; Sustainable Natural Resources Management Association (SuNRMA), Frankfurt
Zoological Society (FZS), SLUF and TT&T, Green Horizon Ethiopia and Albuko and Zuriawa
Limat mahiber are engaged in community and education based activities for forest and watershed
management.
The environmental rehabilitation work has also contributed to community asset creation as sale of
harvests from the plantations is being used to supplement local financial resources for service
delivery. At household level, income from sale of tree and tree products is contributing to
improved food security (examples WVE target groups in Kemisse area of Oromiya Zone).
5. The dynamics in the sector at regional level
In summary the survey has observed the following developments in the regional NSA landscape:
� National and regional NSA are strongly coming into the picture - Sizable number of
national NGOs has established operational presence in Amhara. NGOs like, PADET,
ANPPCAN, EDA, ASE, FCR, EA, FCO, CHAD-Et, AARDR and HORCO have ongoing
projects in the region, and this is encouraging as most used to have projects at close
proximity to Addis in the past. Likewise, the regional NGO, ORDA has expanded its
operational coverage.
� Regional MBA learning to co-exist with the smaller regional associations and
organizations - as explained elsewhere, at zonal and regional levels diverse groups of
NSA that share the constituency base of the bigger regional membership organizations
have been forming. Because of this dynamics, the regional associations like ADA have
already decided to cooperate (instead of competing) with such local NSAs. This can be
counted as a positive development contributing to the diversity of NSA.
� Networking - regional networking is a live agenda being promoted by lead organizations
like CRDA, AAE, ORDA and SCF/UK. This is taken as an indicator of maturity of the
NSA, and is further discussed under section 5, below.
� Regional presence of INGOs - the survey has noted that some stronger NGOs have
established regional offices as means to providing closer support to the regional process
and also establish closer linkage with the regional government. The establishment of the
CRDA/RLO, the opening of regional coordination offices of AAE, PFI, SCF/UK and
WVE are important indicators.
� The survey noted that some international NGOs have withdrawn their operation in the
region. Examples to this effect include OXFAM/GB and CPAR. Save the Children
Denmark and Lutheran World Federation (LWF) are uncertain of their next step
programmes. Some are justifying the withdrawal in relation to programme success
(Alternative Education). On the other hand the survey has learned the arrival of new
generation of international NGOs like Carter Centre, Frankfurt Zoological Society, and
PFI; having focused/specialized participation, some as intermediaries and all not engaged
in area based programmes.
6. Networking
The CRDA Amhara Regional Liaison Office (RLO) came into picture since July 2006.
Establishment of the RLO was necessitated and justified in light of the operational presence of
sizable number of CRDA members in the region and also in relation to the need for engaging
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with the decentralized government structure. Accordingly, delegates from the 82 CRDA-member
agencies in Amhara on 25 July 2006 decided to establish a CRDA regional platform, and
established a steering committee composed of seven members 14 .
Since establishment, the Office is involved in: compiling and making accessible information on
regional NGOs; in organizing regional group-events, for CRDA as well as other donor initiatives
(for example: DFID – Civil Society views on PBS, GTZ-IS – Orientation workshop on PBS
funding); in supporting the emergence and re-vitalization of thematic regional networks;
facilitating the organization and conducting of regional training courses and workshops; and also
in representing CRDA on the various relevant regional forums. In addition the Office will be
shortly finalizing a regional CBO mapping exercise that is aimed at facilitating the collaboration
between such institutions and NGOs in the region.
Officials from the regional government as well as the NSA community are appreciative of the
starts made by the RLO, particularly with respect to facilitating access to region specific NSA
information and in facilitating the arrangement of group-events.
It is noted that the Office can be more useful and effective if more resources (finance and
personnel) are made available. Moreover, it is advisable that the Office, as a matter of priority,
aligns and plans its activities in relation to the provisions of the regional Government - NGO
Collaboration Guideline and the corresponding structures and events of consultation and
dialogue. This is not to conclude that the Guideline is perfect, and also to disregard other policy
frameworks. Instead, the suggestion is to point that this is an agenda for which the RLO is best
placed to mobilize members and sustain productive engagements for a more enabling operational
environment.
NSA in Amhara have also established their regional chapter of the Poverty Action Network
(PANE-ARC). The chapter has already acquired a legal-personality by registering at the Bureau
of Justice in 2008. The chapter so far is involved in the promotion of PASDEP and in
coordinating Citizen Report Card (CRC) exercises as a monitoring tool on PASDEP
implementation.
One of the interesting developments in the region is the formation of a range of PLWHA
Associations at all levels of administration. It looks that all towns in the region have specific
PLWHA associations of their own. To facilitate coordinated participation and representation a
registered Regional PLWHA Network is already in place, and is actively participating in the
national PLWHA Associations movement.
As a new development, NSA in Amhara will have a legally registered network on food security.
The decision to forming the network (Regional Food Security Network of CSOs in Amhara)
was taken in December 2007, and the steering committee delegated to take the initiative forward
has submitted the application for registration to the Regional Justice Bureau in February 2008. In
the application letter, the objectives of the network is outlined to show that it will be engaged in
enhancing the institutional capacity of the members as a means to facilitating closer cooperation
and stronger partnership with government and communities and thereby make more meaningful
and tangible contribution to the efforts of ensuring food security at regional, community,
household and individual levels. The promoters of the network (ORDA, Action Aid, SC/UK and
CRDA/RLO) are confident that their request for registration will be favourably responded to by
the Justice Bureau.
14 ORDA; Save the Children UK; Cheshire Foundation Ethiopia; Agri-Service Ethiopia; Food for the
Hungry International; World Vision Ethiopia; and Anti-Malaria Association
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Furthermore, some regional NSAs are promoting a parallel initiative of establishing an Amhara
CSO Forum. The intention is to broaden the typologies (and also avoid some who do not qualify
to be CSOs) and facilitate direct engagement with the regional governance structures on issues of
interest to the regional CSOs.
During the regional debriefing session, the study team has appreciated the enhanced NSA interest
and actions in networking. At the same time the team has also suggested the need to coordinate
the regional networking process. With the emergence many networks having overlapping
constituency, objectives and targets, the positive interest and accommodative environment could
be affected.
7. Dialogue and cooperation between NSA and Local Government
In general, the framework for dialogue and cooperation between NSA and local governments is
still undeveloped. However, there is an encouraging start of rolling out the available frameworks
to the local levels. In this regard the major instrument is the Government - NGO Forum which is
based on the regional collaboration Guideline.
As part of the regional Government - NGO Collaboration Guideline, Woreda Sector offices are
mandated to enter implementation agreements with NGOs submitting proposals the total value of
which is less than 2 million Birr. This process has definitely contributed to enhancing the role of
local authorities in coordinating NGO projects. In the Woredas where NGOs coordinate PSNP
implementation, there is closer cooperation between local authorities and the NGOs with respect
to system of authorization of public work and effecting payments or distribution of food.
In Gubalafto woreda of North Wollo, the Disaster Prevention and Preparedness Desk Officer,
under the Agriculture and Rural Development Office has recently started a monthly discussion
session with the three operational NGOs in the Woreda (PADET, ORDA and SCF/UK). It is too
early to speak of the effects, but the participating NGOs see it as a good opportunity to reflect on
operational issues and reach consensus on what needs to be done.
The above mentioned Woreda level periodic discussion has more to do with NGO project
implementation monitoring than a partnership based broader development dialogue and
cooperation. In the above mentioned Gubalafto Woreda, for example, representatives of the
Women and Youth Associations 15 are invited to observe the quarterly Woreda Council Meetings
as civil society representatives. But, representatives of these organizations are not attendants of
the Woreda level government - NGO forums. Hence, much more work is needed for systematic
integration of an all inclusive dialogue and cooperation framework at local levels.
8. Engagement in Policy Dialogue
Indicators of active NSA participation in the regional policy processes are scanty. Organizations
engaged in regional policy research and monitoring are lacking. With the coming into operation
of the regional networks, this could improve in the coming years. The review learned that some
NSAs get invitations from government to participate in regional consultations and sectoral
taskforces. But, since the participation is called for in an individual capacity (that is not sectoral
representation) and not often supported by systematically compiled data and information, the
effects are minimal. For example, the inputs and agenda of discussion in the government NGO
15 Some of whom are as well elected deputies
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forums are not supported by advance discussions amongst the NGOs, and hence the discussion in
the meetings is often focused on performance monitoring.
The growing preparedness of NSA for participation in policy dialogue has to be matched with a
corresponding interest in government to engage in this area. If not, the starts could fail to deliver
what is expected. For example, the Bahir Dar Chamber of Commerce and Sector Associations
have developed an advocacy action plan entitled as Bahir-Dar Business Agenda. On its part the
Regional Office of CETU has a negotiation plan with the over 20 shortly anticipated investors in
the floriculture field over the issue of employee's health safety (agrichemical poisoning). Such
attempts should be encouraged by all stakeholders. During the time of the field work, for
example, the regional chapter of EWLA had a validation workshop on action research findings
about domestic violence against women 16 . This being an important engagement, elaborating
existing legal gaps and also outlining actions needed by the various stakeholders, one expects
active participation of officials and leaders responsible for the protection of women rights.
However, during the first day session of the above workshop some vital institutions were
missing 17 . More capacity building is needed on both sides to maximize gains from policy
dialogue.
On the other hand the BOFED and CRDA have initiated a taskforce (Population, Health and
Environment - PHE Taskforce) for regularizing discussions on these topics. The fact that the
BOFED is involved in the initiation of this taskforce is encouraging. Once more there is a need to
harmonize the initiative with other frameworks.
9. Engagement in Political Dialogue
As in most other regions, NSA participation in political dialogue processes is rather lacking.
Regarding acceptability of such role, Speaker of the Council 18 pointed that the regional
constitution has a unique provision (compared to federal and other regions) that allow and
welcome organized community groups not only to observe, but also to present draft bills for
deliberation by the Council. So far, the regional MBAs get invitations as observers and attend the
Council meetings. But, no one has used the opportunity to voice on issues of relevance to their
constituency.
As a new development, the regional Council has started drafting a guideline for facilitating the
participation of organized community groups in the Councils at the different layers of
administration. If finalized this initiative could be counted as a regional progress in facilitating
CSO participation in governance as pledged in the PASDEP policy matrix.
10. Internal Organisation and Resources
The emergence of more and more membership based associations and clubs is an encouraging
trend. Some are demonstrating the possibility of mobilizing resources from within the community
to respond to local needs. The unionized Iddir in Bahir Dar is typical example. Using the
organizational profile (big membership) others have managed to influence local authorities
positively and thereby access community resources in pursuit of operational objectives. For
example, the legally registered Community Development Committees in Bahir Dar have
facilitated for JeCCDO to access plot of land for implementing environmental health and income
generating activities.
16 Project supported by CSF, through OXFAM/GB
17 It was learned that the Head of the Regional Women Affairs' Bureau, despite the invitation did not showup
or delegate some one to the meeting. Likewise, the Speaker of the Regional Council, a woman, was not
invited to the session.
18 From the discussion with HE Dr Misrak Mekonnen
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The bigger region-wide membership-based associations (Youth, Women, and ADA) collect
regular subscriptions that are shared proportionally with the structures at the different
administrative layers. For example the Amhara Women Association claims to have about 600,000
members each contributing 3 Birr per annum. Of the total amount, 75% is shared by Association
units at zone, woreda and kebele levels. Mobilizing members to effect the annual subscriptions is
one of the major roles of elected officials at local levels. Failure to mobilize and collect fairly
good amount of membership fee can result in the withholding of salary for the full-time officials
at woreda level 19 . Because of this situation the local level MBA officials are not in a position to
develop their own action plans and undertake activities that serve the interests of their members.
Instead the offices are physically located within the respective woreda offices (that is youth in the
Youth and sport Office, and Women in Women Affairs Office), and are financially subsidized for
their outreach programmes (mostly accompanying staff from the sector offices).
NSA involved in HIV/AIDS prevention and control programme do still get funding from the
MAP II and GFTAM programmes. In addition, the regional programmes of AAE and PFI have
been supporting projects and programmes of regional NGOs. The resources from these windows
have enabled many of the regional organization to start and/or scale up operation.
The PSNP participation of NGOs is financially supported by USAID. Only international NGOs
having origins/presence in the USA are allowed to apply and access the resources. Amongst the
national and regional NGOs only ORDA has managed to establish partnership in implementing
the PSNP with the international NGOs. The Glamour of Hope Foundation, the European Union,
and the PEFAR (USAID) are amongst the other major fund sources for environmental, water
resources and child development programmes of major NGOs in the region.
11. Capacity Building Needs
The following are major actions needed to enhance the regional NSA evolvement and
participation process in the coming years:
a) Support the regional networking initiatives - coordination and linkages, strengthening
constituency support, multi-year programme development, roll-out to zonal and woreda levels,
and facilitating experience exchange,
b) Support initiatives for organizational development in the emerging regional associations -
promotion of best practices, experience exchanges, tailored training courses, support for
systems and manuals development,
c) Support initiatives of data and information collection, analysis and dissemination,
d) Promote strategies that facilitate joint implementation and integration between the different
typologies of the regional NSA (international, national, regional, FBO, Chambers, Trade
Unions and Professional Associations, etc.),
e) Promote initiatives that bring together regional/local authorities and NSA in researching, joint
appraisal and planning,
f) Support initiatives that facilitate dialogue and cooperation between the bigger membershipbased
associations and the emerging related localized groups (for example; the ADA entering
into dialogue and cooperation with the localized development associations, or the Amhara
Women Association with the various specialized Associations of women).
g) Support NSA initiatives of scaling-up success stories in community organizing for sustained
and enhanced participation in local governance process,
h) Support initiatives of enhancing NSA skills and structures for resource mobilization, and
19 From the discussion with Beletu Desale, Secretary Gubalafto Woreda Women Association, Woldiya
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i) Facilitate and provide decentralized small-scale funding programme to improve the access for
the large numbers of emerging regional NSA.
9. Benishangul Gumuz Regional Report
1. General remarks on NSA at territorial level
1.1. Background about BSG
� Benishangul Gumuz Region is a multi-ethnic region where four indigenous (Berta, Gumuz,
Boro Shinasha and Mao-Komo) and significant size of settlers from Northern Ethiopia (since
the early 1980s) live together. The current population size of the region is projected to be
560,000. In addition to the remoteness of the region from the centre, it is one of the most
sparsely settled. Hence, developing infrastructure and making services available to the
population is an expensive undertaking.
� Because of the predominant backward agricultural practices, primarily of the indigenous
population (which is hunter gatherer kind) and also because of absence of specially tailored
extension package suited to the agro-ecology of the region, agricultural production and
productivity in the region is very low. On top of this, the regional five-year development plan
acknowledges that there is a rapid deterioration of soil fertility, partly due to massive
deforestation of forest resources. With the high level of dependency on rain-fed agriculture,
variability in seasonal patterns of rainfall is also considered as a key challenge. Moreover,
because of the remote location, low and undeveloped agricultural credit and marketing
systems has been amongst the challenges to boosting production and productivity.
� According to the regional five year development plan, attaining the education goal of the
MDG by 2015 is possible, and the region is working towards that end. By 2007, the gross
school enrolment used to be 107.3 %, while the net enrolment was 83.6%. The participation
of girls is about 89. High level of wastage (high drop-out and repetition) in the education
systems is amongst the key challenges being addressed by the regional education sector
partners.
� Low implementation capacity in the public sector, across the different sectors and at the
different levels of administration is still one of the challenges being faced by the regional
administration.
� Ensuring equity in the basic services delivery is among the strategic issues being handled by
the regional government. The regional administration is analysing equity at different layers.
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First, there is a need to ensure equity between the indigenous communities and the recent
settlers. For example, in the education sector equity is addressed with regard to the
participation of students from indigenous and settler communities. Same is analysed
regarding the accessibility of health services. Secondly, equity is considered with respect to
the participation of women/girls in the education system.
� Compared to other emerging regions, BSGNRS has had a relatively stable government 20 ,
peaceful and improving security contexts over the last one decade. In terms of infrastructure
development, the upgrading of the major road leading to the regional capital has reached a
final stage, and the construction of another highway linking Asossa to Metekel Zone, across
the Nile and with the main road leading to Bahir Dar (Amhara), is as well started.
1.2. NSA in BSG - from the previous mapping
The previous mapping noted that there were very few NSAs in this region and those that do exist
were also categorised as weak. On the basis of feedbacks from stakeholders interviewed, it was
reported that, for various reasons, NGOs were by then reluctant to come and operate in the
region.
Another aspect highlighted in the 2004 mapping was about the four ethnic-based development
associations. The report showed that except for the Benishangul Relief and Development
Association, the other three (that is Boro Shinasha, Tikuret legumuz and Mao Komo
Development Associations) were at initial stage of formation, hence without actual work on the
ground. It was highlighted that the leadership of these ethnic-based development Associations are
also respective high-level government officials representing the specific ethnic groups, and the
team projected that there is a competitive dynamic in multi-ethnic regions such as Benishangul
Gumuz where each ethnic group through its elites feels that it has to establish its own
development association and secure as many resources as possible for development work.
1.3. Major highlights of current findings
� Apparently many reproductive health and anti-AIDS associations - that of the youth;
organized in geographical (Kebele or town) and in interest groups; formally registered by the
Notary office of the Regional Justice Bureau; and supported by HAPCO and NGOs (FHI,
AAE and AIDWO),
� Regional Development Associations coming to the picture - unlike the 2004 finding, one
RDA (Tikret to Gumuz People) actively operational, while others have developed some
experiences of implementing HIV/AIDS projects,
� International NGOs and Faith-based Organizations still active in field-based operations -
cases of World Vision, Water Aid, CVM, FHI, AAE, and OXFAM/GB
� Only few national level registered NGOs operating in the region (Hope Enterprises, Welfare
for Street Mothers and Children Organization, Initiative Africa and EFDA),
� Most regionally registered NGOs having no formal project agreements with sector Bureaus -
only one has a project agreement known by the regional Finance and economic Development
Bureau.
� High level of openness and accommodative environment for cooperation between NSA and
government,
20
the regional president is one of the longest serving in same position compared to those in the other
regions
123

� Good starts in NSA networking - amongst Youth associations and clubs, and amongst NGOs
and regional CSOs.
� Access to donor resources for organizational development and programme implementation
limiting the enhanced participation potentials of regional NSA
� The dynamics in Iddir unionization affected by absence of facilitator governmental and nongovernmental
institutions.
2. Profile and distribution of NSA at Regional Level
2.1. Profile of NSA
Table 1, below presents the profile of NSA typologies in Benishangul Gumuz Region. As can be
seen, NSAs representing nearly all the typologies set during the inception phase of this exercise
are found in the region, and it is learned that the NSA mix is not that different from the other
regions. One of the deviations relates to the relative size of international NGOs; in other regions
these categories are relatively less compared to the national and regional NGOs. The geographical
(remoteness) as well as undeveloped infrastructural contexts would explain as to why there are
more of the international than the national and regional NGOs.
Table 1. BSG NSA typologies and size
NSA Categories
46. NGOs = 41
International NGOs = 14 AAE, Water Aid, Oxfam UK, FHI,
National NGOs = 3 WeSMCO, Hope Enterprises,
EFDA
Regional Registered NGOs = 24
47. Regional Development Associations = 4 B-SDA, TGPDA, MKDA, BGRDA
48. FBOs (national and international) = 12 EMWBCDO, WVI, EOC/DICAC,
EMDA
49. Reg. apex/Networking Organisations = 2 Youth Alliance and Timret
50. Advocacy and Human rights Organizations
51. Economic and business interest groups Asossa Chamber of Comm. &
Sector Asso.
Cooperatives 121
Chamber of Commerce and Sector Asso. = 1
52. Trade and labour unions
53. Professional Associations = 1 BSG Regional Teachers
54.
Age, gender, health-status and other occupation
related Associations
Association
BSG Youth & Women
Association
Anti-Drug Youth
Regionally registered Youth Association = 3
� Region-wide basic Youth Asso. = 376
� Region-wide Youth Clubs = 446
Reg. registered Associations of/for Women = 5 BSG Women Asso.; Mizezego
Loka Women Devt Asso; Asossa
Town Women Traders
Association; Asossa Muslim
Women Association;
Reg. registered Elderly and Disability Asso. = 4
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Reg. registered Asso. of PLWHA = 3
55. Free Press;
56. Community based organisations - 48 basic
Iddirs in Asossa Town
Selam and Weyisho Iddirs in
Asossa
2.2. \Distribution of NSA in BSG
There is a general concentration of NSA in Asossa Town and the corresponding zone, which is
Asossa Zone. As can be seen from Table 2 below, out of the total 34 operational NGOs in the
region, eleven are operational in Asossa Zone. Likewise, according to the information from the
Cooperatives Promotion Agency 21 , about 70% registered Cooperatives are from the Asossa Zone,
while the remaining 20% from Metekel and 10% from Kamash Zones. The distribution pattern of
the various associations of youth (reproductive health, anti-AIDS, etc.) is some what identical, as
most are concentrated in Asossa and the surrounding areas.
Most of the international NGOs and the FBOs have programmes focusing on the rural based
population. On the other hand, the various regionally formed NGOs and membership-based clubs
and associations of youth, women and the few iddirs taking part in social services for OVC are
primarily active in urban and semi-urban set-ups.
Table 2. Zonal Distribution and Participation of 'NGOs' in BSG
S. No Zone No of NGOs %
1 Asossa 11 32
3 Metekel 10 29
2 Kamash 8 24
4 Region-wide operation 5 15
Total 34
Based on BOFED Info
3. Activities and Sectoral Contributions
General Overview
The regional government is well aware on importance of the participation as well as contributions
of the different elements of NSA in the regional socio-economic development process. To this
effect, the government encourages the emergence, growth in number and supports capacity
building for NSA participation. The following three observations could be counted as verifiers of
the above generalization:
� During the establishment phase of the Asossa Chamber of Commerce, the office of the
regional president has donated Birr 3,000 to assist the take-off process 22 ,
� The Regional Finance and Economic Development Bureau as part of its five year
development plan have a goal of increasing the number of operational NGOs to 51 from
the reference of less than 30 23 . It is learnt that the regional officials do visit head offices
of stronger NGOs and lobby them to start operation in their region.
21
Ato Mulugeta Teffera, Team Leader BSG Coop. Promotion Agency
22
From the discussion with Ato Kidane-Mariam Abera, President, Asossa Chamber of Commerce & Sector
Asso.
23
From the discussion with Ato Mamo Gentse and Ato Girma Fufa, Regional BOFED
125

� A five-day training was given to 33 regional NGOs in PME by the Finance and
Economic Development Bureau so as to improve their preparedness to implement
effective projects and programmes aligned to the regional development plan,
As it stands now the activities as well as sectoral contributions of international NGOs and
FBOs is outweighing the participation and contributions of the other typologies of NSA. With
the multi-years and rural-focused programmes organizations like World Vision Ethiopia,
Action Aid Ethiopia, Oxfam/GB, FHI and Water Aid have managed to implement activities
that produced encouraging results. Improving access to basic education, health and water
supply services; supporting local initiatives for agricultural intensification and livelihood
promotion, and educational campaigns against vulnerabilities and harmful practices are key
activities undertaken by INGOs and FBOs in the region.
The activities of the national and regional NSA mostly revolve around sensitizing and
mobilizing community members against HTPs and vulnerabilities, like HIV/AIDS. Activities
are rather campaign and project-based with short duration, and most of the target groups are
located in urban and sub-urban setups. For the future, with enhanced technical and
programmatic supports the contributions of the regionally registered NSA segments could
become the most important one.
Summary of Values and Beneficiaries of Ongoing NGO Projects
Table 3, below, shows the total values (financial pledges) and total number of beneficiaries to be
reached by the ongoing NGO projects and programmes. It is worth noting that both the actual
number of beneficiaries and the budget allocated can be by far less than what was declared or
pledged to the regional government at the project signing stage. Regarding number of
beneficiaries, the possibilities of double-counting due to targeting in successive years and/or
targeting of same person by differing component activities promoted either by same or more than
one organization have tended to inflate the number. The statistics is presented for comparative
analysis with similar information from other regions.
Table 3. No of beneficiaries and total budget of ongoing NGO Projects in BSGR
No of No of
Projected
No of Total budget
NSA Typology Agencies Projects Benef. pledged Birr Remark 1
Benf of 8 projects and
budget of 5 projects not
International NGOs 14 19 239,948 76,392,830 shown
Ben of 6 projects and
Faith based Nat and
budget of 2 projects not
International Orgs 12 19 342,310 64,652,081 shown
Ben of 4 projects and
budget of 4 projects not
National NGOs 3 5 53,257 3,020,144 shown
Ben of 2 projects and
Regional Dev't
budget of 1 projects not
Associations 3 6 43,743 1,815,456 shown
Regional NGOs 2 2 13,787 8,009,144
Total 34 51 153,889,655
Based on BOFED Data
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Zonal Distribution of Ongoing Projects
As can be seen from Table 4 below, 45% of the financial resource for ongoing NGO projects is
allocated to activities in Asossa zone. This amount is more than double what is pledged for
operations in the other two zones (Metekel 18% and Kamash 16%). Moreover, it is learned that
the bigger share of the financial resource of the five region-wide projects as well is disbursed for
projects in Asossa town and the surrounding woredas. From this observation it can be concluded
that Asossa Zone is relatively well served and advantaged from NGO operation in the region.
S.
No of No Value of ongoing % No of
No Zone
NGOs projects projects Beneficiaries %
1 Asossa 11 15 68,615,535 45 271,901 39
2 Metekel 9 17 27,428,897 18 345,076 50
3 Kamash 7 12 25,316,112 16 64,068 9
4 Multi-Zone (Metekel &
kamash) 2 2 2,007,008 1 12,000 2
5 Region-wide operation 5 5 30,522,103 20
Total 34 51 153,889,655 693,045
Based on BOFED Data
Sectoral Participation
Education and Child development are the major areas where NGOs have established stronger
participation. Sixteen of the 51 ongoing NGO projects are tailored to support education, mostly in
the alternative or non-formal approaches. Likewise, the health sector activities in reproductive
health and HIV/AIDS stand as the second core participation areas of NGOs in the region. (Refer
Table 5 overleaf). Since most of the integrated rural programmes have components on the above
two sectoral activities it can be said that education and Health are the most important
participation areas of NGOs in the region. The importance of these sectors can be further
strengthened as most of the emerging regional NSA are involved in the same areas.
Table 5. Sectoral Focuses of NGO Projects
Core Project Focus No of
Projects
Remark
Child Development 5 19,481,330
Education 14 30,910,231 Mostly, alternative or non-formal basic
education; pre-school education and support
for OVC to participate in formal education
Health, 5 1,493,155
HIV/AIDS 4 6,577,071
Integrated
4 52,424,329 Including irrigation, support to cooperatives,
programmes (food
basic education, potable water, RH and
security)
HIV/AIDS
Water supply and 6 16,570,555 Drilling, spring-protection, pit latrines and
sanitation
community organizing around these actions
Women and girls 6 10,316,952 Sensitization, technical skills development,
empowerment
income generation
Others 7 16,116,032 Capacity building for government, GG and
local NSA; research; entrepreneurship; refugee
support
Total 51 153,889,655
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4. Qualitative Information on NSA Contributions
a) HIV/AIDS
o Participating NSA - Association of Youth, Women, Faith leaders (Ethiopian Muslim
Agency and EOC/DICAC), IRC in and around refugee sites at Sherkole and Kurmuk,
CPAR, FHI and AAE,
o Activities undertaken - awareness creation, campaigns for behavioural change in
prevention, addressing stigma and discrimination; and providing care and support for
those affected and infected; facilitating VCT; supporting the establishment of PLWHA
associations and clubs of youth,
o Recognition by government - According to Ato Gemechu Abose (A/Head of the
Regional HAPCO), NSA have been major actors in the regional HIV/AIDS response so
far, and conditions are being facilitated for their continued and enhanced participation in
the coming years. The social mobilization work for prevention and control of the
epidemic accomplished so far by NSA is counted as particular important contribution.
o Result - the combined effort of NSA and the government has enabled the region to bring
down and stabilize the prevalence to 1.8% from the 2.6%,
o Next step - through HAPCO, additional financial support is pledged for continued
participation of the regional NSA from MAP II and GFTAM.
o Lessons - most of the regional NSA have undeveloped policies and systems of resource
management. As a result, despite the generally satisfactory performance in reaching
targets and delivering expected services, according to the HAPCO information, sizable
number of regional NSA failed to ensure timely and proper financial accountability
(settlement) and also demonstrate judicious and responsible use of the resource allocated.
For enhanced participation this aspect should be addressed through organizational
development supports.
b) Innovation in Alternative Basic Education (ABE)
o Participating NSA - AAE and Oxfam GB
o Approach - demonstration and lobby for mainstreaming in local government
development plan and budget
o Activities undertaken - community structures establishment; support for teach-centre
construction (top-up to community resources); covering costs of: training facilitators
from the community; printing text-books and salary of the facilitators (for defined
period); assist community structure to start income generating scheme for the Centre; and
lobby local government to take-over and budget for running the centres.
o Recognition by government - According to the Regional Coordinator, AAE in
collaboration with communities established 60 ABE centres in its target woredas.
Through the demonstration and lobbying work, the local authorities appreciated the
outcome, and currently Woreda Education Offices provide coordination and support to
the ABE centres (including salary for facilitators) as part of their regular programmes.
o Result - The region has a high percentage ratio of school enrolment (GER=107 and NER
= 83.6%, 2007), and according to the five year development plan, attaining the MDG in
education by 2015 is possible,
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o Next steps - NGOs moving into new engagement areas in the education sector. It is
learned that the next phase programme of Oxfam/UK will shift to strengthening formal
education and the management information system in education.
c) Strengthening Cooperatives
o NSA involved - CISP, OXFAM/GB, World Vision and Action Aid Ethiopia
o Activities undertaken
� Facilitating the establishment of water user cooperatives - by developing the
infrastructure, facilities like stores, and providing equipment, etc. Examples included
the work of CISP in Metekel and World Vision Ethiopia in Asossa - Homosha areas.
� Assisting/supporting a Cooperative Union to venture into agricultural product
processing so as to add-value and maximize gains. The example in this regard is the
Oxfam/GB support in Oil Mill Centre construction for the Asossa Cooperative Union,
and the understanding reached for next-stage collaboration in Mango processing, and
� Assisting a Cooperative Union to establish and function properly. Specific example in
this regard is the Action Aid Ethiopia support in furnishing and equipping the office
base of the Asossa Cooperative Union.
o Recognition by government - The regional Cooperatives Promotion Office recognizes
that the emergence of most of the registered irrigation-based cooperatives was supported
and facilitated by the NGOs.
o Result - Interest and practices in irrigation-based intensive farming is one the increase
and cooperatives motivated to diversify engagements, including agro-processing.
o Next steps - by taking into account the remoteness of the region from the centre,
particularly NGOs should be encouraged to assist regional NSA to venture into value
chain development for the major agricultural produces and natural resources (e.g.
bamboo) available in the region and improve marketability.
d) Water Supply and Sanitation
� NSA involved - Water Aid Ethiopia, Menge Woreda
� Objective - piloting and demonstration of full-coverage of WATSAN services
� The Approach - Woreda level Water and Sanitation Technical Coordination Forum of 10
sector offices and 2 NGOs (Oxfam/GB and WAE) provide overall leadership. NGO and
Woreda Water Resources Desk jointly implement the project. NGO injects additional
financial resources and core professional (a Geologist). Government makes available
equipment (e.g. drilling machine) and provides office space for NGO. In targeted kebeles
user committees are organized and provided with guidelines for managing facilities. Stepby-step,
the project has been expanding coverage of Kebeles.
� Progress - 95% coverage of WATSAN services in a Woreda to be attained in a four-year
operation that started in 2005.
� Key lessons
� Specialized approach,
� Intensive work on defined project target area,
� Community organizing - the kebele WATSAN Committees have managed to collect and
accumulate up to 30,000 Birr from user fees during the last three years.
� Strong cooperation and making maximum use of the governmental structures and
resources
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e) Responding to needs of vulnerable groups - OVC support
NSA involved - Ethiopian Mulu-wongel Believers Church Development Organization and
Asossa iddirs
Approach - 3-tier approach: World Vision mobilizes PEFAR fund from USAID and supported
Mulu-Wongel Church Development Organization as sub-grantee to in turn involve and support
CBOs and the local churches. Recipient CBOs (Iddirs) and Churches screened and provided
integrated supports to OVCs residing in geographically defined segments of Asossa town.
Progress - Project has already reached and extended support to 3,214 children (50% Girls).
Moreover, the OVC support Core Committees established in conjunction with the project have
started mobilizing local level resources and actors to extend their share of contributions in
support of the OVC agenda. For example, some of the Asossa based private schools have
enrolled agreed number of OVC for free (that is no tuition fee).
Results - enhanced CBO interest in social services for the weak segments of society, and
model for community participation in addressing local needs.
The dynamics in the sector at regional level
Compared to the 2004 observation, the quantities, mix and profiles of NSA in BSG has grown
and come to prominence. Various factors appear to have contributed to this development, and the
major ones' are outlined below:
� As indicated elsewhere in this report the regional government has deliberately lobbied
and attracted some international NGOs to start operation in the region. As a result the
number of operational international NGOs have increased,
� As part of implementation strategy, selected NGOs (like AAE, FHI and CISP) have
extended technical and financial supports for associations or groupings of youth to
participate in the regional HIV/AIDS response. This could have been one of the pullfactors
for the emergence of the various associations in these fields. On the part of the
government, availability of the small HIV/AIDS grants from HAPCO could have same
effects;
� By the time of the field work 44 regional NSA have acquired legal personality as not-forprofit
entity from the regional Bureau of Justice and Security. Hence, it can be said that
the commencement of registration by the Notary Office, under the Bureau of Justice and
Security could have simplified the procedure and resulted in legal registration of
otherwise informal groupings.
� The multi-ethnic nature of the regional population appears to have contributed to the
emergence and participation of diverse groups of NSA. For example as indicated in the
previous mapping study the leaders of the four indigenous ethnic groups are supporting
their respective regional development associations, and by doing so they contribute for
the co-existence of multiple NSA competing for resources and recognition. The same
holds true for the associations of youth and women, where localized and focused
associations are equally accepted and accommodated as the hierarchical regional
associations. As a matter of fact, much more self-organizing work is still needed in order
to build the legitimacy of the hierarchical regional Associations.
Typology Number
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Regional NGOs 12
Anti-AIDS & Reproductive Health
Associations
9
Associations of Women or those
exclusively targeting women
5
Regional Development Associations 4
Associations of the Elderly and
PWDs
4
Association of PLWHA 3
Associations of the Youth 3
Apex Organization 2 *
Art and Culture Associations 2
Total 44
Compared to other regions, the dynamics in the BSG NSA is deficient in the following aspects:
� Registration of Civil Associations is done at regional level only. Hence, the arrangement
can be cumbersome and costly venture for those aspiring to register from Zonal and Woreda
levels. It would have been sensible if at least the far-off Zone of Metekel is delegated to
handle the Zonal registration,
� No governmental and non-governmental agency has ventured into assisting the Iddir
unionization process in the region. As a result the attempt of three local iddirs to establish a
Union of the 48 Iddirs in Asossa has not succeeded, and potentials of increasing their
participation in socio-economic processes is under-utilized,
Networking
� Starts have already been made towards establishing regional CSO network. Initially the plan
was to establish a Regional Chapter of PANE. Through further consultations, the plan is
adjusted to establishing and legalizing a Regional CSO Forum. It is anticipated that the
Regional CSO Forum will be a counterpart to the Regional Government - NGO Forum
which already constituted.
� While the general networking is in good course, there are outstanding challenges in forming
focused regional networks, particularly relating to regional network of PLWHA
Associations. It is learned that the leadership competition among the two Asossa-based
PLWHA associations has hindered formation of a regional network that is expected to relate
to the Associations of Ethiopian Living HIV/AIDS (AELHA).
� To coordinate and support efforts of the various groups, the Union of BSG Regional Anti-
AIDS Clubs and Associations was established at the beginning of 2007. The establishment
as well as participation of the Union is supported by AAE and the Regional HAPCO. It can
be an effective structure for strengthening capacities of the member clubs and associations
and also for dissemination of education messages.
Dialogue and cooperation between NSA and Local Government
In general terms, local government in BSG is still undeveloped - hence, dialogue is limited.
Rather demonstration-based and action-learning approaches leading to dissemination of
successful practices is taking place in some localities. For example, the work of water Aid in
Menge Woreda (explained under section 3.5) presents a model of cooperation between local
government and NSA. The 10 person Water and Sanitation Technical Coordination Forum of all
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elevant woreda offices and NGOs (Oxfam UK and Water Aid) coordinated implementation of
the Community Water Supply and Sanitation Project. The representation and participation of the
various offices was necessitated so that some are able to contribute resources at their disposal
(mostly technical personnel), and others are able to learn and prepare for active participation in
subsequent stages of operation. With such arrangement, some made available machinery, the
NGO covered costs of well-sinking/drilling and developing the systems for storage and
distribution. The Health and Education Offices participated in promoting hygiene education and
simple sanitary technologies. On its part, the Woreda Agriculture and Cooperative Promotion
offices participated in establishing Community Structures and developing the system for costrecovery
and management.
In the above case, cooperation between NSA and the local government has improved successful
accomplishment of the project, and the regional Water Resources Bureau is planning to replicate
the approach to other woredas. In other words, the dialogue on approaches of improving water
supply and sanitation coverage has been done through action and demonstration. The experience
of AAE in promoting and mainstreaming the alternative basic education system in Bambasi
woreda, too, is a result of demonstration and lobbying.
In Benishangul Gumuz, dialogue and cooperation between NSA and the regional government
stands as one of the best so far, and from some of the trends it is likely to further improve in the
years to come. To mention few major aspects: 1) NSA supported (financially as well as
technically) the regional 5-yr development planning process. Some served on the Committee that
coordinated the planning process. 2) separate consultations was held with NSA in the planning
process, and recommendations incorporated, 3) as a result there is shared understanding on the
roles of each party, and provisions that facilitate active NSA participation in all stages of
programming at different levels are included.
The Regional Government has also adopted a Regional GO - NGO Guideline, and as per this
Guideline periodic dialogue forums are expected to be constituted at zonal and woreda levels.
The level of cooperation between NSA and government in the region extends as far as
government organizing training course in PCM for regional NGOs and CBOs. According to the
coordinators in the BOFED office this is a desired step to contribute to increasing operational
NSAs.
In summary, the local-level cooperation and dialogue between NSA and government in the
Region is encouraging and present some best practices. NGOs that utilized strategies of piloting
and demonstrating and that involved in or maintained close-contact with local officials have
managed to successfully attain results.
Engagement in Policy Dialogue
The fact that NSA were part of the regional development planning process can be counted as
indicator of the presence of some kind of policy dialogue. Furthermore, as the visions, priorities
and strategies incorporated in the 5-year programme are in line with and acceptable to that of the
NSA (in general) it can be said that the dialogue has been fruitful.
With regard to the future, for example, as shown below, the Regional Programme pledges to
establish a permanent Forum with NSA including the Private Sector. The NSA have to remind
and assist the government so that such forum with articulated objectives and code of business is
established as pledged.
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Establish inclusive development partner's forums (government-private-CSOs, and/or
government-private sector and Government-CSOs, as appropriate) for planning,
integration of efforts, consultation on developments objectives; and for joint review of
performances.
Page 66, strengthening partnerships for effective implementation of
the BSGR 5-year Development Plan
In addition to the above, the plan has also activity lines that are aimed at enhanced and
institutionalizing dialogue on policy and development aspects (refer insert below). Perhaps,
encouraged by the provisions in the five-year plan, a joint proposal for establishing Government-
NSA Food Security Policy Dialogue Forum has been submitted to the officials (by TGPDA and
OXFAM/GB) and an agreement has been reached to launch it. The region has some unique
development challenges and potentials to unleash. Hence, the positive starts have to be sustained
and enhanced.
• Support establishment of new CSOs and strengthen capacities of the existing ones so as
to ensure active participation of the population and civil society in good governance and
programme implementation
• Organize forums that enable/facilitate continuous consultations between the regional
government, the population and civil society
Focal activities in Good Governance and Capacity Building, BSGR 5-
Yr Development Plan
Engagement in Political Dialogue
Much can not be said about political dialogue as indicators are scanty. For improvements in this
are the capacity gap on both sides has to be addressed. Some segments of NSA get invitations to
Regional and Woreda Council meetings. For example, AAE Regional Branch Office indicated
that they usually get these invitations, and do send staff members. In relation to this, the survey
has detected three interrelated problems. In the first place, most of the NSA appeared to have
limited or even low level of understanding on the relevance of the avenue of participation.
Hence, the common practice is to delegate and send some unprepared or even junior staff for
such occasions. Secondly, it looks that some of the participating NSA are not aware of the rules
and corresponding powers they have as participants in the meetings. For example, the Secretary
of the BSG Hagere Sibket expressed that ".. We are there only to observe. It would have been
better if we have the chance to comment or express our views". Other NSA are aware of the
rules that they are only not allowed to vote. Thirdly, even where there is appreciation and better
understanding of the opportunity provided, the NSA participation is not supported by advance
discussions and joint formulation of the idea, issue or position to air or express in the Council
meetings. Because of this, so far no one from the NSA has managed to promote an issue through
the Council meeting avenues.
Internal Organisation and Resources
Financial Resources
� International NGOs - implementing agreement bound multi-year programmes; with secured
funding,
� Regional Development Associations - collecting subscriptions from members - but not
adequate enough to undertake/implement activities in the core mandate area
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� Associations of Women and Youth - supposed to collect prescriptions from members - but
not yet.
� Some of the regional development associations, FBOs and MBAs and regionally registered
CSOs depending on supports from international NGOs (AAE, FHI, CISP) and government
managed donor resources - HAPCO,
� Some have managed to access a one-off type support - hence continued participation is at
stake,
� Others who have failed to mobilize resources in the process of disappearing from the
landscape.
Human Resources
� International NGOs and FBOs - having few full-time key professionals - primarily to top-up
local governmental technical capacity - Positive
� Some of the stronger National and Regional NGOs - having some project-based full-time
professionals in the key engagement areas - but finding it challenging to maintain due to
turnover
� Most of the regional CSOs (including the regionally registered NGOs, Associations of Youth,
Development Associations, FBOs, and CBOs like Iddir) have no full-time staff at all.
� Opportunities for exposure and skill development for CSO personnel are limited.
Policies, Systems and Structures
� The piloting and then scaling-up strategy of INGOs - is understood well and is producing
results
� Contextual participation and longer term visioning by some of the international NGOs -
multi-sectoral and strategic interventions
� Few of the emerging NSAs have policy manuals and multi-year programmes (Strategic Plan)
that guide their participation
� Opportunities for learning on aspects of organizational development; including governance,
constituency strengthening, resource mobilization; accountability are not available for the
majority of NSAs,
� Most NSAs are concentrated in Asossa Town and the surrounding Zones - outreach!
Facilities
� Some NSA having their own office facilities - Iddirs, Women Association and WVE
� Others housed in government offices - Water Aid
� But, most operating from rented compounds (from private owners) - including RDAs,
PLWHAAs,
� Still others having no separate office of their own!!
Capacity Building Needs
� Need for organizational development supports for the various emerging regional NSA -
planning, developing systems and policies
� Need to have decentralized funding mechanism to improve donor access,
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� Need to support the regional NSA develop logistical and infrastructure capacity for sustaining
participation, including outreach to remote parts of the region,
� Need for supporting self-organization in NSA and also dialogue between NSA and
government
� Need to support national offices of the FBOs and Chamber of Commerce's to provide
outreach assistants (backstopping) to their regional counterparts,
10. Gambella Regional Report
1. General remarks on NSA at territorial level
1.1. Background about Gambella Region
� Gambella is one of the emerging regions, located at the far south-western end of Ethiopia. It is
a multi-ethnic region where four indigenous groups (Agnuwak, Nuer, Mejenger, Opo and
Komo) coexist with considerable number of highlanders settled by the previous government.
Some of the ethnic groups have shared identity with clans in Southern Sudan, thus the region
has been hosting hundreds of thousands of refugees displaced by the prolonged conflict in the
Sudan. During the field visit, it was seen that a large scale repatriation programme was in
motion. It looks, large scale population movement across the political boundary is left
unregulated, and this seems to be affecting the regional socio-economic and political process,
both positively and negatively.
� Gambella is a low-lying area through which the major rivers arising from the South-Western
highlands flow into the Sudan. Traditional and subsistence agriculture is the mainstay of the
population. The population of the region is estimated to be about 160,000. On observing the
large number of youth strolling on the main-roads of that small city, one does not need
additional statistics to appreciate the severity of unemployment or the underutilization of
available human capacity in the region.
� Of the ethnic groups, the Nuer is primarily agro-pastoral communities, while the Agnuwak
are mostly sedentary small scale farmers across the routes of the major rivers. Fishing is an
important source of nutrition and cash income. Unlike, the others, the Mejenger are huntergatherer
people settled in the coffee-rich natural forests of Godere Woreda.
� Because of the remoteness as well as other special contexts, local traditions and customs are
major factors dictating social life and well-being. Even within Gambella town, the two major
ethnic groups have separate neighbourhoods; intermarriage is uncommon and collective
identity is undeveloped. In the face rapid population growth, movement and adverse climate
change effects, this context could contribute to further perpetuation of conflicts and
instabilities in the region.
� Administratively the region is divided into four zones including the regional capital. The road
and communication networks are relatively undeveloped. According to key informants 24 , the
swelling of rivers and/or flooding of fields in some remote areas still cause untimely
termination of educational services as the pupils could not make it to the schools. Moreover,
flooding during the rainy seasons is a regular event resulting in the destruction of property and
life of the population. Supporting flood victims is amongst the important preoccupations of the
disaster prevention office. As indicated earlier, instability in weather patters could be further
exacerbated due to climate change.
24 From the discussion with Ato Tesfahun, President GNRS Teachers Association
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� After the 2004 conflict, the regional government has been engaged in the delicate conflict
transformation and peace building process. The ethnic based parties have been transformed
and an all inclusive party ( ) is in place. However, political positions are allocated with due
consideration of equity amongst the groups. The President and the vice presidents are from the
Agnuak and Nuer groups, respectively, while the speaker is from Mejenger.
� Regarding overall development coordination and service delivery, it appears that the region is
still feeble and wanting in many aspects. Major national initiatives like civil service reform
and woreda decentralization are not fully executed. Donor supported projects and programmes
are also scanty.
� Thus, NSA profile, participation and contributions in GNRS should be assessed with the
understanding of the above contexts.
1.2. NSA in GNRS as described in the previous mapping
Because of the security concerns, the team involved in the previous mapping did not visit
Gambella, thus profiles and nature of participation of NSA in the region is not covered. The
presence of a branch office of EWLA in Gambella is only mentioned when describing the
operational profile of EWLA.
1.3. Major Highlights of Current Findings
� Regional Development Associations disbanded in relation to the 2003 conflict,
� NSA are active participants in conflict transformation and peace building (ACORD, Pact
Ethiopia, GPDC),
� Relatively, active participation of NSA in education (formal and non-formal): ECS/Don
Bosco, Hope Enterprises, Pact Ethiopia, ANFEAE),
� Some NSA participate in emergency response and recovery (ZOA Refugee Care,
MSF/Switzerland, Oxfam America, ECS/Missionaries of Charity, ECMY)
� NSA landscape is undeveloped and thin (few regional and national NGOs, no Iddir
unionization process; no Regional Women Association, and Youth at early stage)
� In general, NSA contribution to the regional development process is diminutive,
� NSA cooperation and dialogue with government remains undeveloped (areas of participation
of key NSA (NGOs) not fitting with traditional coordination fields of DPPB, that is food
security, and
� Cooperation between the different typologies and elements of NSA is undeveloped.
2. Profile and distribution of NSA at Regional Level
2.1. Profile of NSA
The mix of formal NSA in GNRS is outlined below. As can be seen both the number and mix are
on the lower side, compared to the other regions.
Table 1: GNRS NSA typologies and size
NSA Typologies
57. NGOs = 12
International NGOs = 7 ACORD, Pact Ethiopia, Carter Centre,
Zoa Refugee Care, MSF/CH, VIPLS,
Home Care Int
National NGOs = 1 Hope Enterprises
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Regional NGOs = 4 Wanthia, Asso for Rural Devt,
Association for Shentawa Community
Development, Agnwaha berre tesfa
Dirijit,
58. Regional Development Associations = 0
59. FBOs (national and international) = 10 EECMY (Gambella E & W Betel), EOC,
GISC, ECC/ECS, Nuer Council of
Churches, Evangelical Fellowship
Mission, HEKs, EKHC, Seven Day Adv.
Believers Asso. & The Anglican Church
in Ethiopia
60. Reg. apex/Networking Organisations =
61. Advocacy and Human rights Organizations = 3 Gambella Intellectual Committee,
Gambella Peace and Development
Council and Research Centre for Civic
and Human Rights Education
62. Economic and business interest groups
Cooperatives = 85
Chamber of Commerce and Sector Asso. = 1 Gambella CC and Sector Associations
63. Trade and labour union
64. Professional Associations = 2 Regional Teachers Association
65. Age, gender, health-status and other occupation
related Associations
Regionally registered Youth Association = 2 Gambella Youth Club and GNRS Youth
Culture and Anti-AIDS Union
� Region-wide basic Youth Asso.
� Region-wide Youth Clubs
Reg. registered Asso. of/for Women = 0
Reg. registered Elderly and Disability Asso. =
Registered Asso. of PLWHA = 1 Save Generation,
66. Free Press;
67. Community based organisations = 2 Lul Tsera-AIDS Club and G.A.M.A.
Christian Anti-AIDS Club
3. Activities and Sectoral Contributions
3.1. Summary of Values of Ongoing NGO Projects
The partial information from the regional DPP office shows that NGOs are involved in
implementing projects at a total budget of about 31.3 M Birr. Compared to other regions this
amount is small.
Table 3: Financial values of ongoing NGO Programmes in GNRS
Typology of NSA No
No. of
Ongoing
Projects
Value of the
project, Birr
Regional NGOs 2 2 66,667.00
The NSA (e.g.)
Asso for Rural Devt, &
Wanthoa Vision for
Peace & Devt.
Association
PLWHA Association - - -
National NGOs 1 1 5,388,470 Hope Enterprises
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7 9
ACORD, Pact Ethiopia,
International NGOs
11,924,793 Carter Centre, MSF/CH
4 7
EECMY, ECC/SDCO,
Faith-based Organizations
13,970,726.00 HEKs,
Total 14 19 31,350,656.00
Source: Based on Federal DPPA and Regional DPP
data
3.2. Zonal Distribution of Ongoing Projects
There is no disaggregated data on the regional distributions of NSA projects. However, it is learnt
that most of the projects are targeted to Gambella town.
3.3. Sectoral Participation
Aggregation of ongoing projects into sectoral and thematic clusters is shown on Table 5 below.
The combined data from regional DPP office and from that of the federal DPPA shows that
significant portion of the NSA resource is allocated to formal basic education. In this regard, the
ECS/Don Bosco stands as key actor, in both investment as well as coverage. It has hostels in four
woredas (Pungido, Lari, Itang and Gambella), and this are valued supports enabling continued
educational participation of youth from the indigenous communities.
In the health sector, MSF Switzerland has implemented successive emergency-type health
projects, and this has constituted major share of the resource allocation. On the other hand, the
Carter Centre has been executing the Onchocerciasis Control Programme in parts of Mejenger
zone.
Most of the NGO projects under the thematic area of food security are indeed emergency relief
operations. Projects of EECMY, East and West Bethels are titled as rehabilitation of victims of
conflicts. Others, for example EKHCDP and Oxfam/America had projects involving grain
distribution. From these observations, it appears that no NSA is involved in implementing
integrated food security or rural development project/programme in GNRS.
Despite the above generalization, it is interesting to note that NSA are active participants in the
conflict transformation and peace building process. Both ACORD and Pact Ethiopia are
promoting community dialogue and interactions between leaders of the different ethnic groups
and also amongst different social groups of an ethnic group. Through such approaches, factors
contributing to the perpetuation of conflict are identified and, where possible, technical and
financial supports are provided by the NGOs so that community takes the action for mitigation.
For example, Pact Ethiopia in collaboration with Pact Sudan is involved in revitalizing the tradelink
between communities on both-sides of the border as means to mitigating conflict.
Accordingly, cooperatives are strengthened to maximize gain from transactions.
Table 5: Sectoral focuses of ongoing NSA projects in GNRS
Areas of Participation
Value of ongoing
projects, Birr
No
of
NSA
No. of
Projects NSAs involved, examples
Education (formal
education) 17,756,870 2 2 HOPE & ECS/Don Bosco
Health 10,478,660 2 4 MSF/CH & Carter Centre
Wanthoa Vision, Home Care
HIV/AIDS 145,049 3 3 Int & ARD
Food Security mostly
EECMY, EKHCDP,
relief & Rehab 0 3 5 OXFAM/America
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Peace building 0 3 3 PACT ETH, ACORD, HEKS
Social Welfare 1,602,326 1 1 ECS/SDCO/MMM
WATSAN 1,367,751 1 1 VIS
Total 31,350,656 15 19
Source - based on DPPA and Regional DPP information
The peace building participation is not only limited to the 3 international NGOs (Pact, ACORD
and HEKS). Instead, all the FBOs and the national human rights and research organization (that is
RCCHRE) are involved through the joint framework of Gambella Peace and Development
Council (GPDC). More information is provided on the GPDC under section 5.
4. The dynamics in the sector at regional level
All the three ethnic-based Regional Development Associations (Agnewak, Nuer and Mejenger)
were outlawed from operation in 2005byy the decision of the regional administrative Council.
The decision was taken following the allegation that leaders of one of the Associations were
involved in fuelling the conflict. It looks; the others were banned so as to impart the political
fairness or non-discriminatory nature of the decision made. From the discussion with key regional
actors, there is renewed interest of reviving the RDAs. For example, representatives from
Gambella have started communicating the federal MOJ regarding the reconstitution of the
Mejenger Development Association.
5. Networking
The progress in networking amongst the regional NSA is one of the weakest. No one has
attempted to bring together NSA belonging to the different typologies. International NGOs used
to participate in a monthly status review meetings organized in collaboration with UN
organizations. Issues/queries emanating from such meetings were shared with appropriate
regional authorities for their respective actions.
The initiative taken by the inter-faith groups in establishing the Gambella Peace and
Development Council (GPDC) could be counted as a collective effort or a networked approach.
Founders of GPDC have had important contributions in the arbitration and reconciliation phase.
However, the momentum created is not maintained, and as a result potentials of enhancing role
and participation are being wasted.
ACORD and Pact Ethiopia are renowned NGOs for promoting networking at national level. In
the case of Gambella, both have taken the back-seat in this regard.
6. Dialogue and Cooperation between NSA and Government
The government to some extent has encouraged the emergence and participation of strategically
important regional NSA like GPDC, GIC and EWLA. In the case of GPDC and GIC, the support
extended includes allocation of initial budget and office furniture. The EWLA branch office in
Gambella often depends and gets transport services from sector bureaus for its educational
outreach programmes to rural areas. A specific case arising from Mejenger zone shows that local
government could even endorse informal CBO initiatives for accessing donor support. (Refer
insert below).
Since 2000, a dedicated young-man called Afera Alemu has been coordinating summer literacy
and tutorial classes in rural kebeles of Godere Woreda. The aim of the initiative was to contribute
to contribute to education enrolment and quality. Teachers and other college students were
voluntarily mobilized to implement the programme. Over the years, participating children
displayed attractive performance in academic standards, and this sent messages to key actors:
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parents and community members extended more supports for the programme, while government
wanted to assist expansion of the coverage.
Then the CB Office wrote a letter endorsing a funding proposal of the founder (Afera Alemu) for
consideration by the UNICEF regional office in Gambella. Accordingly, the regional Education
Bureau endorsed the proposal and is scheduled to be supported by UNICEF.
On the other hand, some of the NSA consulted expressed the concern that lack of skilled and
experienced counterparts in the regional and local government structures is hindering or affecting
the quality of cooperation and dialogue. As a result, for example, projects of NSA are treated not
as integral parts of the overall development endeavour, and this leads to reduced cooperation in
facilitating smooth operation. Under the given regional context this is naturally expected, and
both state and NSA should be supported to facilitate sharing of experiences from within and
without the region. The BOFED has plan of developing regional guideline for government-NGO
collaboration and establishing regular forum for dialogue. It would be beneficial if this endeavour
is made participatory and all inclusive.
7. Engagement in Policy Dialogue
Much can not be said about the regional experiences in policy dialogue between NSA and the
governmental counterparts. The nature of project activities implemented are fragmented, hence
potentials of compiling information and lessons having policy-level relevance is low. As
formality, sector bureaus extend invitations and solicit participation of relevant NSA segments.
For example, the Education Bureau invites NGOs and the Teachers Association to participate in
the annual education forum. But, so far participating NSA did not use the opportunity to initiate
evidence-based dialogue on the performance of the education sector programme.
Because of the status of organization, membership-based Associations of Youth and Women and
other local level CSOs, so far, are not involved in Woreda and Regional Council meetings.
Despite these current contexts, the following perspective from the deputy head of BOFED points
the evolving appreciation on the importance of policy dialogue by NSA.
Since resources are limited, government can not try-out or venture into all kinds of alternatives.
On the other hand NSA are courageous in taking risks and experimenting with alternatives. If
they succeed in demonstrating better results, government goes along with in promoting and upscaling.
Hence, we would like to see more of such actors in the region. Ato Oman Omulu,
D/Head of BOFED.
To facilitate effective policy dialogue supports are needed for action researching, sectoral
networking and for regularizing forums for discussion between the key actors.
8. Engagement in Political Dialogue
Following the bloody conflict of, 2003 the regional government has sought the support of NSA
and the regional intelligentsia to assist the process of conflict transformation. In the process two
NSA actors, GPDC and GIA were formed, and have participated to varying scale in arbitration
and facilitating dialogue. It looks the initial momentum is not maintained, and both organizations
have not scaled-up or intensified their engagements.
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Both organizations usually get the invitations to observe Council meetings. In addition, they have
both the constituency and government access to systematically initiate political dialogue. It is
appropriate that due support is provided to the organizations to facilitate political dialogue. It was
learned that a workshop aimed at sharing findings of research work coordinated by ACORD on
the regional conflict was last minute cancelled by the regional government from taking place.
Perhaps, the officials wouldn't have taken such action if one of the regional organizations were on
the front.
We have accomplished a lot in cooling-down tempers and in the normalization of life after the
conflict. ….. But, we admit that the root cause is yet to be addressed.
Ato Jobi Omad, Director, GPDC
9. Internal Organisation and Resources
Even the membership-based NSA are not able to mobilize subscriptions from members - GPDC
founders not having financial commitments, Youth association have no and teachers association
….
The few regional NGOs are not active - no strategic or multi-year programmes; no project
agreements with government; and no active engagement with other NSA (for example with
international NGOs).
The international NGOs in the region are mostly direct implementing - hence the interdependence
between the regional, national and international NSAs is undeveloped. (exceptions are ACORD
and to some extent, Pact Ethiopia)
Because of weak support base, some of the NSA are highly dependent on regional government.
This may affect the quality of dialogue.
10. Capacity Building Needs
o Opportunities for learning on aspects of organizational development; including
governance, constituency strengthening, resource mobilization; accountability are not
available for the majority of NSAs,
o Most NSAs are concentrated in Gambella Town and the surrounding Zones - outreach!
o MBAs not able to mobilize the subscriptions - indicators of commitment or support
missing
o Already organized groupings of Youth and Women not strategically linked to the forming
regional Associations of Youth and Women respectively,
o Founders of GPDC not contributing financially; and there is no plan of co-opting other
relevant NSA as members,
o Domestic resource mobilization for NSA activities not developed,
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