Regional Reports - the European External Action Service
Regional Reports - the European External Action Service
Regional Reports - the European External Action Service
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On <strong>the</strong> part of NGOs, <strong>the</strong> engagement in alternative basic education has to a large extent has<br />
produced <strong>the</strong> desired outcome. As an indicator to this some of <strong>the</strong> actors (for example SCD) are<br />
in <strong>the</strong> process of phasing-out operational presence at zonal levels, and instead reposition presence<br />
at strategic level for higher level advocacy.<br />
4.5.2. Innovation in Agricultural intensification<br />
One of <strong>the</strong> areas where NGOs have had a visible contribution relates to <strong>the</strong> collective<br />
participation in agricultural intensification. A study commissioned by CRDA and World Vision<br />
Ethiopia 13 concluded that <strong>the</strong>re was a trend of NGO-led agricultural intensification process that<br />
involved moves from field to garden and from cereals to fruits and vegetables production,<br />
complemented with irrigation. One can note such developments in programme areas of NGOs<br />
like WVE, LWF, ORDA, ASE and MfM, in parts of north and south Wollo, Oromiya and North<br />
Shoa zones of <strong>the</strong> region. The beneficiary communities from <strong>the</strong>se programmes have increasingly<br />
become suppliers of high-value agricultural produce (fruits and vegetables). In summary, selected<br />
NGOs in Amhara have demonstrated <strong>the</strong> approaches to agricultural intensification and marketbased<br />
production which is adopted and being scaled-up by government at <strong>the</strong> moment.<br />
4.5.3. Empowering Community self-help structures<br />
Most NGOs ei<strong>the</strong>r make-use of existing community structures or establish new ones' as entry<br />
points for or facilitators of project delivery. In <strong>the</strong> past, it was common to hear <strong>the</strong> collapse of<br />
such structures upon withdrawal of <strong>the</strong> NGO support. But, this time <strong>the</strong> survey has detected a<br />
pattern on <strong>the</strong> emergence of vibrant local level civil society actors as a direct effect of deliberate<br />
NGO actions. Some specific developments observed are outlined below.<br />
In Bahir Dar <strong>the</strong> Community Development Committees established by JeCCDO for coordinating<br />
project implementation are by now independent and registered organizations, recognized and<br />
supported by o<strong>the</strong>r actors and involved in scaling-up and diversifying programmatic actions.<br />
In Woldiya town <strong>the</strong> unionized Iddirs through <strong>the</strong> facilitative work of PADET and <strong>the</strong> Woldiya<br />
Labour and Social Affairs Office are accepted local actors and participants in <strong>the</strong> local socioeconomic<br />
governance structure (consultative). In a similar way, <strong>the</strong> Bahir Dar Iddir Union (with<br />
28 member Iddirs, comprising 6,643 households) is establishing its participation in innovative<br />
social services delivery by mobilizing resources from within <strong>the</strong> constituency and from o<strong>the</strong>r<br />
governmental and non-governmental sources.<br />
Information from <strong>the</strong> regional cooperative agency indicate that <strong>the</strong> regional cooperative<br />
streng<strong>the</strong>ning process was strongly supported and facilitated by NGOs, like VOCA, WVE, LWF,<br />
SoS Sahel and Plan International.<br />
It is true that some o<strong>the</strong>r factors too have contributed to <strong>the</strong> emergence of stronger local self-help<br />
structures. For example, <strong>the</strong> simplification of regional NGO registration and availability some<br />
fund (like for HIV/AIDS) at local levels are important external factors. In addition <strong>the</strong> capacity<br />
streng<strong>the</strong>ning and regulatory roles of <strong>the</strong> cooperative agency can be counted. Despite <strong>the</strong>se,<br />
NGOs are establishing <strong>the</strong>mselves as actors contributing to <strong>the</strong> streng<strong>the</strong>ning of local level selfhelp<br />
and community empowerment structures.<br />
4.5.4. Awareness and <strong>Action</strong>s for Child Rights Promotion<br />
During <strong>the</strong> last five years, some NGOs have made focused and intensive investments in <strong>the</strong> area<br />
of child rights promotion in Amhara. A mix of national and international organizations, including<br />
13 NGO Contributions to Food Security in parts of Amhara Region, 2004, by Dejene Aredo<br />
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