Socio-economic Empowerment of the Negede Woyto by Ayele Addis



“Achieving Socio-economic Empowerment of the Negede Woyto Social Groups Living In Bahir Dar and Around Lake Tana”  by Ayele Addis

For the last 18 months, Alem Children Support Organization (ACSO)  has been implementing SPG1 project which entitled as  " achieving socio-economy empowerment of marginalized Negede woyto social groups living in Bahir Dar and around lake Tana in partnership with CSSP. This project was aimed at enhancing the communities income opportunity and access to education, hygiene and sanitation, equal power relationships and awareness in implementing the existing policies. Because, this marginalized social  groups have been suffering from different economic and social problems like  miserable poverty, discrimination, stigma and low self-esteem to bridge the  gaps with the other community groups.

Considering  our organization's experience with the issues, the target populations and the area, Aleme Children Support Organization (ACSO)  was implementing the project to contribute in reducing social exclusion and increase access to education and control over resources and with local community leaders on exclusion awareness raising.

The project was planned to reach directly 1425  and indirectly 6400 beneficiaries of  Negede Woyto's community with the total allocated grant amount Birr 2,041,654.50.

The overall objective of the project is  to contribute towards the socio-economic empowerment of the Negede Woyto social groups and appreciative inquiry approach.

Therefore, the terminal narrative report is presented as follows in detail;

1. Major activities carried out  during the reporting period



A) Livelihood/ Income Generating Activities:-



Income generation activity is one of the components of the project which was designed to help the Negede Woyto marginalized community groups to empower their economy. Accordingly, various activities were implemented  by organizing target groups in identified livelihood schemes which were driven from the community needs.

60 marginalized women in Taqussa, Dembya and Gondar Zuriaworedas organized in 3 Self Help Groups/SHGs.

To strengthen and to make more fictional the groups, they were supported with the following  provisions by the project

The groups were provided  with financial support as a seed money to inspire them to  start up their saving.

They were provided with saving books, ledgers and  technical assistance for their financial management and they opened up bank accounts

2 days training provided for the members of SHGs on saving and Credit.

In the first 8 months of the project , 9 oxen were provided  for 60 marginalized peasants  who have been organized in farmer groups  in  Taqussa, Dembya and Gondar Zuria woredas. Since, this supply was not sufficient, 2 additional oxen were also provided in the  trench. Totally, 11 oxen have been given to the target groups.                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                            

In Mitrha Abawarka Kebele (Godar Zuria woreda) 1 small handicraft cooperative which has 15 rural women members  has been organized  to be fictional as one livelihood scheme

The group was  supported with start-up capital to enable the  group members to  purchase inputs for their products to increase in type and  productivity

2  days training was also facilitated  in their locality to enhance  their skills  especially to make them focus on the marketable products and to enhance their  group management, and to  capacitate them how to  make cost analysis to set item prices and  to identify market areas.                                                                                                                                                                                                                                    

40 women ( 9 men)  in Alefa, Taqussa, Dembia and Gondar Zuria woredas organized in to 4 Apicultural Development Cooperatives and  provided with total of 60 bee colonies and 60 modern bee hives ( 15 bee colonies and 15 modern bee hives for each cooperative) . in the first trench, only 40 women were  reported as group members who  were organized in the apicultural development cooperatives. But, after a time,  due to the groups' comment to add men for  skill transfer, the 9 men have been added to the groups, and  hence the total targets reached 49 beneficiaries.  To strengthen these  target groups;

15 bee colonies purchased and delivered to each cooperative.

15 modern beehives purchased and delivered for each cooperative.

In collaboration with woreda office of agriculture, 2 days training with 4 sessions provided for each cooperative’s members. In each session 12 (10 female and 2 male) participants attended the training.

Beekeeping training   for the cooperative member (beekeepers)was not planned during planning; however it is unthinkable to conduct apiculture activity without offering training. So, ACSO together with respective woreda agriculture office organized training for the intended apiculturist without affecting the budget allocated to buy 60 colonies and 60 hives. The minute  prepared by the branch office on the date of 22/12/2008 E.C reflected the importance of the provision of beekeeping materials and training

In   Alefa  woreda Dengel ber Kebele, 20  Negede Woyto  community members have been organized in fishing cooperative  which is called " Ye- Esey debir Gote  Negede  Woyto  fishery cooperative".

The group was supported with technical assistance to open saving account at  Amhara Credited and Saving Institution ( ACSI)  and by now  the members have opened up the account.

They provided with fishing boat with a motor of six horse power.

Some other  fishing materials  like fishing net ( 6 pieces)  which has a size of one hundred meters, 8 pieces of plastic boxes, 49 liters of benzene  with one liter motor oil were also procured and given to the fishing cooperative.

Before handing over the materials, especially on how to operate the fishing boat's motor, two days training was given by the supplier for  two selected members of  the group. In addition, appropriate orientation was conducted to the group members by ACSO staffs on how to  work with the supported materials, how to save money and the overall group management  and how to apply their internal bylaw and how to link with the Woreda animal and fish resource development office  to get services. Identifying market segments, create market network, minimizing running cost, maximizing returns  and  dividend  were also the contents of the orientation.

Guidance was also given to the group members by the government office  staffs at the time of handing over the  materials.

60  Negede Woyto farmers from three woredas  namely, Takusa ( Chnkie bergen Kebele) Gondar Zuriya  (Mistra Abawarka Kebele ) and Dembia( Achera and addissegie Kebeles)  have been organized in three irrigation cooperatives which  consisted of  2o members for each.

They have been provided  with six water pumps ( two  water pumps  together with  the accessories for one group).

Necessary orientation was given to the groups in collaboration with water office staffs on how to  operate the water pumps in  Takusa and Deligi  project sites.

During monitoring visit ACSO tried to link the groups in Takusa and Deligi Woredas with the government  sectors  in order to make them assist the groups technically especially on how to utilize the water pump to increase their productivity

Tana dar Negede Woyto wetlands development association is one of the target groups which  were supported by this project. This group has 112 members whose lives depend on  selling products like "dengel" and "Chefie"   kind of plans which are cultivated from lake shore of  Tana.

 To strengthen this association, the project provided

technical assistance to develop three years business plan and the group has already owned the plan

2 days training on environmental protection, wetland  development and management as well as business skills  for 16 selected  members of the association.  9 of the trainees are the committee  members of  the association.

farm implements which help them to produce wetland products and make a recreation centre.

30,000.00 Birr for recreational centre construction which  should be  constructed in  collaboration with the association.

Memorandum of understanding has been signed between ACSO and the association to lead and  facilitate the  business plan properly as per of the agreement  on which  the two parties reached on consensus.

B) Educational Support:-

One  of the  purposes of the project is contributing in  increasing  access to education for the children and girls of the target social groups which is known as Negede Woyto Community. Therefore,  ACSO has  properly  carried out the  following activities to achieve the intended results in educational support.

provision of scholastic materials and stipend

130 vulnerable children in Bahir Dar city, 30 children in Mitrha Abawarka kebele (Gondar Zuria woreda) were targeted for educational support

90 marginalized children (60 in Bahir Dar and 30 in Mitrha Abawarka kebele) are provided with stipend for the whole project period ( for 18 months)  to augment their supplementary food needs. They were also provided with  scholastic materials for the last academic year.

The remain 70  children from  the targeted  children were supported with scholastic materials  for  2008 E.C  academic year.

TVET and tutorial support

10  marginalized girls  have been selected for TVET and  9 of  them have been trained  in hair dressing  for three consecutive months   and the remain one  has been graduated from TVET in  irrigation.                                                                                                    

206 children have been supported with tutorial classes to improve their  performance.  It was planned to  serve 140 children in this support, but we achieved  147 % of the plan since there were children who need this support.

C) Awareness Raising Support:-

One of the challenges to enhance the social integration among the  Negede Woyto and non-Negede Woyto community groups is lack of awareness about social integration and weak institutional capacity in implementing existing policies and responding to the  changing situations.. During the reporting period, to reduce  social exclusion some workshops were conducted  for key stakeholders, community leaders and the representatives of the marginalized groups.

2  Program launching workshops conducted in Bahir Dar and Gondar in order to create awareness on the issues of marginalization of  Negede Woyto social groups and the CSSP – SPG Project. Key government stakeholders, CBOs, local leaders and Faith-based organizations have been participated in the workshop.

Awareness raising on  social marginalization and inclusive development planning  has been  conducted for key stakeholders, community leaders and  Negede Woyto representatives  in Bahir Dar and Gondar. 13  participants from Bahir Dar and 17 from Gondar have participated in the workshop.

Similarly, one day  awareness creation workshop  was conducted in Gondar for 20 participants to enhance their awareness about social marginalization and conflict management  and to get their role in reducing  social exclusion.

A training on social integration and conflict management  was also conducted for  15 and 14  participants in Bahir Dar and Gonder  consecutively.

Since the community awareness about health issues is very poor, community conversation sessions have been conducted in Bahir Dar and Gondar for  246  community members to enhance  their families' health by focusing on  prevention and control of diseases and sanitation and hygiene

D) Capacity Development Support:-

1 potable water- tap constructed in Mitrha Abawarka kebele for 34 households (135 individuals).

Capacity - building support provided for Community-based Care and Support Coalition Committee/CCC established in Tana sub city wherein the majority of Negede Woyto social groups are residing.

Financial support provided for the CCC.

Training on resource mobilization provided for 42 members of the CCC as per request by the sub city.

1 Functional Adult Literacy Center established for marginalized women and other illiterate women in Fasillo sub city.

10 spinning machines have been purchased for 41 women  of  Negede Woyto community

Uniforms and other material support provided for Medihin Trafic Safty Club established in Tana sub city established by Negede Woyto youths.

Materials (furniture and stationary) purchased and provided for Negede Woyto Children’s Affairs Club established in Kulkual Meda School where most of the Negede Woyto children are enrolled.

Sport materials (shirts, shorts, balls) provided for Taytu Girls Socker Club formed by Negede Woyto girls in Tana sub city.

5 taskforce units (4 in North Gondar and 1 in Bahir Dar) established as a strategy for building coalition for change – for increased voice.

1quarterly meetings/forums conducted in Gondar and about 25 members from the 4 woredas participated in the meeting.

1 quareterly meeting conducted in Bahir Dar with 20 participants.

1 jointly supportive supervision  conducted in Bahir  Dar with the key government stake holders

.1 joint field visit conducted with taskforce groups in Gondar Zuria woreda (Mitrha Abawarka).

Infrastructural development support (as a community outreach program) provided for minorities in Tana sub city:

2 Intra-village roads, 1 local bridge and 2 public toilets maintained for the community living in minority villages.

One  public toilet which has 4 rooms has been newly constructed for 40 households  in Hidar 11 sub-city  wherein the Negede Woyto  community is residing and proper handover has been done with the community and Hidar 11 sub-city.  

E) Networking and Collaboration:-

2 sub project agreements signed with key government stakeholders in North Gondar Zone and Bahir Dar City Administration.

Multi-stakeholders’ workshop conducted in North Gondar (Delgi town) with participants from relevant zonal offices and the 4 Woredas.

different MOUs ( memorandum of understandings) have been signed with target groups and government offices in order to assure suitability

F) Other Activities:-

2 field officers recruited for the implementation of strategic activities in the 4 woredas of North Gondar zone.

3 Field monitoring visit conducted on quarterly basis by staffs from the project office and technical support provided for field officers.

Different fixed assets, as they are stated in the separate sheet  have been purchased for target groups and office use.

2. Progress  report Vs Planned objectives/Strategic outcomes/results:-

Result 1: Income level/livelihood conditions of 415 target beneficiaries improved

In this regard, during the project period, the strategic intervention addressed  271 direct and  1200  indirect beneficiaries to date. As a result of implementation of livelihood/Income generating Activities, the project has achieved the following outputs/changes. It is envisaged  that these outputs could contribute to improved/increased level of income for target beneficiaries, as depicted below:

Regarding to SHGs

Each individual member of the 60 SHG is saving birr 20/month for future investment and in some cases,  such as Delgi   saving rate is grew from birr 20  to 30/month

Saving amount of the three groups  grew from zero to birr 20000 to date.

The members have taken good lesson on saving and they developed their saving culture

The social interaction among the group members has been increased and they have got  it as  a means of solving their social problems

30% of the trained women increased confidence and opened up their eyes for other business opportunities, such as: petty trade and  home-based hair dressing.

Regarding to the 60 marginalized peasants provided with the farming oxen,

previously, the targeted households had farm land that was rented out for Non Negede Woyto farmers. But, by now  using the farming oxen, the targeted households  planted their own plot. i.e  transferring from share-cropping to “owned & managed” type of land tenure.

Few targets started renting additional farm  and planting for their own additional income.

After the provision of water pumps, few farmers started producing legumes crops and potato through irrigation. For example, one HH produced 8 Qs of potato

Previously, the HHs and their children were the laborers of  the framers of  Non Negede Woyto community, but now they are fully engaged on their farm

In general, the quality life of  the targets is being improved to some extent as the result of the project.

Crop production per HH  increased than ever.  For example, please see the attached case story.

By now the targets can afford  payments  in cash for fertilizers and improved seeds

They started to become members of agricultural cooperatives which established by non Negede Woyto community  near to them and this is being a good entry for a social integration

Their nutritional status and food security is being improved as their income is increasing

The community also started exercising gender mainstreaming among the members by privileging women for  service provisions.

Handicraft Producers’ Cooperative.

After they have got the training , they started producing  marketable products rather than basketry

They started managing their startup capital properly to supply  the inputs for their work

Apicultural Cooperatives.

Their technical Capacity  improved as the result of the training provided

They transferred the bee colonies from traditional beehives onto modern ones

They started harvesting honey for example, i n case Mitrha Abawarka kebele  they harvested 48 Kg ( 2256 Birr)

Currently the new bee colonies, with the traditional beehives, have been successfully adapted to the local environment and  the number of bee colonies is increased in Chachalewa  Kebele.

Targets are being familiarized with this  new livelihood scheme. Because this community is not familiarized with this IGA  before.

Result 2:- Access to education enhanced for 160 school children in Bahir Dar

city and in Mitrha Abawarka kebele (North Gondar).

access to education, tutorial and TVET

Conducive  environment in teaching and learning has been created in between the targeted children and  the school community

The  support has created a sense of equality  among students

The children could attend their school throughout  the year / being free from dropout

Good performance progressively seen from semester to semester

TVET graduates  have been qualified for employment opportunity as first step

Result 3:- Increased Awareness created for local leaders and the community:-

As the result of the program launching, the government key stakeholders have been clear about the project purpose and the overall status of the community and they fully engaged throughout the implementation process

The government offices stated to customize development activities to the marginalized  community groups.  For example,  in Chankie Bergen Kebele,(Takusa Woreda) three farmers from Negede Woyto Community adopted hand pump water  from the agricultural office and they inspiring the other community groups to have the same service



                                                                                                                                Hand pump water provided by the government

Local leaders and heads of sector offices began to express their concern on issues of marginalization. For instance, a case of violence/attack against a school girl by members of mainstream society convicted in the woreda court, resulting in a penalty of  Birr 1,500 against the guilty.

Issues of displacement and housing problems of Negede  woyto social group in Bahir Dar city got attention by decision makers. For instance, land registration cards are issued for Negede woyto social groups when land inventory is carried out in Tana kebele. Likewise a survey on housing problem of Negede Woyto social groups has been conducted recently in Bahir Dar city.

The government heads and community leaders have taken the initiative to incorporate   the development needs  of the marginalized community in their  inclusive plan

They started to encourage community participation in which the marginalized groups  could fully involve

As a result of CC, the community started to share social events with the non Negede Woyto community groups

The attitude  of the local government at North Gondar is changed more than expected after conducting their first visit to the targeted groups.

The community started to claim for their development constraints

The local government is influenced since the project served the government as an alarm about the  marginalized community issues and it recognized the community's problem

A  change agent has been emerged among the community to positively influence the others for new thinking regarding to empowerment

Result 4:- Improved capacity of local institutions to support improvements for

marginalized groups.

Water supply

34 households/134 family members in Mitsirha Abawarka ( Godar Zuria ) started using safe and clean water

They became free from  water born diseases and  cases those can be resulted from water born diseases have been decreased i.e cholera and others

personal hygiene improved

Decreased time and labor spent by women and girls for fetching water from distance places. Hence more time is available for education and other productive tasks than ever before.

Water users committee consisting of 7 people established at village level and the community ownership improved and they manage the maintenances of the  water tap by themselves

Increased capacity of water users committee achieved through training on maintenance, utilization and management of the scheme.

Increased participation of village residents achieved in mobilizing resources available in the area they live and  they started to save monthly contribution to ensure sustainability.

Capacity of 6 local institutions  improved

CCC started to  contribute to curb existing exclusion practices against minorities.

The Negede Woyto social groups are represented in the CCC leadership. 2 persons are included in the management committee.

The CCC is providing elders and people with disability with a monthly stipend of birr 200 and some are from marginalized group.

The Community care and support  coalition (CCC) started to mobilize  resource

The capacity of Taytu Girls Sport Club improved to contribute towards girls empowerment and social inclusion.

Social inclusion increased as the club registered 3 non-NegedeWoyto girls as members of the club.

Increased level of confidence achieved with intensive field  trainings.

Tthe capacity of  Medihin Traffic Safety Club improved to serve the community they live in, thereby encouraging inclusiveness. As a result, issues of social marginalization are made to be incorporated in to the GTP plan at sub city level.

Capacity of Negede Woyto Children’s Affair Club increased to contribute to improved relation between the school community and the Negede Woyto children in Kulkual  Meda School.

Number  of cases of conflicts arising from discrimination of Negede Woyto children reduced to 50%.

Capacity of existing physical infrastructures (such as: intra-village roads, local bridge and the public toilets) improved in minority village located in Tanake bele of Bahir Dar city.

The maintenance work of the local bridge in minority village and the intra-village road     opened up for use  and the community is being severed by them

As the result of toilet construction and maintenance, open defecation has been decreased, environmental sanitation improved, the community prevented from communicable diseases and the community started using  safely and overall the community health improved

Result 5:- Networking and Collaboration strengthened between the project and key stakeholders

2 offices arranged for field officers at Maksegnit (Gondar Zuria woreda) and Delgi Towns (Taqussa woreda).

As a result of multi-stakeholders workshop conducted at Delgi town, strong link created with local government and sector offices at woreda level.

Almost all relevant sector offices have agreed to include issues of marginalization in their plan.

MOUs signed with relevant offices prior to implementation of activities.

Office of Water Development in Gondar Zuriaworeda supported the project by assigning experts to provide training for 7 members of the Water Users Committee, select the construction site and oversee the overall water development activities.

Office of Finance and Local Economic Development in Gondar Zuria and Taqussa woreda collaborated the project by providing technical advices and offices for the field officers.

As per of the MOUs signed with government offices, they started to contribute their roles and responsibilities  to follow up the overall activities of the project to a assure  suitability

3. Changes in the internal and external  that are affecting the strategic interventions.

A) Internal Factors/environments affecting changes:

The behavior of Negede Woyto is by itself a challenge to reach consensus during meetings and discussion forums especially in the first trench

budget limitation to provide enough working capitals to the ultra poor  Negede Woyto communities

Lack of papyrus in their locality is a challenge for women’s handicraft group.

Attitude, beliefs… with in the minds of minorities are the invisible powers which impede them not to see beyond the usual thing. This has made the social group to be resistant and skeptic of new interventions.

In some  cases, conflict of interest among group members

staff turn over

Wide coverage of project site  and hard to reach  as compare  with the capacity of the implementer ( lack vehicle for monitoring)

B) External Factors/environments affecting progresses include:

Prices escalation to conduct activities as per of the project agreement

Members of taskforce units and leaders of sector offices were too busy to provide extra support for some of the project activities  to execute as per of the plan

Attitude of mainstream society in rural areas might hinder social inclusion, particularly in terms of using common water points and sharing same prayer places.

Lack of vehicle/transport was a problem for the staffs  to accomplish their tasks effectively.

The budget planned for stipend is too small to cover the ever rising cost of food.

4. Recommendations  and future plans

The project should have its  own vehicle especially to monitor and to perform the planned activities effectively and efficiently

More budget for supplementary food, should be allocated

sorting out potential  intervention areas which  are highly familiar with community  and focusing on them

Awareness rising  on social inclusion and/or exclusion  must be conducted by  integrating  with Non Negede Woyto community groups

Organizing women in sheep raring/fattening. There is huge potential for sheep production, and the demand for this activity is increased.

Supporting minority women residing in Delgi area with financial support to work on petty trades.

Market linkages should  be significantly facilitated

The  targeting  methodology should include  Non Negede Woyto community in order to  reduce social exclusion

Conducting review meeting with relevant stakeholders, government representatives, local decision makers, CBOs, Faith-based Organizations.. at regular basis

Training on appreciative Inquiry is required to bring about positive change in the marginalized communities mind setting.

Some Government sectors' commitment was not as expected from the project's perspective . For example Tana sub-city TVEDO was not  unexpectedly  cooperative for IGA .

5. Lessons  learned to date

If  the  project activities are accompanied by memorandum of understating  (MOUs) with government stakeholders,  they will be fruitful to satisfy the target groups.

In some selected areas, it is better to focus  on  individual income generating activities rather  than group IGAs.

Assigning local facilitators/ animators from the targeted community  may create a good opportunity in trust and to mobilize the community for the intended objectives

We  learned  so far, the target selection  methodology should be designed properly by consulting with the local community as the nature of the project activity

The interventions so far made in rural areas have created motivation and inspiration for improved life in these social groups; despite women’s resistance to new interventions.

During the project period, we have learnt that considerable changes can happen in the life of these small minority groups in less than 3-5 years time. Because, we have seen that these marginalized groups are suffering from poverty and discrimination while they are living amidst plenty of resources.

This strategic intervention can open the eyes of marginalized people towards the agrarian potential immensely available in their locality.

6. Expenditure to date :-

The financial report is  presented in separate worksheet. In this narrative report, variances regarding  to budget utilization will be discussed. In general, the  financial expenditure to date (i.e. in the project period is reckoned  at Birr 1,964,359.00 ( 95.14%) of the planned budget for the project period.

7- Declaration of compliance :-

 On the first place to be functional as a local charity, our organization has renewed its registration license by fulfilling all the requirements as per of the  new Ethiopian Charities and Societies'  legislation.

Alem Children Support Organization (ACSO)  is complying with all the rules and regulations set by Ethiopian Charities and Societies Law and its directives. We are also adhered to the principles of CSSP and its  internal rules and guidelines.



Regarding to 30/70 budget  allocation, it was planned  in birr 447058.00 for administration  which  is 21.65 % of the total grant,  1,617,597.00 birr for program and it was 78.35 % of the total budget. Accordingly, the performance shows 444058.00  Birr has been spent for administration  and   1522574.91.00 birr was also spent for program. This performance  shows 21.50/73.74 in percent consecutively.  In  addition to this, the other significant concern about declaration of compliance is  the 90/10  issue which should be clearly seen during the implementation of the project.

Therefore, during the implementation of the project, the allocated budget in cash and in kind was incorporated  as necessary with the contribution of our organization, the local administration and the  community in different components of the project. For example, while the intra-village red ash road and local bridge construction, most of the resource mobilization was  done by the sub-city and the community. Similarly, in the other project components, the community labor cost, the provision of local materials like sand for water tap construction, the provision of hand water pump from the government and  the contribution  for the administration cost by ACSO  has kept the organization's compliance with the 90/10 section of the Charities and Societies Law



It is clear that to keep our organization's compliance with the expected boundaries from the government, ACSO has signed the  project agreement with the concerned  government bodies and it was  governed by the rules and regulations throughout the implementation period of the project. As per of the stated roles and  responsibilities of  the partners, they were jointly implementing the project especially by providing technical support, monitoring and  practicing the existing policies.

Budget shift and purchases

 Concerning over utilization above 15% budget received during the project period; we made a budget shift from activity 4.7(support Negede Woyto Development Association) to activity 1.3(Provision of oxen for needy Negede Woyto farmers) and from activity 1.5.1(seed money support )to activity 1.2.2. (Provision of fishing boat support for "Eseydebir" fishing cooperatives).In the case of purchase of capital goods such as laptop, originally we planned to purchase by Birr 14,000.00 due to inflation we bought Birr 17,700.00; 3,700.00 birr shifted from activity 6.1.8 (Desk top Computer). ACSO also purchase desktop computer to facilitate the SPG1  Activity; here we charged CSSP Birr 2800.00 and the remaining balance from matching fund (from ACSO’s own Source).  In the project, it was planned to construct two public toilets. But due to inflation, by consulting and  requesting  CSSP for prior approval, we built one public toilet.

All the procurements were also being  executed  with prior approval of CSSP.



8. How well do you think your organization has delivered on planned cooperation with the primary stakeholders?



 8- Cooperation with primary/key stakeholders:-

Our organization has delivered the planned cooperation as per of the project agreement signed with the concerned bodies. As a  result, the project was properly contributing to the intended objectives. So, the contributions of  key stakeholders was also significantly played an important role for the the accomplishments of the project.



Local administration offices and government  sector offices, particularly offices of Finance and Local Economy Development, Small and Micro Enterprises Development, Education, Cooperative Promotion Agency and Women, Youth and Children Affairs, are key stakeholders to our organization while implementing this project.  These structures at Zone, Woredas and Sub-cities  were very significant primary stakeholders to support our project.  It is clear that  our organization as implementing agent,  it was the key organization to  lead and facilitate the project but it was impossible to execute the project activities without the cooperation of the government  key stakeholders.  Therefore, the scope of the cooperation and partnership was not  limited  to the practical roles and responsibilities of the partners. But it was also bounded by  official agreement  based on the signed  project document.



In general, during the implementation of the project, the roles of these partners was very significant  in terms of providing land,  cost share, giving guidance and in placing procedures on  targeting and organizing  beneficiary groups, launching  the  significance of the program as well as  monitoring the overall implementation of the project. To sum up,  most of the key partners were contributing to the project from their perspectives. However, in one sub city, we  faced a challenge to be provided with a shed for  Bereket bakery targets, and this activity was not executed as per of the planned cooperation.

Since our organization had a strong partnership with the local key stakeholders in terms of the above issues,  our organization was communicating  and sharing  information with our key stakeholders through quarter and annual reports, and also using the GO/NGO forums. ACSO has built strong network with relevant government offices through establishing 5 task force units in 4 rural woredas, 1 for each and the balance 1 task for unit at Bahir Dar.


Comments