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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i) Facilitate and provide decentralized small-scale funding programme to improve <strong>the</strong> access for<br />
<strong>the</strong> large numbers of emerging regional NSA.<br />
9. Benishangul Gumuz <strong>Regional</strong> Report<br />
1. General remarks on NSA at territorial level<br />
1.1. Background about BSG<br />
� Benishangul Gumuz Region is a multi-ethnic region where four indigenous (Berta, Gumuz,<br />
Boro Shinasha and Mao-Komo) and significant size of settlers from Nor<strong>the</strong>rn Ethiopia (since<br />
<strong>the</strong> early 1980s) live toge<strong>the</strong>r. The current population size of <strong>the</strong> region is projected to be<br />
560,000. In addition to <strong>the</strong> remoteness of <strong>the</strong> region from <strong>the</strong> centre, it is one of <strong>the</strong> most<br />
sparsely settled. Hence, developing infrastructure and making services available to <strong>the</strong><br />
population is an expensive undertaking.<br />
� Because of <strong>the</strong> predominant backward agricultural practices, primarily of <strong>the</strong> indigenous<br />
population (which is hunter ga<strong>the</strong>rer kind) and also because of absence of specially tailored<br />
extension package suited to <strong>the</strong> agro-ecology of <strong>the</strong> region, agricultural production and<br />
productivity in <strong>the</strong> region is very low. On top of this, <strong>the</strong> regional five-year development plan<br />
acknowledges that <strong>the</strong>re is a rapid deterioration of soil fertility, partly due to massive<br />
deforestation of forest resources. With <strong>the</strong> high level of dependency on rain-fed agriculture,<br />
variability in seasonal patterns of rainfall is also considered as a key challenge. Moreover,<br />
because of <strong>the</strong> remote location, low and undeveloped agricultural credit and marketing<br />
systems has been amongst <strong>the</strong> challenges to boosting production and productivity.<br />
� According to <strong>the</strong> regional five year development plan, attaining <strong>the</strong> education goal of <strong>the</strong><br />
MDG by 2015 is possible, and <strong>the</strong> region is working towards that end. By 2007, <strong>the</strong> gross<br />
school enrolment used to be 107.3 %, while <strong>the</strong> net enrolment was 83.6%. The participation<br />
of girls is about 89. High level of wastage (high drop-out and repetition) in <strong>the</strong> education<br />
systems is amongst <strong>the</strong> key challenges being addressed by <strong>the</strong> regional education sector<br />
partners.<br />
� Low implementation capacity in <strong>the</strong> public sector, across <strong>the</strong> different sectors and at <strong>the</strong><br />
different levels of administration is still one of <strong>the</strong> challenges being faced by <strong>the</strong> regional<br />
administration.<br />
� Ensuring equity in <strong>the</strong> basic services delivery is among <strong>the</strong> strategic issues being handled by<br />
<strong>the</strong> regional government. The regional administration is analysing equity at different layers.<br />
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