Regional Reports - the European External Action Service

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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