Regional Reports - the European External Action Service

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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