Regional Reports - the European External Action Service

parents and community members extended more supports for the programme, while government
wanted to assist expansion of the coverage.
Then the CB Office wrote a letter endorsing a funding proposal of the founder (Afera Alemu) for
consideration by the UNICEF regional office in Gambella. Accordingly, the regional Education
Bureau endorsed the proposal and is scheduled to be supported by UNICEF.
On the other hand, some of the NSA consulted expressed the concern that lack of skilled and
experienced counterparts in the regional and local government structures is hindering or affecting
the quality of cooperation and dialogue. As a result, for example, projects of NSA are treated not
as integral parts of the overall development endeavour, and this leads to reduced cooperation in
facilitating smooth operation. Under the given regional context this is naturally expected, and
both state and NSA should be supported to facilitate sharing of experiences from within and
without the region. The BOFED has plan of developing regional guideline for government-NGO
collaboration and establishing regular forum for dialogue. It would be beneficial if this endeavour
is made participatory and all inclusive.
7. Engagement in Policy Dialogue
Much can not be said about the regional experiences in policy dialogue between NSA and the
governmental counterparts. The nature of project activities implemented are fragmented, hence
potentials of compiling information and lessons having policy-level relevance is low. As
formality, sector bureaus extend invitations and solicit participation of relevant NSA segments.
For example, the Education Bureau invites NGOs and the Teachers Association to participate in
the annual education forum. But, so far participating NSA did not use the opportunity to initiate
evidence-based dialogue on the performance of the education sector programme.
Because of the status of organization, membership-based Associations of Youth and Women and
other local level CSOs, so far, are not involved in Woreda and Regional Council meetings.
Despite these current contexts, the following perspective from the deputy head of BOFED points
the evolving appreciation on the importance of policy dialogue by NSA.
Since resources are limited, government can not try-out or venture into all kinds of alternatives.
On the other hand NSA are courageous in taking risks and experimenting with alternatives. If
they succeed in demonstrating better results, government goes along with in promoting and upscaling.
Hence, we would like to see more of such actors in the region. Ato Oman Omulu,
D/Head of BOFED.
To facilitate effective policy dialogue supports are needed for action researching, sectoral
networking and for regularizing forums for discussion between the key actors.
8. Engagement in Political Dialogue
Following the bloody conflict of, 2003 the regional government has sought the support of NSA
and the regional intelligentsia to assist the process of conflict transformation. In the process two
NSA actors, GPDC and GIA were formed, and have participated to varying scale in arbitration
and facilitating dialogue. It looks the initial momentum is not maintained, and both organizations
have not scaled-up or intensified their engagements.
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