Performance Assessment SARDP

The Sida-Amhara Rural Development Program (SARDP) Phase III started in July 2004 and continues until June 2010. The program encompasses support to a number of beneficiary organizations at regional level as well as support to 30 woredas in East Gojjam and South Wollo zones. In the third phase of the program the technical assistance support has been focused to the 30 program woredas (out of which 14 were added in Phase III). Program support has also been provided to Environmental Protection, Land Administration and Use Authority (EPLAUA), Micro Small Trade Industry Enterprises Promotion Agency (MSTIEPA), Bureau of Agriculture and Rural Development (BoARD), Amhara Regional Agricultural Research Institute (ARARI), Women’s Affairs Bureau (WAB), Amhara Credit and Savings Institution (ACSI) and the Program Coordinating Unit (PCU). The program has emphasized a participatory approach in the implementation of all activities on Woreda and Kebele-level.

Technical assistance to SARDP III is provided by the ORGUT-Scanagri consortium that supports the implementation of the program in cooperation with the Ethiopian consulting company Haddis Consult Ltd.

The consultancy service focuses on building capacity in human resources at woreda level in order to strengthen the woreda’s role as facilitator and mediator with the kebeles and the communities, and as development managers. The technical assistance has an advisory function only; the implementation responsibility remains with the regular woreda organization. In addition to capacity building in human resource development the consultancy service focuses on system establishment/development, innovative ideas and maintaining of development dynamics and strategic thinking and result based management. The performance of international and national advisory staff to SARDP is assessed once a year in a formal exercise and findings a re presented to client and donor as an input to improving programme performance.