Quality Assurance, SARDP III

The Sida-Amhara Rural Development Program (SARDP) Phase III started in July 2004. 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).

Technical assistance is provided by ORGUT-Scanagri (OSC), a Swedish-Danish consortium that supports the implementation of the program with the assistance of a national firm, Haddis Consult Ltd. In February 2006 the contract with OSC was extended to June 2008 after a competitive bidding process.

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 manager. 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.