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About CRDA |
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Christian Relief and
Development Association (CRDA) is an indigenous non-profit umbrella
organization. It is an association of Non-Governmental Organizations
(NGOs) and Civil Society Organizations (CSOs) engaged in relief and
rehabilitation, developmental activities focusing on poverty
alleviation and policy advocacy and lobbying. It is the first legally
registered association of NGOs/CSOs operating in Ethiopia and serves as
a forum for collective vision and action. It allows resource
mobilization and the sharing of experiences for effective and sustained
impact. CRDA builds capacity to ensure efficiency and quality are met,
efforts are not duplicated and lessons can be learnt. All this is
geared towards championing societal transformation.
Establishment
When rains failed in most parts of former Wollo and Tigray provinces
of Ethiopia in the 1970s, famine set in and reached a critical stage
in 1973. The then existing government of Ethiopia finally
acknowledged the existence of one of the worst famines the provinces
had ever experienced. About that time, Government officials
approached church agencies for the latter's assistance in the relief
efforts. A meeting of churches was summoned to discuss the matter.
The meeting was called and thereafter participants continued to meet
regularly, resulting in the establishment of the Christian Relief and
Development Association (CRDA), in May 1973.
The Logo
“CRDA” stands for Christian Relief and Development Association. Its
name as well as the logo of an Ethiopian cross (shown across) are a
reminder of the Association’s early roots as an organization that
mobilized various churches in Ethiopia to respond to the grave
humanitarian situation of the time.
Today, CRDA’s membership has broadened significantly and many
secular and non-Christian religious organizations have joined the
Association, motivated by a basic commitment to serve all rather
than to promote any religious values. As such, the Association is
mindful of its stated value to be inclusive, that membership and
their staff come from a diverse range of faith and secular
backgrounds. Its membership has diverse missions and objectives,
and it has now begun a process of discussion among its members on
whether its name and logo should be retained.
Membership
At establishment in 1973, CRDA had 13 members. As of January
2007, this number has increased twenty times over to 283 member
agencies operating in Ethiopia. This number covers more than two
third of the NGOs operating in the country. Of CRDA’s total
membership, 69% (194) are local NGOs, and 31% (89) are
international. The membership operate throughout the country,
covering both urban and rural areas emphasizing food security,
rural and urban development, health, HIV/AIDS, education, water
and sanitation, infrastructure, good governance, environmental
protection, civic education, etc. Though they are varied in
their organization, activities and scope of intervention, all
CRDA members envision a society where human dignity,
justice, peace and equality prevail and needs are satisfied.
Click Here to read
more on the History and Evolution of CRDA
Click Here
to read more on the Organizational Objectives and
Services of CRDA
Click Here
to read more on CRDA's Mission and Functions
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