As an integral component of pre-project assessment and appraisal, a delegation team from CRDA and the implementing local organization (EDA) made a field visit and held an in-depth discussion with the Woreda’s officials on December 7, 2009 regarding the feasibility of the envisaged projects.

Led by CRDA Executive Director, Dr. Meshesha Sheweraga, the visiting team comprises Ato Kiflemariam G/Wold, Special Advisor to the Executive Director, CRDA Water and Sanitation Forum Coordinator, Ato Aychiluhum Goshu, CRDA Publication and Information Officer, Ato Tesfaye Desalegn as well as EDA North Shoa Program Coordinator, Ato Nigussie Hailu.

The touring team conferred with Ato Fekade Tefera , Kewet Woreda Administrator, Ato Ayichew Ameha, Woreda Administration Office Head, Ato Mekonnen Berhe, Woreda Water Office Head, and Ato Tamirat Nigatu, Woreda Water Office Expert.

He said CRDA has mobilized some friendly Ethiopians in the Diaspora to contribute their share in the poverty reduction and food security initiatives of the country. “Though this time the fund raised by the Diaspora is considerably low, CRDA appreciated their goodwill and has a firm determination to inject the money on feasible development projects that could instigate them for further contribution for the development of their home country.”

According to the Executive Director, CRDA selected EDA as an implementing partner on a basis of a much competitive criteria. EDA is a member of CRDA and is one of the thriving local NGOs operating in North Shoa, and is well accustomed to the socio-cultural and geographic settings of the intended project intervention Woreda. EDA is named the best-performing NGO of the Millennium and received awards for its outstanding performance in the Amhara Region. He said given its well-demonstrated experience in community–based integrated development activities, it is in full faith that CRDA selected EDA as a reliable partner towards implementing such valuable projects in the Woreda.

The visiting team and Woreda officials deliberated in-depth on areas of project intervention options based on the gravity of the problems, number of anticipated projects’ beneficiaries and accessibility of the envisaged projects for ensuing monitoring and evaluation. In due course of deliberation, the team was provided with various feasibility studies of potential water projects commissioned by the Woreda Water Office. Accordingly, three rural localities named Mengistina Jat, Debir and Ayabir have been prioritized and provisionally selected as intended areas of intervention.

The officials said that the selected localities are food insecure and low land areas where the provision of drinking water is an acute problem. They said the potable water coverage in the Woreda is less than 50 percent. According to the officials, most of the residents in the areas depend on unprotected pond waters which evidently trigger various water-born diseases. Moreover, women have to travel long miles in search of drinking waters, where they could be exposed for sexual assaults and other gender-based violence.

The officials commended CRDA-EDA’s move towards intervening in the potable water supply scheme which they said are the overwhelming challenge in the Woreda. Since there no other NGOs engaged in such scheme in the Woreda, it could set a good example for other vibrant NGOs to follow suit and help plug such most valuable and desperately needed development gaps. The officials also pledged to extend the desired supports for the smooth implementation of the projects.

A consensus has been reached that CRDA Water and Sanitation Forum Coordinator, Ato Aychiluhum, along with Ato Nigussie Hailu of EDA and pertinent Woreda representative, would make field visits sometime in the following week in a bid to seek firsthand information in the provisionally selected implementation areas.

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