Monitoring Team’s Second Day Visit evaluated Progress in Abaya District. The team concluded Abaya’s Session of Monitoring.
On the second day of their monitoring visit, the team from Menschen für Menschen Switzerland (MfM CH) and the Ethio Wetlands and Natural Resources Association (EWNRA) continued fieldwork in Abaya District, engaging with around eleven beneficiaries including Cooperatives across several Kebeles.
The team visited beneficiaries in the areas of Hafursa Bungusa, Bengesa, Doko Chere, Kelaltu, Hase Gola, Bunata, Guangua Badiya, and Odo Mike, where they observed the impact of ongoing development projects and assessed the progress made since the program’s initiation.
A key highlight of the visit was the inauguration of a newly constructed office for the Gemeda SACCO (Savings and Credit Cooperative) in Hafursa Bungusa Kebele. The cooperative’s members warmly welcomed the visiting team, showcasing their new office space as a symbol of their growing success. Established in 2022 with a seed funding of 200,000 Birr from MfM CH, the Gemeda SACCO has made significant strides, increasing its capital to over 900,000 Birr in just two years. Among other visited activities the “Tutu” on spot spring water development which is built in Hafursa is already serving more than 150 people in the community.
The MfM CH team, including co-managers Claudio Capaul and Michael Kesselring, Country Representative Ato Getachew Zewdu, Dr. Martin Gunder, and Nadiya, expressed their satisfaction with the progress observed. They actively engaged with local leaders and beneficiaries, asking insightful questions to better understand how the projects were benefiting the targeted communities and helping to achieve the goals set out in the project plan.
Ato Afework Hailu, the Executive Director of EWNRA, and his team took notes during the discussions, keen to incorporate the feedback and recommendations provided by the MfM team to ensure continued improvement in project implementation.
Throughout the day, the monitoring team visited a variety of project sites. Notable among these were the Doko Multi-Purpose Cooperative in Doko Chere Kebele, which supports local farmers with various agricultural initiatives, as well as ox fattening projects in Kalaltu and Hafursa Kebeles. They also visited beneficiaries involved in Enset cultivation and Borena Heifer breeding in Odo Mike Kebele, as well as sheep rearing initiatives in the Hase Gola and Doko Chere areas.
The monitoring visit provided valuable insights into the effectiveness of the program and the positive changes it has brought to local communities. With the second day of monitoring now complete, the team will move on to Hambela Wamena Woreda for further assessments and visits to additional project beneficiaries.
The ongoing collaboration between MfM CH and EWNRA continues to play a vital role in supporting rural development, improving livelihoods, and fostering sustainable growth in Ethiopia.
