NGOs urged to contribute for GTP success

Addis Ababa, June 8 (WIC) – Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs of Ethiopia, Halemariam Desalegn, has called on non-governmental organizations (NGOs) to play their part for the success of the Growth and Transformation Plan (GTP) of the country.


The call was made here yesterday at a National Good Practice Day organized by Consortium of Christian Relief and Development Association (CCRDA) to recognize and celebrate the success of Ethiopian charities.


He said charity organizations operating in Ethiopia are expected to contribute immensely to the country’s national development and poverty alleviation endeavors.


“NGOs have made their own contribution to the economic growth registered in the country over the past years. We expect NGOs to play a more active and constructive role and thereby make a significant contribution to the success of the GTP,” he said.


The number of NGOs registering after the enactment of the new Civil Society Law and their development participation is increasing from time to time, he said.

“The average registration rate was 76 for the years 1950s to 2009, while it was 332 for the last two years and based on this figure the number of NGOs that will operate in Ethiopia will defiantly show a substantial increase in the coming years,” he said.


“This, once again, clearly depicts that the new law, in addition to its impact on speeding up and increasing registration, also provides a legal and conducive working environment for NGOs to discharge their duties in a responsible and transparent manner.”


Dr Meshesha Shewarega, Executive Director of CCRDA, on his part said the Consortium has been disseminating information and sharing good practices drawn from development projects carried out by member organizations.


Disseminating information and sharing good practices would help encouraging local communities and authorities to emulate and scale up the successful projects in their respective areas, he said

Meseret Gebremariam, Director General of the Federal Charities and Socaities Agency, on his part said 1,043 new organizations have so far been registered since the inception of the new COSs law.

On the occasion, some five NGOs were selected and honored for the outstanding role they played in changing the livelihoods of beneficiaries, it was learnt.

Present at the event were Health State Minister, Dr Kebede Worku, and Water and Energy Minister, Alemayehu Tegenu and represnatives of various NGOs.