| 4. In which ways is the initiative creative and innovative?
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The groups operate on the basis of common plans and objectives. The plans for discussion and the attendant activities which group members engage in collaboration include: fighting Harmful Traditional Practices (HTP), violence against women, Fight against early marriage: Female Genital Mutilation (FGM/C) and the fight to end the practice. The concerted effort by all concerned stakeholders has contributed to a decline in different forms of VAW in the country. FGM prevalence declined from 74% in 2005 to 23% for the 0-14 age group in 2011 (EDHS 2005 and welfare monitoring survey 2011), abduction declined from 23.3% in 1997 to 12.7% in 2009/10. On the other hand, the prevalence of early marriage has shown a significant decline from 21.4% in 2009/10 to 8% in 2012/13.
The group also engages in community policing and various IGAs that help augment women’s income i.e. production of honey, production of fruits and vegetables, poultry production, animal fattening and dairy production. Different type of saving and credit facility mechanism like group, individual, social, agri input etc saving type is set up where women can avail themselves of credit from their own saving.
With a view to support girl’s education, the group follows up and ensures that girls attend school and further members facilitate study time for girls and award them prizes for good performance. Moreover, material support is provided for girls that come from poor families. The women development army structure is proving to be a good promoter of adult education. Within each group, all illiterate women are encouraged to attend the program. There is close follow up as the structure of the group, composed of women within the same neighborhood and close day to day contact, allows frequent follow-up of every household. As the result significant achievements have been registered at all level of education such as: the gross enrolment rate of Kindergarten has increased from 2.2% in 2003/04 to 6.2% in 2012/2013 . Achieving universal primary education (including alternative basic education /ABE) is one of the MDGs where Ethiopia is well on track. An official report by MOE by 2003/04 G.C and 2012/2013 G.C) shows that primary school gross enrolment rate has risen from 68.4% in 2003/2004 to 96.4 % by 2012/2013. Whereas, Net enrolment rate for primary level (1-8) has risen from 57.4 in 2003/2004 to 85.9 % by 2012/2013.
With regards to secondary school, an increase in the number of schools has led to an improvement in enrollment in the past fourteen years. The total enrollment of students at first cycle of secondary education (9-10) reaches 38.4% in 2012/2013 G.C from 22.1% in 2003/04. Second cycle of secondary school enrolment increases to 9.5 % in 2012/2013 G.C from 3.2% in 2003/04. The share of girls in grades 9-10 increased from 34.6% in 2004/05 to 47.3% in 2012/2013.
In addition to common plans, members also draw on their own individual plans. The focus here is on the 16 health packages. The approach of creating networks of women with a model (exemplary) woman leader that shines in implementing the contents of the health extension package creates competitive environment among member households of the network to emulate their leader. As the result, improvements are made in the rate of skilled birth delivery as the WDA groups closely follow pregnant women among their network to use skilled delivery services provided in Health institutions. Child and maternal mortality rates have shown significant declines: current data shows child mortality has gone down to 55/1000 from a high of 123/1000 in 2005 and a drop to 59/1000 in 2011.
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| 5. Who implemented the initiative and what is the size of the population affected by this initiative?
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Time to time, the successful implementation and sound exercise of the Women Development Army has been advanced with the proactive and active involvement of local government or administrative structure. Basically, the government structure which is responsible for women’s affairs is undertaking different activities aimed at building their capacity. Line sectors, such as education, health, environmental protection, agriculture, finance and so on have demonstrated their effort and stack in order to quench the desire of those groups.
The women’s machinery in every locality plays an important role in terms of supporting the WDA. In collaboration with all concerned stakeholders including the WDA, the machinery engages in planning, creating networks and coordination, follow up and monitoring of activities. Women’s associations actively engage in recruiting women to ensure wider reach and beneficiation. Sectoral office also support in planning and monitoring aspects.
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| 6. How was the strategy implemented and what resources were mobilized?
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Basically, the structures have been instrumental in the implementation of government policies and strategies and thereby promoting the human rights of women in the social, economic and political arenas. Surprisingly enough, it is cost effective and volunteer driven platform.
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| 7. Who were the stakeholders involved in the design of the initiative and in its implementation?
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On women’s economic empowerment, progress was made in strengthening the delivery of services of three key institutions providing business development services to women.
With regards to secondary school, an increase in the number of schools has led to an improvement in enrollment in the past fourteen years. The total enrollment of students at first cycle of secondary education (9-10) reaches 38.4% in 2012/2013 G.C from 22.1% in 2003/04.
Iimprovements are made in the rate of skilled birth delivery as the WDA groups closely follow pregnant women among their network to use skilled delivery services provided in Health institutions. Child and maternal mortality rates have shown significant declines: current data shows child mortality has gone down to 55/1000 from a high of 123/1000 in 2005 and a drop to 59/1000 in 2011. In addition, progress is noted in household level sanitation through improvements in water quality, proper handling and storage of water, hand washing, latrine use and disposal of faces and solid waste as well as environmental cleanliness at household and community levels
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| 8. What were the most successful outputs and why was the initiative effective?
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Each local administrative structures has already integrated in the planning, implementation, M&E phases of the respected kebeles compounded endeavours through proper follow up and reporting system. As a result, they have working hand-in-gloves with the view to recording progresses and evaluating the executed activities
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| 9. What were the main obstacles encountered and how were they overcome?
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The main aim of the associations is to solve the socio-economic problems of their members and to ensure that members are indeed beneficiaries of the ongoing development in the country through adequate participation in the process.
However, the major obstacle is lack of capacity of individual women themselves, because, they are not educated and have been suppressed with longstanding and depravedly backward attitudes and gender disparity.
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