Towards Sustaining Social Accountability
Under the theme ‘Enhancing Effectiveness and Ensuring Institutionalization of Social Accountability’, VNG International organized a two-day Ethiopia Social Accountability Program (ESAP3) Review Workshop in Adama (from 11 to 12 May 2023) and Hawassa, Bahir Dar and Dire Dawa (from 16 to 17 May 2023).
Conducted with the objective of reviewing the program implementation progress and amendment plans, the workshop attracted more than 350 attendees, drawn from Social Accountability, Gender and Social Inclusion and Monitoring and Evaluation Experts and Program Coordinators of Implementing Partners. Nearly half of the participants were field level Woreda Social Accountability Experts, bringing the frontline project implementation experiences and practices to the workshop.
“Citizens’ engagement with government to address service delivery issues has long been a challenge in Ethiopia, and thanks to the Ethiopia Social Accountability Program, which has brought remarkable improvements in the service provision in the country,” said Meskerem Girma, VNG International ESAP Team Leader, during the workshop in Adama, while acknowledging the contributions of all involved in the program implementation.
During the course of the workshop, the attendees got a chance to share best practices and lessons of the program implementation. They also obtained an in-depth look at the various opportunities that are available to institutionalize the program’s impact.
The intensive workshop included presentations, group exercises, plenary sessions as well as amendment of plans for the remaining program period.
Ethiopia Social Accountability Program (ESAP3), being implemented by 69 local CSOs in 416 woredas throughout the country, is expected to officially phase out in May 2024.