ERTTP expanding its reach

By Our Staff Reporter

The board of the Ethiopian Rural Travel and Transport Program (ERTTP), set up to expand rural road infrastructure and capacity building in the rural areas, has decided to expand its reach to 100 woredas selected from each zone in the country.
The decision has been passed following the successful launch of the infrastructure development and capacity building pilot projects in eight woreda’s selected from eight regional states.
Ato Tesfamichael Nahusenay, general manager of the Ethiopian Roads Authority and the program’s secretary of board, said the program was initially introduced by the Ethiopian Roads Authority. “However, considering that ERA alone can not deal with matters of rural development and taking in to account the role other sectors can play, the program now encompasses various ministries, commissions, non-governmental institutions and regional bodies” he underscored.
According to him the study on the 100 woredas will take place in two phases, while the terms of reference (TOR) and tender document for the first phase study that comprises 64 woredas is underway.
At the fourth meeting of the board that was held Thursday at the Ghion Hotel it was learnt that the fund for the execution of the study is obtained from World Bank, and the ADB group and the Norwegian Development Fund has contributed their share for the study that would take place at 16 woredas.
Ato Belay Ejigu, acting minister of Agriculture, said at the occasion that the attempt made by the board to make the program a stream line activity is of good importance. However, it should also be integrated and internalized by the various sector institutions.
He added that the program is highly dependent on external resources and recommended “we should try to solicit local resources and devise the projects based on available resources”
He added that the various institutions need to have similar and compatible work schedules such as giving trainings in an integrated manner.
The program has been going by the name Integrated Rural Development Program (IRDP), since the establishment of the board.