Issuance of Land Title Deed to Ethiopian: Cambodian Official

The land title deed being issued in Ethiopia promotes the developmental role of farmers and provides useful experience for other countries, the Cambodian Land Management and Administration Project Director said. While observing the issuance of certificates to farmers in West Shoa Zone of Oromia State, Swa Swan said the title deed creates sense of ownership among farmers and encourages them to wholeheartedly engage in development.
The Director said he has realized that farmers cared less for the land they owned prior to the issuance of the land title deed which effectively invigorated their feeling of ownership. Among the activities the government has been taking to improve the agriculture sector is the policy designed to improve productivity and the conferences held to inculcate them among the farmers offer valuable lessons to Cambodia, Swan said.
The traditional ways of measurement are also cost effective and pragmatic methods that could be replicated in Cambodia, he added. Some 18 percent of the 40 million Cambodians are reportedly farmers, the Director stated. He further said the collaboration of the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development with German Technical Cooperation (GTZ) in the issuance of the title deeds demonstrates the government's strong culture of working with humanitarian organizations. (WIC)

ODA Undertaking Over 24 Million Birr Development Projects

The Oromia Development Association (ODA) said it has been undertaking various development projects at a cost of over 24 million Birr during the current Ethiopian budget year. DA General-Manager, Awad Jibril told ENA on Tuesday that the projects mainly focus on reproductive health, non-formal education and food security program. Awad said the association has been providing reproductive health service to 700,000 people in 95 woredas.
Activities are underway to provide education on mothers and children health, family planning, the prevention of harmful traditional practices and HIV/AIDS to 13 million residents in the state. He said there are plans to strengthen the existing 122 youth clubs and establish eight new ones with a view to raising awareness on reproductive health among over one million youth. Awad said more than 28,200 people are attending non-formal education at 90 centers set up in rural localities of seven woredas in the state. Concerning food security programs, irrigation projects enabling to develop 372 hectares of land were constructed in Hararge last year. The supplying of select seeds as well as vegetables and fruits is underway to carry out farm development.
Awad said the construction of a dam enabling to develop 120 hectares of land is also underway. (ENA)

European Commission funds Civil Society Organisations

European Commission awards 9.5 Million Ethiopian Birr for capacity building of Civil Society Organisations. Five new grant contracts have been awarded from the European Commission Civil Society Fund in Ethiopia.
The European Commission Delegation in Ethiopia has signed grant contracts with five Ethiopian Civil Society Organisations (CSOs) for the implementation of projects under the EC Civil Society Fund Programme. The five new grants have been awarded to Ethiopian Initiative for Development (EID), Poverty Action Network of Civil Society in Ethiopia (PANE), Somali Pastoralist Development Forum (SPDF), Pastoralist Forum Ethiopia (PFE) and the Guraghe People's Self-Help Development Organisation (GPSDO).
In order to ensure an equitable distribution of resources across all regions and administrations, the 2007 Call for Proposals had earmarked some of the funds specifically for emerging regions of Ethiopia. Accordingly, the SPDF project will be based in Somali region and the PFE project in Afar region. One project will be carried out in SNNPR, while the other two will have a nationwide focus. All projects aim at building the capacity of Ethiopian Civil Society Organisations as well as encouraging the formation of new networks and partnerships.
The Civil Society Fund (CSF) is a 10 Million Euro Programme of support to Non-State Actors (NSA) to be implemented over a 5 year period (2006-2010) and is financed by the EC through the European Development Fund (EDF) in cooperation with the Federal Democratic Republic of Ethiopia. The programme aims to increase engagement of NSA to dialogue with their constituency, among the NSA sector itself and between NSA and government while also building the capacity of local NSA to enable them to be stronger development partners. (Press release)

Female Enrolment Jumps over 47 Per cent in East Wollega Zone

The East Wollega Zone Education Office said it has enrolled 5,685 girls this academic year. Planning and Evaluation Expert with the office , Regasa Gobesho, said 111,000 female students are attending schools in 17 woredas of the zone while the close to 6,000 girls joined schools this academic year following the agitation carried out by the office and educational experts at all levels.
The expert added that construction of new schools in areas where the facilities did not exist has contributed to the growth in the number of female students. Currently 234,000 students, out of which 47 percent are girls, have been attending schools in the zone with the exception of Nekempte town, he indicated. (ENA)
Road Built With Over 290mln Birr to Link Dire Sheikh Hussein Shrine with Zones Goes Operational
The road built with over 290 million birr to link Dire Sheikh Hussein Shrine with three zones has gone operational. The 170 kilometer road linking the shrine with Bale, Arsi and West Harraghe zones was inaugurated by Oromia State Chief Administrator Abadula Gemeda.
Public relations Service Head with Ethiopian Roads Authority, Samson Wondimu, said the road, in addition to reinforcing the tourism activities in Dire Sheikh Hussein, will help to speed up the economic growth of the localities as farmers in Bale, Arsi and West Harrarghe zones can easily market their produces. Oromia State Chief Administrator Abadula Gemeda said the celebration of Id Al Adha in Dire Sheikh Hussein demonstrates the special respect the state government has for the shrine.
He further said the shrine should further be developed and all the necessary infrastructures be fulfilled as it is an icon of faith, history and tourism. Abadula handed over special awards to various offices and bodies that contributed to the celebration of the holiday in Dire Sheikh Hussein Shrine. Federal and state officials, ministers, ambassadors and religious leaders, the faithful and invited guests attended the inauguration and celebration of Arafa. (WIC)