Woreda Transformation (MSWT)

Multisectoral Woreda Transformation (MSWT): the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development of Ethiopia

Inspired by the SDG statement, “Transforming our world: the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development”, Ethiopia embarks in developing this strategy to bring about sustainable development at household level through transforming district/community development. The goal of Multisectoral Woreda Transformation is to contribute to the nation’s growth and development efforts of ending poverty and hunger, and promote wellbeing. We aspire to achieve four strategic themes (4 L’s) at household level that drives nationwide transformational development: livelihood, healthy lifestyle, literacy and longevity/life-expectancy.

Why Woreda Transformation approach?

Inadequate social services, limited economic opportunities and equity gaps are among the main hurdles keeping households in vicious cycle of poverty.
Pressing demands of the community requiring bold moves particularly in converting the youth bulge into demographic dividend
Sustainable development requires inclusive growth, preserving the environment and maintaining peace: leaving no one behind

What is Multisectoral Woreda Transformation?

Woreda Transformation is an aspiration to see a transformed Ethiopia in each woreda (district) with household having all essential (basics) necessities of modern world of 21st century. Everyone is keen to have a decent income and a habitable house or adequate shelter as well as get herself/himself and children educated and live long.
Woreda Transformation is an approach that translates the aspiration into a reality through bold reforms and transformative actions, national transformation begins at household. The mainstays of community development are mobilizing the society, making service providers high performers and creating trustworthy local leadership. It focuses on transforming woreda (district) development as woredas are the closest programmatically manageable and politically sound governance structures.
Woreda Transformation is a means to achieve our global commitment towards achieving sustainable development goals (SDGs). It is a tool to cascade macro level policies, strategies and roadmaps to micro level impacts at household and individual level, thereby ensuring inclusive development.

How can woreda Transformation be achieved as a multisectoral endeavour?

The three critical strategies to translate the aspiration of woreda transformation into action include:

Priority Packaging: sectoral programmes need to be prioritized and systematically packaged into community, service providing centres and woreda leadership interventions to ease communication among different stakeholders and tailor performance measures accordingly.
Partnership Promotion: Woreda transformation requires multisectoral collaboration among ministries as the first step of partnership to bring about synergy to maximize impact. Public sectors operating at woreda level and below should align their priorities and harmonize their activities to mobilize the community effectively.
Performance Parameter: Information on the four themes of household transformation, namely descent income, habitable living environment/house, literacy and life expectancy and their derivative monitoring indicators are crucial to track progress and make course correction timely.

What is unique about the Multisectoral Approach?

Multisectoral approach highlights on impacts at household level.
Allocating resources for prioritized agenda of the woreda regardless of whether the agenda falls in the mandate of the sector or not.
SDG is a global ambition to transform the world leaving no one behind.

What is accomplished so far?

MSWT Strategic document was prepared after series of consultation among sector ministries and agencies and field visits to Tekeze Basin. Ministerial Steering Committee and TWG were established. It is clearly stated in the strategic document that specific purpose grant needs to be established to finance multisectoral community development plan at woreda level.
After presentation to the PM, direction was set to select one woreda to proof the concept of change to ensure technical feasibility and document lessons on the ground before further implementation. Accordingly, Gimbichu Woreda in East Shoa, Oromia Regional State, was selected.
Sectors conducted baseline assessments and household survey was conducted by Central Statistics Agency. Investment cases were prepared by the sector ministries.
Some implementing ministries are undertaking projects in pilot woreda – Gimbichu, as stated below:
- Chefe-Donsa Health Centre Ergonomic & APTS: Based on infrastructure assessments to upgrade the health centre to improve working environment (ergonomic facility) and implement auditable pharmaceutical transaction system (APTS), design and bill of quantity is prepared. MoH has already expressed commitment to finance the upgrading of the facility and equipping the pharmacy.
- Community Pharmacy: To improve drug availability in the woreda and address complaints of the community-based health insurance scheme members, alternative drug dispensing facility - community pharmacy store that operates on the basis of revolving drug fund – will be built in Chefe-Donsa Town with seed capital to be injected by MoH; the town administration has allocated plot of land and engineering design is adopted.
- Road: Construction of 55 Km asphalt road from Bishoftu – Chefe Donsa -Sendafa is in progress.
- Agriculture & rural development: capacity building trainings and supportive supervisions were held to oversee crop and livestock development, promotion of mechanization technology, market development, and soil and water conservation activitie. Cluster-based community agricultural mechanization service was established by the financial & technical support of the Ministry of Agriculture.
- Social Affairs: The Ministry of Labour & Social Affairs (MoLSA) in partnership with its regional counterpart has recruited, trained (a three-month training) and deployed high school complete social workers to each kebele and they have started undertaking activities in their respective kebeles.
- Water supply & electrification projects: Based on the agreement entered by Ministry of Health, Ministry of Water, Irrigation & Electricity, and Ministry of Education with CIFF Philanthropy, Gimbichu Woreda is beneficiary of the project among the ten pilot woredas. CIFF has contracted out the projects to implementing partners. The implementing partners have already conducted comprehensive assessments (health posts, health centres, schools and surrounding communities). Necessary machineries and equipment were imported.
- Following the Boeing 737 MAX 8 aircraft accident in March 2019, Boeing Community Investment Fund (BCIF) has identified two implementing partners. One implementing partner implements water supply and solar electrification for the communities in the vicinity of the accident, construction of one health post, additional school blocks and teachers’ residential houses, and small bridges. The other implementing partner undertakes MCH and WaSH projects that benefit the whole woreda community and institutions (schools and health facilities). Drilling of three boreholes already completed and civil and electromechanical works will be carried out that benefits communities and public institutions in four kebeles.