Institutional Features of Participatory Development: The Case of Enebse Branch Office of Agri- Service Ethiopia

Aberra Abebe

Agri-Service Ethiopia, PO Box 2460, Addis Ababa

Abstract

In 2001 Agri-Service Ethiopia ( ASE ) Wereda to work jointly with the community the government sector offices to reduce poverty and ensure household food security. ASE formulated development program using participatory research approach to involve all social groups particularly, the poor and women. However, the participation of the poor, women and youth were influenced by the institutional nature of the community. There is a traditionally established unwritten code, which constrains individual and group behaviors. Initially the program office had faced subtle resistance from the Orthodox Church. The community doubted ASE is identity. But, the office was trusted in the area in a short time. The egalitarian nature of solidarity of the program office and this cultural bias contributed to the successes. In the program implementation process high involvement from sector offices is expected. But, some sector offices have limitations, which partly emerged from their organizational management style and the natural environment. The organizations promote projects through community participation, although the meaning and practice is different for them. Similarly, in the community there is local administration structure and the ASE -initiated Community-Based Institution ( CBI ) for enhancing participation. These institutions are different in solidarity and cultural bias. They differ in interpretation of participation. The local administration is in a hierarchical bias, for them participation is mainly performing government development plan by convincing the community. The CBI is egalitarian, and views participation as performing community plans on shared understanding. There is thus emerging conflict between these two institutions. Implementing projects with partner organizations that have different institutional solidarity in promoting participation is difficult. The problem is largely due to organizational differences in cultural bias. It counts more than material artifacts and knowledge gaps as usually assumed by partner institutions.