Executive Director's Message
The Organization for Rehabilitation and Development in Amhara (ORDA) has been carrying out meaningful development achievements by designing short and long-term strategic programs and projects to fill in developmental gaps of the people and government in the Amhara region of Ethiopia.
In this regard, ORDA effectively operates four major/pillar programs. These are Environment and Forestry Development, Water supply, Hygiene & Sanitation and Irrigation Development, Agriculture and Disaster Risk Management, and Youth Enterprise and Private Sector Development Programs. Gender, Disability, Culture, and HIV/AIDS prevention activities are also being mainstreamed in those programs and projects.
ORDA currently has a total of 1,939 employees. In 2012/13, the organization received 1.42 billion birr (including 48% food aid) from 28 donors and implemented 31 integrated projects (2 emergency projects) in 47 woredas of the region, benefiting more than 1.4 million people. Since the outbreak of COVID-19 pandemic, the organization has spent more than 53.9 million birr in the project intervention areas, providing humanitarian assistance, food and various protective materials.
In 2020 alone, more than 8.2 million indigenous and exotic seedlings were planted on 1 thousand 261 hectares under the Environment and Forest Development Program. According to a 2019 survey, seedling survival is counted 70%. Regarding enclosure of land from human and animal, 10 thousand 670 hectares of existing and 2 thousand 376 new hectares of degraded lands have been closed. In addition, it has introduced 480 fuel-efficient stoves, 400 solar-powered lamps/ lanterns, which have reduced gas emissions by 451 tons, and introduced farmers to practice technologies to better lives.
In terms of safe water supply, ORDA has built 316 new water schemes and repaired 8 facilities, benefiting 164 thousand 838 people. In order to keep the community healthy, 7 thousand 129 traditional latrines, 624 improved latrines and 20 ventilated pit latrines have been constructed in health centers, schools and other social institutions. 29 thousand 928 people have been identified for trachoma, eye surgeries done for 4 thousand 344 and 10 thousand 606 people have been treated with drugs/medicine to make them healthy and productive citizens.
In addition, 14 new small-scale irrigation schemes constructed, 11 irrigation schemes rehabilitated, 23 community and private ponds have been constructed which can potentially irrigate 439.5 hectares of land and has benefited 2 thousand 238 households.
In Agriculture and Disaster Risk Management, 1 thousand 865 quintals of improved crop varieties provided to 5 thousand 549 farmers. In addition, 1 thousand 7 quintals of potato seed was distributed to 1 thousand 153 households, 480 thousand 000 high yielding vegetables for 298 households and 19 thousand 287 fruit seedlings for 619 farmers. To boost livestock productivity, ORDA has made a significant contribution. Improved washera ram, egg laying chicken/poultry has been addressed to the poor and pregnant women for maternal and child health. It has also been delivered forage to beneficiary farmers.
In 2019/2020 alone, ORDA has created 4 thousand 189 temporary jobs to make young people participants and beneficiaries of the economy, and has provided short-term training and linkages with employers and provided 415 permanent jobs.
The organization has prepared 22 proposals in 2020 and 12 of them have been approved. It has raised over 317 million 315 thousand birr. In coming years, ORDA will put into practice organizational policies and working manuals and apply donor mapping.
Relying on the resources we receive from international donors couldn’t be a long-lasting solution to eradicate poverty. To this end, the organization will strengthen income generating institutions to build capacity of beneficiaries and the institutions in order to bring about sustainable development. We also work hard to secure budget from funding donors to change the livelihood of the poor.
ORDA is dedicated enough to make our programs and projects successful. For this reason, I firmly believe stakeholders, the people and government work in harmony with the organization for the realization in transforming the community throughout the region.
Thank you!