Mid-term evaluation on peace building project between Oromo people and Gumuz people in Benishangul Gumuz regional state

Background:
In 2008 a conflict broke out between the Oromo and Gumuz people in Kamashi and Eastern Wollega Zones. The Ethiopian Evangelical Church Mekane Yesus Peace Office and the Lutheran Free Church of Norway intervened into the situation.
After having a preliminary study and assessment of the situation and its challenges, the Oromo Gumuz Peace Project was prepared by the Ethiopian Evangelical Church Mekane Yesus Peace Office and submitted to the Evangelical Lutheran Free Church of Norway.

Purpose/objective:
The main purposes of the evaluation are:
a. What are the main results of the project - both positive and negative – and in all spheres of the affected area.
b. Considered the mid term of the project, to what extent have the objectives  been reached?
c. Are the project going according to plans, have activities been implemented? Consider project document # 3.7.
d. Give recommendations to the continuation of the project up to year 2016.

Methodology:
a. Document Review: Project documents, Annual Narrative Reports, Mid-Term Narrative Report, Progress Reports, and the Annual Income and Expenditure Financial Reports.
b. Field visit and observation:  Four main affected areas of the 2008 conflicts (Haro-Limu, Sassiga, Belojigonfoy, and Yasow Woredas)
c. Discussion with: a) project staff at the Addis Ababa Peace Office b) key personnel at the Mekane Yesus HQ (especially members of the Management Committee responsible for making decisions concerning the project) c) project staff at the Nekempte Central Synod project office and d) key administrative personnel at the Central Synod Office.
d. Interviews: General stakeholders, Woreda officials, police forces, schools, and faith based organizations.
e. Schedule: The evaluation will take place between 14-30 April 2014.

Key findings: a. Manpower problems b. Project office location far from project site c. project vehicle not purchased d.  Peaceful condition between the Oromo and Gumuz e.  Government nitiative in creating peace clubs and peace committees f. Activities cancelled,  g.  Information centers not in the project area, h. Virtually all trainings done outside the project area, i.  No activities at all conducted at the Yasow project site, j.  Highly bureaucratic procedures of EECMY, k.  Commitment of the church leadership.

Recommendations:
a. Additional manpower should be immediately engaged.  Ideally, an assistant coordinator should be hired at the Nekempte Peace Office, and four part-time local coordinators should be hired (one at each Woreda).
b.  A project vehicle should be purchased immediately by following the established purchasing procedures.  Instead of a Toyota Landcruiser, the church should purchase a new Toyota Double Cab Hilux pickup truck from a reliable importer (such as the Moenco Company of Ethiopia).  An estimated cost of this vehicle is 1,300,000 birr, and the project account currently has a balance of 2,635,811 birr.
c.  The project vehicle should be stationed at the Nekempte Peace Office close to the project area where it could primarily be used to directly support the activities in the project area.
d.  All future trainings and workshops should only be conducted in the project areas, despite the personal discomfort this might mean for the project staff.
e.  The loss of the advance payment of 750,000 birr given to a local importer without a guarantee letter or any form of collateral is the responsibility of the church leadership Management Committee.  Therefore the church should reimburse this money from its account to the project fund account.
f.  The church should continue to pursue legal action to recoup its lost money.
g.  The Peace Office should be given greater autonomy to spend the allocated budget without the cumbersome procedure of routing all project decisions through the Management Committee.
h.  If possible, a Project Committee should be established to manage the decisions of the project.   The result would be a streamlined, more responsive, and more accountable management structure.
i. Lists of attendees for any workshop, training or conference must be maintained by the project office until the conclusion of the project.
j. When trying to fill employment opportunities for the project, if competent internal applicants from the EECMY are not found, an invitation should be extended to external applicants so the project execution may be accomplished.
k. The project should be amended to focus on the strengths experienced so far.   
1) Sport festivals should be increased to a frequency of two times per year.
2) Trainings and a drama should be held concurrently with the sports festival when a great number of people are present and receptive to information about conflict resolution, trauma healing, and curbing domestic violence and violence against women.
i. The project should include the support of a government sponsored peace conference between the Gumuz and Oromo people in the Yasow/Haro Limu area by providing training on conflict resolution.  This support should also encourage small group discussions among the leaders of the local peace committees.
j. The project staff should redouble their efforts to develop teaching materials and guidelines to be used in Peace Clubs at schools.
k. The project should sponsor one local meeting of peasant association peace committees in each Woreda each year to facilitate the sharing of information and experience. 

Comments from the organisation, if any: