The purpose of the study was to assess those factors affecting the performance of alternative basic education facilitators in west Arsi zone of Oromia. To this end, a descriptive survey method was employed. The sources of data for the research include ABE facilitators, WEO-experts, NGO project staff, members of the center management committee (CMC) and ABE children from level three in Arsi Negele Woreda. Eight ABE centers and two project coordinators were selected by using purposive sampling technique whereas 36 facilitators, four WEO experts and 24 CMC members were selected by using availability sampling technique. The ABE centers were selected purposively based on their accessibility to public transport. The NGO project staff coordinators and one cluster school supervisor were also selected purposively, for they have much to do with the ABE centers and could provide the researcher with the in depth information about the facilitators’ performance, ABE centers and role of the CMC members. Finally, ABE children from level three were selected using systematic random sampling technique. Instruments of data collection were questionnaires, semi-structured interview, and focus group discussion and observation checklist. Some of the major findings were: The number of female facilitators at the ABE centers was very low (10%); the recruitment of facilitators was based on criteria set by ABE stakeholders; the majority26 (72%) of the ABE centers lacked supplementary reading materials; the three most widely used methods of teaching by facilitators were role playing (88.8%), group discussion (77.7%) and debate (77.7%); facilitators' mostly needed trainings were on “continuous assessment” (94.4%) and “report writing" (86.1%), the working relationships between facilitators and wereda education office experts was very encouraging, and the most serious problem at the ABE centers was the periodic drought which usually caused high dropout rate of ABE children. Finally, certain conclusions were drawn based on the major findings and some feasible recommendations were made