The Role of Non Governmental Organizations (NGOs) in Promoting the Development of Urban Agriculture: The case of Addis Ababa City

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Date

2011-06

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Addis Ababa University

Abstract

Like in other countries, non-governmental and civil society actors are visible on the overall institutional landscape of Ethiopian society. Currently th ere are more than 2000 NGO/CSO operating in Eth iopia. Specifically in Addis Ababa city more than 200 NGO/CSO engaged in different developmental activities among which 24 NGO have been implementing Urban Agriculture (UA) in different levels. The objective of the research was to assess NGOs efforts for promoting the development of UA in Addis Ababa. The research focused on two NGOs engaged in UA, namely ENDA Et hiopi a (Environmental Developmental Action) and Progress Integrated Community Development Organization (P ICDO) International and Local NGOs respectively. Both qualitative and quantitative data were collected; Quantitative data were collected using a structured questionnai re, designed specifically for the study. For structured su rvey 69(41 from ENDA) & (25from PICDO) project participants who were engaged in UA activity were se lected from a sample frame created by stratified random sample. The sample shou ld be broad ly representat ive of project participants from the two NGOs. Qualitative data were collected from primary source through, interview, observation and case study. UA program being undertaken by the NGOs target the most vulnerable groups in the society including, PLWI-IA, OVCs, OVCs and women- headed households. These socially marginalized households engage in food production relaying on very small plots of land, marginal and vacant open places and using different kits. The sponsorship of urban gardening projects by these NGOs create employment for 36.7% sample respondents and improve household food supply for the entire project participants. The research revealed that gardening be done with virtua lly no economic resources, using locally available planting material s, green manu res, 97% of the project participant used compost for their soil ferti lity, by composting biodegradable household wastes. 100% of the sample respondents used integrated pest management (lPM) for control ling pest and diseases using biological means. viii Another important result of the study was the fact thatI3.6% of the respondents their major water source was ' used water' and 15.2 % of house hold mainly using barrel, sacks and tire for producing vegetables. The research findings shows that NGOs role for the promotion of UA has been quiet ind ispensable with regard to creat ing employment, income increase and livelihoods diversification of the target groups (PLWHA) in particular, and as a city in Addis Ababa in general.

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Role of Non Governmental Organizations

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