Institutional Networking for Rural Local Economic Development in Ethiopia: Case Study of Tede and Golje Kebeles in Lume Wereda, East Shewa, Oromia National Regional State
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Date
2009-11
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Addis Ababa University
Abstract
The objective of the research is to analyze the institutional approach to rural LED through
networks in a particular agrarian locality. It describes the case of three villages in Tede Dildima
and Golje Dildima RKAs in Lume Wereda, with low natural resource base, dominated by
smallholding subsistence agriculture, in promoting locality and CBED. House hold survey, FGD,
key informant interview and personal observation data collection teclmiques are used to analyze
the situation. The study has identified and presented three main rural LED intervention strategiesmicro
watershed development project, smallholder agriculture development and small-scale
mining enterprise development-in Tede and Golje RKAs. The study found that each institutions
involved in rural LED have a unique role to play in locality and CBED. Furthermore, the analysis
of rural LED interventions indicates that different types of institutional networks are created both
at the wereda and kebele level.
The results of the study revealed that institutional networks have brought some positive changes in
both kebeles. Rural LED is improved mainly through creating new jobs by using locally available
resources as well as transferring and disseminating new knowledge and teclmologies in both
localities. The institutional networking, established particularly in watershed development project,
in the areas of micro-watershed development planning, development management, resource/fund
provision and institutional development have contributed to the local effort of natural resource
management. In spite of this, however, the poorly integrated and weak institutional networks
curtai led the dynamism of the rural LED in both kebeles. The established networksl partnerships
tend to be short term and only temporary, as they are project and program based networks. Rural
LED tends to be promoted through the conventional sector specific approach in both kebeles.
The study found that rural LED initiatives having any significance are almost non-existent at
Golje and Tede RKAs. The process and functioning of local institutional networks, in promoting
rural LED is determined and depends on the overall politico-administrative environment provided
by the national and regional governments. The study concludes that lack of financial and political
autonomy immensely diminish the role of Lume Wereda government as an enabl~r, facilitator,
and stimulator of the civic and private sector institutions in the process and functioning of rural
LED in both kebeles. As a result, rural LED in Tede and Golje RKAs is led by the central
government, regional government, and rural LG in respective hierarchy order.
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Keywords
for Rural Local Economic, Development in Ethiopia