Teka, Tegegne (PhD)Yimer, Alemu2018-07-092023-11-042018-07-092023-11-042011-03http://etd.aau.edu.et/handle/123456789/7158This study attempts to investigate the contribution of decentralization for local development in Gozamin Wereda (District) of East Gojjam Zone Administration in the Amhara Regional State in Ethiopia. The study presents the contribution of decentralization in promoting local development. Both qualitative and quantitative approaches were employed to collect the data for the study. The instruments used to collect the data are survey questionnaire, interview and focus group discussion. Primary and secondary data were collected from different actors of development in the Wereda as well as official reports and documents were consulted from Gozamin Wereda sector offices. The analysis was supported by literature, legal and official documents. The Major findings focused on health, education, agricultural extension services and political powers of local Councils and their duties were depicted as follows. On average, the services in health, education and agricultural extension have increased by 35%, 5% and 6% respectively during the last eight years. The community participation in socio-economic development activities has increased by an average of 22% during the last consecutive eight years, and their major contribution were focused on cash, material and labor for the construction of health centers, schools, farmer training centers, potable water points and rural roads. The study reveals that the kind of services that were provided to each Kebele is unbalanced and it differs from Kebele to Kebele due to the capacity of Kebele leaders in mobilizing human and financial resources. The Wereda administration is dependent on the state grants to cover their expenditure needs. As a matter of fact, Gozamin Wereda receives 87% of the expenditure needs from the Regional Government, while 13% of the expenditure need is collected from the Wereda. Decentralization enables and increases the involvement of the community in political and development issues. On the other hand, the study reveals that there is no space for participation of different political parties at both the Kebele and the Wereda levels. This results in the lack of debate on policy issues and policy alternatives from political opponents that is in favor of the people. The study also presents evidences that the powers and duties of Kebele and Wereda Councils are very weak to decide on issues under their jurisdiction because of the dominance of the executives at the Kebele and Wereda levelsen-USGozamin weredaEast Gojjam -AmharaRegional stateThesis