Effects of Non-Governmental Organizations on Livelihoods of Itang Community, Gambella Regional State, Ethiopia

Abstract

NGOs are increasingly becoming important development partners almost everywhere in the world. They have appeared as the savior of countless number of people without food, cloth, education and basic health facilities. But due attention is not given to their role at grass root level especially in developing countries like Ethiopia. This study examines the effects of NGOs focusing on the experience of ZOA and GCCDO in the livelihood improvement of Itang special woreda communities, Gambella region, Ethiopia. The study use both quantitative and qualitative types of data collected from both primary and secondary sources using questionnaires, interviews, and documents analysis. The data were analyzed using both descriptive and inferential method with the help of STATA 14 version software. The study used stratified random sampling and purposive selection to select sample from the respondents and key informants of the study. A total number of 306 respondents from three kebele and 10 key formants from NGOs staff, government official and local community leaders were selected. The study results show that the programs carried out by those NGOs brought a number of positive contributions to household livelihood improvement, such as income diversification and employment opportunities. The programs executed by ZOA specially enabled the communities of Itang woreda to engage in different income generating activities, markets development, promote the saving practice. These programs boom up the capacity of Itang communities to cover their basic expenditure. The multivariate OLS regression model for log income of household satisfied all economic, statistical, and econometric criteria. From the analysis results we found that most of the explanatory variables were significantly different in affecting the log income of household. The study result indicated that the programs were participatory and encourages both the communities and government to participate in the programs. Despite the achievements, NGOs have come across different challenges in their programs implementation period, such as lack land for income generating activities, less confidence and respect from the local communities, limited access of fund from International donors, cooperation of with other development partners, and poor regulatory framework for NGOs activities by the government. The study recommended the NGOs to develop a strong tie with the local communities by increasing their participation at the community level. Local NGO must begin to rely more on their own efforts and resources and learn from local NGOs in other countries about how to tap local sources. The government should ensure the independence legal issue of NGOs for their development activities from both internal and external interferences. Finally, the researcher recommend other researchers to use this study as stepping stone for further studies on the contribution of NGOs’ in poverty reduction as well as development of the region in general