AgComm Teaching, Among the introductory observations about development development: "The experience in Africa has been rather pathetic. It is being discovered that mobilization of the masses for popular participation in decision making is easier said than done."
9 pages, Poverty is an important issue for third world Sub-Saharan African countries such as Ethiopia. To assist with poverty alleviation, a great number of nongovernmental organizations have moved resources into the region, but the problem has not significantly improved. This paper studies the Jerusalem Children and Community Development Organization (JeCCDO), an NGO that has engaged in poverty alleviation programs in Ethiopia for more than 35 years. The study examines communication practices used by JeCCDO as part of its poverty alleviation programs in Negede Woito community (Bahir Dar, Ethiopia). We use a qualitative research methodology to assess the organization’s communication practices, as well as the challenges it and the Negede Woito community face. Poverty is perceived as lack of resources by JeCCDO, but the community also prioritizes other forms of poverty such as psychological and cultural. Our findings reveal that JeCCDO is renowned for using a social enterprise development model and a participatory communication approach. However, in practice we find these are not used. In the models, endogenous knowledge and grassroots communication were vital to community development, but JeCCDO did not implement them during planning, implementing, and evaluating community-based programs. Community workers who coordinated the organization and the community were Negede Woito community members. Besides grassroots communication, knowing the context and living situation of the community is mandatory for development agents. JeCCDO did not contextualize development efforts, such as sheep fattening and poultry for people who did not have shelter. In conclusion, we propose that nongovernmental organizations and development workers should reconsider their communication contexts and practices while launching new poverty alleviation programs.
Agricultural Communications Documentation Center, Funk Library, University of Illinois Box: Byrnes2 Document Number: C12356
Notes:
Francis C. Byrnes Collection, Pages 907-933 in Borton, Raymond E. (ed.), Selected readings to accompany getting agriculture moving. Volume 2. Agricultural Development Council, New York, NY. 526 p.
Bebbington, Anthony J. (author), Carrasco, Hernan (author), Peralbo, Lourdes (author), Ramon, Galo (author), Trujillo, Jorge (author), and Torres, Victor (author)
Format:
Paper
Publication Date:
1993-07
Published:
Latin America: Agricultural Administration (Research and Extension) Network, Agricultural Administration Unit, Overseas Development Institute
Location:
Agricultural Communications Documentation Center, Funk Library, University of Illinois Box: 135 Document Number: C20613
Notes:
Burton Swanson Collection, 28 pages, Network Paper 41, ISSN 0952-2468
