An Assessment On Practices, Challenges, And Opportunities Implementing Urban Safety Net

Abstract

The aim of the study was to assess the practices, challenges, and opportunities of implementing urban safety net program in Nefas Silk Lafto Sub-city Addis Ababa, Ethiopia. To this end, descriptive survey design, and both qualitative and quantitative research methods were applied. The four sampled woredas such as 12, 10, 11, and 7 were selected through purposive sampling techniques considered the woreda experiences on implementing the program, time and other resources. A total of 250 participants’ respond to the questions. These includes 6programcouncil committee, 11 technical council committee, 178 employees, 11 management council committee, 4 woreda level program office heads, 10 project coordinators at a woreda level, and 30 ketena facilitator (cabo). In the study both primary data (288 questioners were distributed and 250 returned and 6 key informants were asked key questions). The secondary data such as document reviews of project plans and activity accomplishments reports also part of data sources. The analysis of the data was made thematically after data has processed in SPSS version-22software. The quantitative data from the questionnaires were analyzed by using descriptive statistics mean and standard deviations. The data gathered through key informant interviews were qualitatively interpreted through narrations. The major findings of the study indicated that practices of implementing urban safety net program on aspects of beneficiary inclusion and quota distributions, of supplies of inputs and outsourcing of activities, of activity accomplishments, operational period (schedule) and, human resources management, of monitoring and evaluations has achieved good level of performances. But, it couldn’t possible to achieve the level to the status of “very good”, and excellent” performances. In addition, the practices of procurement management, of communication and coordination, of risk identification, and analysis was preformed “moderately” which were implied satisfactory but, it wouldn’t be “good, very good and excellent” practices typically to the study area. It has also identified challenges such supplies, and transfer selections, human resources management, coordination and communication, accountability and transparency, change in price and exchange rate and political and social instabilities. The study have identified opportunities such as local resources mobilization and assets building, local community participations, public works and employments creation, legal and policy frameworks supports, donor diversification and continuity of external supports for sustainability, opportunities for health education, hygiene, sanitation and environmental protection, engagement on income generating activities. As recommendations the program management practices needs proper tasks management to achieve very good and excellent results so, project managers, government and the donor needs to have close follow-ups and technical supports. The challenges needs to be clearly identified, quantified and then the means to solve these challenges needs to be in place in the course of the program implementation. In addition, urban safety net program has given opportunities on both public works and direct support schemes and it is better to work on its sustainability by local resources, assets and capacity fulfillment.