Policies, Programs Should be Responsive to Diversity of Local Contexts, Says Commissioner

Addis Ababa October 31/2018 It is necessary to make policies and programs responsive to the diversity of local contexts in order to further promote equitable and sustainable growth and continue to address poverty and inequality, Planning and Development Commissioner Fitsum said. She stated that the interaction between programs local conditions and the livelihoods of the people living in diverse contexts need to be better understood in countries like Ethiopia with population of over 100 million, diverse climatic and ecological conditions, a wide range of social and cultural practices. In her opening remark to the High-Level discussion forum on Ethiopia WIDE today, Fitsum Assefa noted that researches need to touch the ground and assess the reality of the public’s living conditions. The Ethiopia WIDE is the name of a research project that studies 20 rural communities in Ethiopia over 20 years, and WIDE stands for Wellbeing Ill-being Dynamics in Ethiopia. According to Fitsum, researches are crucial to bring about livelihood change of the public and should focus on the living standard at grass root levels. The Commission has been providing overall direction in the micro planning of the country which has played a crucial role in promoting equitable and sustainable development, she added. Ethiopian Development Research Institute (EDRI) Executive Director Yohannes Ayalew said WIDE research uses case-based qualitative approaches to provide longitudinal understanding of how communities have changed in different ways. “The evidences from this research confirm that government intervention in interaction with broader modernization trends across rural communities have brought significant change and transformation over the last two decades,” he pointed out. Stating that WIDE had been collaborating with Ambo, Bahir Dar, and Hawassa universities, Yohannes said “the team has been engaged in a process institutionalizing the WIDE approach to ensure longer term sustainability.” The researchers from across the country will deliberate on seven key findings that are relevant for current development in Ethiopia, namely on land, farming system and livelihoods, non-farming system and livelihoods, youth economic opportunities, social protection, inequalities and governance.