Meet Ashenafi,WEEMA’s PMEAL Coordinator!

We're excited to introduce you to Ashenafi Tadesse, WEEMA’s first Planning, Monitoring, Evaluation, Accountability and Learning (PMEAL) Coordinator! Ashenafi collects and analyzes data from WEEMA projects in order to measure our progress as we work towards project sustainability.

Ashenafi decided to join the WEEMA team last year because “WEEMA focuses on excellence in program execution in order to provide all forms of rights and dignity to the community at the grassroots level.”

The information collected and analyzed by Ashenafi helps ensure that WEEMA is using efficient and effective methods that incorporate community voices.  The results of the assessments are used to guide future projects.

We asked Ashenafi to answer some questions about his role, and why he is so passionate and enthusiastic about being part of the WEEMA team!

Can you describe your position in your own words - what does a PMEAL Coordinator do? Why is PMEAL so important?

“The PMEAL Coordinator set standards, indicators, and quality measures and helps guide the organization from starting line through to the finish. PMEAL tracks the organization’s performance, success, and failure in accordance with effectiveness, and efficiency, impact and sustainability. An organization without PMEAL doesn’t know what went well and what went wrong.”

What initiatives at WEEMA are you most excited about? How will you, as the PMEAL officer, help support these initiatives?

“We are excited to establish strong relationships with policy makers, planners and key actors at various levels to ensure the smooth execution of development initiatives that will transform the community by empowering local assets. This is an area that inspires me to exert my efforts towards such important initiatives.”

Based on your observations, what makes WEEMA’s programmatic approach different from other development organizations?

“WEEMA has a bottom-up approach; [we] hand the baton to the community to in order to help them develop their own sense of ownership."

What is your vision for WEEMA’s practice of “accountability”? How do you in your position as PMEAL Coordinator help WEEMA to ensure “accountability” with communities?

“WEEMA’s vision, mission, strategic objectives, and priorities need to be transparent and well understood by the communities. The communities must be well informed about WEEMA’s integrated decision-making processes.”

Give me an example of how you turn your data and analysis into action.

“...WEEMA International considers it’s strengths, weakness, opportunities and threats across all current and past projects through a process we call ‘'One Evaluation.’' As the PMEAL Coordinator, I  lay the groundwork for this evaluation and assist in organizing, leading, coordinating, reporting the results and learning."

Community-Led Development

WEEMA’s team discussing program planning with a local disability association

One of the things that sets WEEMA apart from so many other NGOs is our commitment to working in Alliance with our community.

We know that the only sustainable and responsible way to make lasting, positive change is by partnering with governments and community groups to support and strengthen existing systems and infrastructure. Not only is community-led development a proven best practice, but it is also at the heart of our mission, vision, and values.

This is why WEEMA is a proud member of the Movement for Community-Led Development. This growing movement unites a broad range of international development organizations dedicated to the belief that co-implementation of community-led solutions is a powerful means for achieving critical sustainable development goals.

The reasons for our participation are twofold: to learn and share our experiences with other members, and to play an active role in promoting the widespread adoption of Community-Led Development.

To learn more, please visit the Movement for Community-Led Development’swebsite.

Investing in Women

As we slipped and slid down the muddy hill, we were greeted by a swirl of color and an exuberant outburst of song as the Masino women’s Self-Help Group danced toward us, clapping and singing “WEEMA, WEEMA, ket ororo” (WEEMA, WEEMA, we welcome you). The group's vitality was emblematic of the kind of positive energy that is unleashed when you invest in women.
 
WEEMA believes in women's ability to lift their families and their communities out of poverty, which is why WEEMA social workers provide training and ongoing support to 110 women's Self-Help Groups in the Mudula area.

Each group of twenty women receives training on subjects ranging from leadership and conflict resolution to financial record keeping and business planning, and even reproductive health and family planning.

The Masino group discussing interest payments at their weekly meeting

Women in the Self-Help Groups not only gain new business skills, but they also emerge with a newfound sense of self-esteem and the confidence to advocate for their rights. Radia, Masino's leader, noted the changes she’s seen in the women since the group began:

“We have strong self-esteem, strong self-confidence, and we advocate for the rights of women and ourselves.
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We speak in public and are bold enough to go to court to chase abusers and those that are violating the rules.

These big changes are happening because of our Self-Help Group.”

Radia - Masino’s Group Leader

The Masino Self-Help Group has an impressive track record of business success, and their savings and investments have grown significantly since we last profiled them. The group was recently recognized by the national government for their performance and were awarded an irrigation hose and generator as a prize. The group’s achievements would be remarkable in any context but are especially impressive when you consider that these women were selected to join, only from the poorest households.

“Before [joining the Self-Help Groups] our children died of malnutrition and hunger and we were very dependent. We always looked to the government to help us. But now we can support ourselves, feed our children, and now we can even help and support others.”

The women’s business success is also translating into greater gender equality in the home. “We are now able to get the respect of our husbands because we generate money. When we go to the market, we can buy what the family needs without asking our husbands. And we will be sure to transfer this strategy to the next generation,” says Radia. Indeed, Radia’s husband stood in the background smiling with quiet pride as his wife spoke, and has been a loyal supporter of the group’s efforts.

WEEMA's Managing Director, Amber, visits Mudula

My plane touched down in Boston yesterday after my first visit to Mudula. I was more than a little jet-lagged, but my first trip to Ethiopia to see WEEMA's projects had filled me with a new sense of energy and excitement.
 
Having spent the last 15 years working in international development, I've had the privilege of seeing a great number of projects first-hand. WEEMA projects were different; time and time again I was blown away – not only by what the WEEMA team was accomplishing, but also by how they were accomplishing it. Their integrity, passion and commitment to serving their community were  reflected in every action, big and small.

I’m looking forward to sharing stories from my trip of how WEEMA is changing lives in upcoming WEEMA Wednesdays. Stay tuned for your weekly dose of WEEMA inspiration!

Amber Oberc

Happy International Day of the Girl!

A Degale Children's Library regular smiles for the camera as she learns her ABCs!

Tomorrow is International Day of the Girl!  Sharing the success of our new children's center located at Degale Public Library is the perfect way to celebrate.  

The Mudula community recognized a special place for children books was needed and with its support, WEEMA constructed a separate children's library within the Degale Public Library compound. This library offers a place for girls and boys to learn, to imagine, and to dream. The adorable dreamer in the photo above is one of many girls who love to spend time among books and friends.

WEEMA empowers women and girls by providing equal opportunity and supporting educational programming that promotes gender equality. With opportunity, hard work and imagination little girls like the one using the children's library become influential agents of change.

The building to the right of Degale Public Library is the new Children's Library!