|
Introduction In August of 1989, dedicated Tigraian refugees formed the Tigrai Development Association (TDA) in Washington, DC. That time, Tigrai, the northern most point of Ethiopia, was just coming out of seventeen years of fratricidal war coupled with the aftermath of famine and starvation that made the livelihood of the majority of the people precarious. Initially, TDA’s mission was to mobilize Tigraian professionals from abroad to go to Tigrai to share their technical skills and provide aid to contribute to the life saving and rehabilitation programs, which was pervasive and daunting. In the fall of 1992, shortly after the end of the war, TDA headquarters moved to Mekelle, the capital city of the Tigrai Regional State with the intention to mobilize local resources and to work closely with the disadvantaged people, who are the owners and end users of the developmental programs. A couple of years later, TDA chapters sprang up everywhere and membership grew from mere hundreds to tens of thousands and gradually to hundreds of thousands. This development vividly demonstrated the community-based nature of the association and witnessed an outpouring of resources contributed from members, supporters and the local community across Ethiopia and elsewhere. In the efforts to accomplish developmental programs and building the future, the association had to institutionalize it self and design a working culture that makes it innovative, flexible, transparent and accountable to its members, supporters and to the final beneficiaries/ customers. To this end, the organogram of TDA is structured in such a way that at the upper echelon of the organization is the General Assembly convened every two years representing democratically elected members from chapters and sub chapters of the association. The General Assembly is the ultimate organ entrusted with formulating the general direction and strategic decision making of the association and elects the Board of Directors. The Board of Directors, which fairly represents the chapters in Diaspora (mainly from North America, Europe and the Middle East), Tigrai and in other parts of Ethiopia, assigns the executive director and other members of the management committee who run the day-to-day activities of the organization. The Board of Directors approves and monitors the strategic and operational plans and evaluates its execution on quarterly basis. TDA follows participatory approach to make sure that the people have a stake in every development program/ project cycle that affects its life. TDA primarily involves itself in rural development activities to reach the disadvantaged group that languished in abject poverty. The personnel, financial, logistic and purchasing manuals put in place are the working documents of the organization. The financial functions have long been computerized and where each project has its separate accounts are open for every member and supporter to see and verify the financial accomplishment of any activity of interest. Transparency and frugality are hallmarks of the organization, and further reinforced by three levels of audit firms: the audit committee of the General Assembly, the internal audit, and the internationally accredited external accounting firms. These bodies audit the financial handling and monitor its overall performance against the procedures and guidelines maintained in the manuals of the organization. To complement the contributions made by its members and supporters, TDA regularly organizes a series of innovative approaches of fund raising events, which so far were successful and exemplary and received wide recognition and appreciation. To meet its advocacy and promotional objectives and to ease communication among partners, TDA broadcasts its activities in a weekly radio program to its wide audience along with quarterly printed out newsletters, leaflets, and regular reports. What is more, TDA arranges group tours for its members and partners residing within and outside of the area of operation to visit and obtain first-hand information on how their contributions are utilized. During the early stages of its operation, the organization was more active in massive rehabilitation works, socio-economic infrastructure building, basic skills training and the promotion of culture and sport. Three years later in 1995, with the purpose to maximize effectiveness, the focus was on education, health and basic skill training.
• Vision: To see an affluent Tigrai Regional State free from poverty and backwardness. • Mission Statement: To continue as a strong developmental arm by soliciting support from its members, supporters and donors along with empowering and enhancing community involvement in all developmental programs. • Values:
• TDA’s strategic objectives: TDA’s newly elected Board of Directors has recently set
the following strategic objectives.  ሓድነትናን ፅንዓትናን መሰረት ልምዓትና ‘ዩ! |
|
||