CADU ANNUAL REPORT 1968/69

Abstract

A meeting of the Ministerial Committee was requested in May but was not yet been held, The most important items to be settled are the pension rights for CADU staff and the road problems. Pinal decision w.r.t. the road programme has awaited the CADU feasibility study on local roads and developments with reference to the Asella-Dodola road. (See non-project activities). It is now possible and of vital importance to reach a conclusion and start implementing the programme. In view of the proposed feasibility study on utilization of Government land in Arussi it is also urgent to stop the present distribution. The awraja development committee had its first meeting on January 16 as was reported in the semi annual report 1968/69* A second meeting is being planned for the fall of 1969* The cash contributions for the project was paid panctually in both January and July also the $133,000 for launching the Gobe operation were paid d.uring the budget, year. The amendment of the agreement to incorporate Gobe in the CADU programme has not yet been completed but preparations are fair advanced. The agreement on Asella water supply was signed on May 19 and is being implemented by CADU. A great number of prominent people visited CADU (see appendix 1) including the Minister of Agriculture H.E. Ato Abebe Retta, H.E. Ato Tesfa Bushen and Ambassadors Bergenstrahle and Kleen. Mr. Forsse of SIDA with collaborators inspected the progress during a week in March. Some further help was given by the appointed consultants, SHS, the agricultural College at Uppsala, Dr. Wenner and Prof. Wickstrom. The Swedish Animal Husbandry Association (SHS) employed Prof. H.J. Hansen of the institution for veterinary medic-in to advice on the plans to investigate and protect against major cattle diseases in the area. CADU participated in a seminar on agricultural education in April* B. Internal The transfer of offices and staff to Asella was completed during the first half of 1969* CADU now only retains a small purchase office and a guesthouse in Addis Ababa. A staff clinic has been established at Asella through a contract with the Swedish Mission BV.The administrative regulations have teen overhauled, and a file for section and assistant section heads has been prepared. Staff meetings have been held at three occasions. On March 12 a limited group discussed the programme for the 1970-75 period. The plan of work 1969/70 and the tentative programme for 1970-75 were then discussed on April 16 in the broader group of section heads. The activities and achievements were finally reviewed by the same group on June 10. C. Staff matters An up-to-date staff list is provided in appendix 2. The annual review of the salaries of all CADU contract employees was completed in June. The average salary for Ethiopian high level staff in now $690 and for middle level $359. The increments awarded were in average 4*5% and 5•&c/° ^03? those two categories. Considerable difficulties arose in connection with the recruitment of a new administrator. During the interregnum (March-May) two temporary replacements did their very best to solve the problems. Never the less considerable confusion resulted (the unexpectedness of the construction deficit can be blaimed on this). The situation has, however, now stabilized itself and hopefully this shall not be repeated. The recruitment of other expatriate staff has also involved some difficulties The senior economist, Nyberg, left in June and has still not been replaced It was hoped that to be possible to recriut an Ethiopian for the economist position. This proved, however, impossible. The replacement of Leander therefore started late and no over lapping was obtained here either. A new expatriate staff member will, however, arrive in early September. The volunteer filling the position of organiser for cooperatives resigned in May and a replacement is not yet in sight. Recruitments of a man for the sales and purchase section and another for a position as technician within the research and livestock section have been started April-May but not yet yielded tangible results. A proper overlapping is assured for the new physician through the prolongation of his predecessor by two months. The new head of the extension department has been given a proper running in period of 2-g- months. A new position as farm management consultant has been filled through the prolongation of the previous manager for the Kulumsa and Livestock farms. Also the drilling foreman and nurse have a accepted prolongations„ Also the recruitment of Ethiopian staff has shown considerable difficultieso The greatest difficulty in recruitment is the inadequacy of a channal or meeting point for employers and suitable condidates. The Central Personnel Agency (CPA) which is supposed to have a stock of applicants does not seem to have functioned statisfactorily. What in general happens is for jobsearchers to approach ministries and organizations they are interested in directly first and if the two parties come to an agreement, the vacancy will be announced and applicants will be invited. This last process seems to be a mere formality. Also those remaining in the CPA list are in general rejects. The best approach to recruitement is to actually go out into the "market". This necessitates making direct contacts with ministries, private and public organizations etc. and asking friends acquaintance etc. for potential candidates. Officials cannot be approached because they cannot be expected to advise their best employees to leave their organization.. Those that they highly recommend are often the ones they desire to get rid of.This process emphasizes the need for a staff manager, (the staff manager would not only tackle tasks of recruiternent but also handle complaints, deal with problems related to housing, vacation, descipline etc.) but no one has as yet been found. CADU has been looking for a suitable assistant executive director since March so far without results. Attempts to employ 2 economists have been going on since February 1969* Recruiternent for the post of credit manager has been going on since March. There are at present 2 who are under consideration for the position. Both are Alemaya College graduates and have no experience in credit activities. Recruiternent for the position of maintenance engineer has started since May. One has asked Eth.$2,000. The post for assistant administrator started since April and two that were suitable have requested salaries of Eth.$1,500 and Eth.$2,000. CADU cannot afford the amount. The allocated budget is Eth. $800. The position for the head of the agricultural training school will be vacant from September 11. The present head has resigned. An Ethiopian university service student will act as head during this first year. In the middle level category, a suitable audo-visual expert is desired. Recruiternent for 2 adult education organizers will soon start in preparation for the 1970/71 expansion in Bekoji. A drive among the graduates from the Jimma and Ambo Agricultural Schools resulted in thirteen newly employed extension agents and assistants who are presently undergoing a nine weeks training. The usual difficulties of securing qualified and experienced staff are increased in the case of CADU for the following reasons.