Capacity Assessment

Capacity building has become part of an every day conversation in government, non-government and donor organisations. A capacity building programme can only be effective if it is based on a proper capacity assessment. A-Z consult has successfully conducted a number of capacity assessments. Organisations like Save the Children Sweden, Save the Children UK and the World Bank have used this serviceBACK.

Strategic Plannin

Strategic Planning is a process of determining the future direction of an organisation or a nation and how it gets there. A-Z Consult has developed skills in helping organisations (small and large) to develop a strategic plan document. This includes helping them to analyse their internal and external environments; facilitate stakeholder consultations and write up of the document. A-Z Consult believes in (i) client ownership of the plan and (ii) developing strategic thinking within the organisation.
The following clients have benefited from our approach to strategic plan:

• EOC-DICAC
• Christian Aid Ethiopia/CS-CAFÉ
• Jerusalem Children and Community Development Organisation

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Monitoring & Evaluation of Projects/Programmes

Development projects and programmes, if implemented properly, can bring benefits to the host community. The implementation of development programmes also generates lessons for future programming. A-Z Consult has the experience and expertise in conducting participatory monitoring and evaluation of social projects (health, HIV/AIDS, education) and development projects (rural development).

The following clients have benefited from our approach to Monitoring & Evaluation of Projects/Programmes:

• Save the Children UK
• Action for Development
• Oxfam International
• Jerusalem Children and Community Development Organisation.
• Save the Children Denmark
• UNDP

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Policy Dialogue/Review

Policy formulation and implementation in Ethiopia is often described as “top-down” owing to a legacy of imperial rule and centralised command economy under the dergue regime. More recently, efforts have been made to reverse this legacy. However, “in spite of significant political, administrative and financial decentralisation, the centralised and controlling legacy remains an important factor”.
A-Z Consult has developed special skill in facilitating a genuine bottom-up policy process. Our recent engagement in Future Agricultures Consortium work (www.future-agricultures.org) has earned us considerable praise. We also conduct comprehensive review of government policies and strategies. Some of the organisations that benefited from this service either directly or indirectly are :-

• Institute of Development Studies
• Department for International Development (UK)
• Ministry of Agriculture Rural Development
• Forum for Social Studies (Ethiopia)

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Facilitating Advocacy and Networking Forum

Facilitation is a unique profession. It is not about teaching or training people. It is not about being an expert. It is a skill that helps participants in a workshop or forum share knowledge and experience and enrich themselves. A-Z Consult has developed facilitation skills that bring together stakeholders from different background and achieve a common advocacy and networking goals. The demand for facilitation has increased over the past few years as development Organisations including government realise the role facilitators could play in achieving consensus.
A-Z Consult has provided this service for a number of organisations including, Action for Development, SOS–Sahel, Christian Aid, Southern Ethiopia People’s Development Association (SEPDA), EOC-DICAC, and USAIDBACK.

Distance Education

Distance education is a cost effective and flexible mode of education. It is an important tool for continuous professional upgrading of employees at all levels. A-Z Consult has expertise in the design and implementation of distance education programmes, particularly the design and preparation of interactive distance earning courses based on adult learning principles. So far, Addis Ababa University and Ministry of Education have used this service.BACK

Preparation of Background/Concept Papers

We have a comprehensive understanding of the national and international policy environment. Sectoral understanding includes agriculture, education (including child rights), safety net/social protection, and HIV and AIDS. Based on this understanding, we write background papers. A number of them have been published. We have written background papers for the following organisations:

• Chronic Poverty Research Centre (in collaboration with the IDL Group) - UK
• The Institute of Development Studies (IDS) at University of Sussex - UK
• The Ethiopian Economic Association
• Forum for Social Studies
• The World Bank

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Review of Academic/Research Papers/Thesis

Consultancy is often viewed as a business and little to do with academic exercise. At A-Z Consult we have strong academic background that some clients find useful. We review the papers and research outputs and advice the client whether or not it is publishable. So far, OSSREA and Forum for Social Studies have used this service. Individual MA/PhD students may also benefit from this service.BACK

Out training methods is based on adult learning principles. We don’t treat you as a novice learner. You are a participant in a dynamic knowledge/experience sharing environment. Our trainers are facilitators. All our trainings take a form of training of trainers which means that you will be able to train others in the particular subject. Each training has a package of materials prepared in a user-friendly manner and tailored to your organisation’s needs.BACK

For more details contact us on:

azconsult@ethionet.et or ateshome@azconsult.com.et

Tel: 091 117 7069