WAKO GUTU FOUNDATION (WGF)
Success Stories
Submitted to: Management Agency
January 2019
Addis Ababa
Success Story Narrative
To enhance service delivery transparency and accountability, Wako Gutu Foundation (WGF
implemented the Ethiopian Social Accountability project (including the Bridge and Bridge
Extension phases) under the technical and financial auspices of Multi-donor Trust Fund through
Management Agency (MA) in two districts namely Dallo Manna district (Malka Amanna, Chirri,
and Dayu kebeles), and Madda Wallabu District (Genale Malka Chira, Oda Boji, and Mada
kebeles). The foundation was monitoring district sectors with particular emphasis on water and
sanitation, and health service delivery (woreda water office and woreda health office using
Community Score Card (CRC) to monitor health services and Gender Responsive Budgeting
(GRB) to monitor delivery of water and sanitation services in terms of efficiency, quality,
accessibility and availability of services to the community.
The overall objective of the project is to strengthen the use of Social Accountability (SA) tools,
approaches and mechanisms by citizens and citizen groups, civil society organizations, local
government officials and service providers as a means to make basic service delivery more
equitable, effective, efficient, responsive, and accountable. The project has two specific
objectives intended to be achieved; to facilitate continuity of SA development on the ground, and
promotion of innovations.
Informed and evidenced by the implementation of the foregoing project, the foundation produced
the following points to count as success stories.
1. Prior to 2017, there was no ambulance in the Madda Wallabu district particularly during peak
emergencies. Throughout the JAP and review meeting events, the SACs made this issue as an
agenda for discussion, and the woreda health office requested and secured an ambulance for
the communities.
2. There was community complain on the service delivery at health centers at Madda Wallabu
and Dallo Manna Districts especially mothers were facing acute challenges during labor and
birth-delivery. People could not get medical and treatment services after formal work-hours.
The problems were persistently quoted on the ESAP –facilitated events/meetings in which
government representatives also attended. As a result, both districts developed a service
improvement plan in which the health centers have been obliged to be open and provide full
services throughout 24 hours coupled with ambulance service.
3. Until recently, district health offices (both Madda Wallabu and Dallo Manna) reportedly
declare scarcity of drugs at their disposal and recommend the communities to purchase from
private vendors. This provoked complains within the public since many could not afford the
private price charts. On the occasions of ESAP facilitated discussions, the problem made
affront for several times and included as also one of the JAP plans. This time the health
offices already reconfigured the drug distribution approach in such a way that the clients can
obtain an average volume at the centers.
4. For long period of time, the dwellers in the Oda-Boji kebele, found in the Madda Wallabu
district, were facing shortage of potable water since the pump generator was long dismantled.
The kebele SAC regularly probed the criticality of the problem, and take the lead to mobilize
community resources and commitment to make the scheme functional. The government also
uphold through provision of technicians and payment of some industrial items.Thus, they
succeeded in mobilizing the local resources to completely revamp the water pump/generator
over large kilometers which is now poised for fully servicing the community.
5. The SAC Committee at Chirri kebele, found in Dallo Manna district, identified shortage of
potable water as a deplorable challenge. Based on this, they mobilized the community for
local resources and labor. Moreover, they purchased cement, outsourced professional
technician, and other required industrial products. They communicated the local district
water office to support them through provision of hand-pump and technical advice. Thus,
they succeeded to develop a new hand-dug well which is now serving the kebele community.
