In November 2021, HelpAge International issued a position paper on Locally Led
development, which emphasized the impact of this commitment both at the
organizational and at the country level.
The country office completed the localization assessment after successfully
conducting stakeholders’ and partners’ consultations and learning from others who
have moved through similar journeys. The transition pathway began with an overall
Process of familiarization and consultation with staff on the position paper. A joint
consultation session was organized between the Localization team and country
team and consensus was reached on the localization schedule.
The Senior Management team (MT) identified an external consultant to accompany
the country team along the transition path in preparation of a localization plan
which
provides
a
detailed
assessment
of
the
local
context,
environment,
stakeholder views and capacities, legal and institutional frameworks, opportunities,
and constraints, to provide rigorous evidence to guide decision making on the
direction for localization in the country.
Consultation on the process was undertaken with Four different categories involving
HelpAge Country SMT, country staff, 7 Key stakeholders ( Ministry of Women and
Social Affairs, EEPNA Board Vice Chair and Addis Ababa Older Person Association
leader, SNNPR BOLSA, Oromia BOLSA, Ethiopian Human Rights Commission andMinistry of Health) and 8 partners with varying institutional capacity and geographic
presence ( EEPNA, TSDA, RCWDO, SOS-Sahel, Enredada, CBISDO, Asegedech
Asfaw, Medhin, ECDD and RaDO).
To conclude the consultation process, two workshops were organized by the lead
consultants, one in August 2022 with the country team and another on December
1st, 2022, in the presence global transformation team.
The preferred option for the transition was the transition of HelpAge Intentional to
HelpAge Ethiopia and registering it as a National not-for-profit Organization. In this
option, HelpAge International rebranded and registered as HelpAge Ethiopia.
Accordingly, HelpAge Ethiopia, a new national entity, led by a vibrant national board
of directors and senior staff working for HelpAge International for decades was
established in June 2014.
Forming a national entity” HelpAge Ethiopia” helps maintain HelpAge International’s
existing structure, retains institutional memory and legacy in the country, avoids
service disruptions, and sustains local partnerships.
As it builds on the existing
system, the approach boosts the confidence of various internal and external
stakeholders in the transition. During the consultation process, staff members,
partners, and stakeholders were particularly concerned about the name change
which may result in loss of institutional memory, fond affiliation to the brand
“HelpAge” and visibility to the donor community. Therefore, retaining the brand was
seen as a decisive factor during the transition. This model helps ensure the
continuity of programs and operations without a considerable alteration in service
delivery.