The main outcome achievements in 2012 are:

Outcome 1:  Strengthening intercultural/religious dialogue to foster mutual understanding of heritage and the sharing of common values with a view of contributing towards social process and social cohesion:

• Community leaders, teachers gathered to discuss shared cultural/religious values and natural heritage conservation using a toolkit produced by the project; Based on training and discussion forums it was agreed to disseminate the message through existing institutions (schools, religious institutions, community association, etc) for peaceful co-existence and environmental protection through modern and indigenous knowledge; publications on best practice of mutual understanding of commonly shared cultural/religious values and natural heritage conservation printed in several languages (2,000 copies in three languages Harrari, Oromifa, Amharic; 500 copies in Oromifa and English) and distributed to local administrations, community leaders, religious institutions and schools.

Outcome 2:  Development and implementation of policies as well as legal frameworks for the protection and safeguarding of Ethiopia’s natural, and tangible, intangible, mobile, cultural heritage:

• Four legal documents prepared and submitted to the management committee of the Ministry for endorsement:  Language policy of Ethiopia, Cultural Industry investment Code of Ethiopia, Cultural Industry Development Package and Cultural Industry Development Strategy (enable participatory heritage management, protection and promotion for better utilization; 80 ethnic groups direct beneficiaries from the implementation of the Language policy and craft and creative industry); Heritage identification, protection and site management methodology training conducted (enabled stakeholders from governmental and CSOs to acquire knowledge and skills for a better management and protection of cultural and natural heritages; also agreed on the national policy formulation process); ”Tourism day” public awareness raising event conducted (133 men and 25 women participated).

Outcome 3:  Harnessing the potential of the cultural and creative industries, particularly heritage based activities such as handicrafts, and cultural tourism for income generation, economic development, and poverty alleviation:

• Women, young craftsmen and artists trained to improve the quality and quantity of products they sell (better skilled, improved technology and increase in their income; attracted more people to work in that business); Equipment for production procured for craftsmen trained by the project; 4 Living Cultural Resource Centers (LCRC) established in Tigray (Wukro), Amhara (Gonder), SNNPR (Konso) and Oromya (Bishoftu).  LCRCs serve as the training center for craftsmen (technical skill, marketing, sales, accounting, management), as a sales outlet for tourists, as a design” house” where products can be designed. They create opportunities for different producers to access micro finance in order to invest in improving their production (funds already raised in some region). They are also a creative communication platform for the surrounding communities not only to learn from each other, but also to respect and protect their common heritage. And, they serve as showroom for promoting export of Ethiopian handicrafts. Further, they are a workshop where craftsmen work every day and serve as a museum and a point to collect information (data bank); market linkages created based on value chain studies completed by the project (enabled craftsmen to increase the sale of their products); professional skills trainings for artists enabled them to form their association and start benefiting from what they are producing.

Best practices:

• Sustainability strategy and M&E plan have been prepared.
• Media Partnership has been established in some regions.
• Discussion has been started with the Ethiopian Chamber of Commerce and Sectoral Associations (ECCSA) to link craftsmen with the annually organized trade fair under the motto “Buy Ethiopian”.
• Outcome 1 “intercultural/interreligious Dialogue” has been linked to the already established National and Regional Interfaith council and to projects funded by the British Council.

Lessons learned:

• Training and sensitization activities with youth are essential to avoid cultural drawbacks that can be an issue for the effective implementation of the JP (beneficiaries not willing to work in the same place for cultural reasons).

More details can be found in the documents below.