ERCS reviews its annual plan and held a discussion on the five-year strategic plan
The Ethiopian Red Cross Society reviewed its annual plan and held an extensive discussion with the leadership of the Society at all levels on the implementation of the five-year strategic plan.
It was noted that the leadership and staff of the Society are expected to understand the strategic plan properly and work with a sense of responsibility and focus in order to implement the plan and achieve the expected results.
The Secretary General of the Society, Ato Abera Lulesa, said that it is necessary to bring about institutional transformation in a manner that takes into account the national and international context, and that making this change a reality requires commitment and readiness to make the sacrifices that the transformation requires.
Ato Abera added that it is expected that the leadership at all levels of the society should have a clear understanding of the eight pillars of the strategic plan and digest it, introduce the plan to the staff, discuss it and ensure that they have sufficient understanding.
The heads of the regional, zonal and Woreda branch offices also stated that the plan was well prepared based on sufficient research and participation, and stated that it can take the association a step forward in the next five years, and they are committed to the implementation of the plan.
The management at all levels also expressed their commitment to the implementation of the strategic plan by signing a group charter.
The society has also reviewed its 2017E.C plan implementation the day before and it was stated that the implementation of projects in the completed fiscal year exceeded the plan, and it was pointed out that there were limitations in terms of increasing membership and raising income.
The Secretary-General said that the ongoing local and global situations have created additional burden on the humanitarian service, and that it is necessary to ensure the survival of the society by breaking away from the traditional practices and carrying out institutional transformation.
The Society has also provided leadership skills training to national, regional and zonal leaders of the society. Ato Fisiha Abraham, Director of the Association’s Center for Capacity Building for Human Services, said that the training answered the question of what kind of leadership style should we use to implement the strategic plan, and each leadership should implement a ‘transformational’ leadership style and take responsibility for turning the plan into results.
It was also pointed out that the management at all levels is expected to share the knowledge and skills gained from the training with the employees to make the plan effective.