Sustaining the operations through increasing membership, activities and fund raising

The Ethiopian Poultry Producers Association (EPPA) is a membership-based association established in 2010 initially by 10 volunteer poultry producers in Bishoftu town. Currently, its memberbase increased to 37 Ethiopian poultry farmers, ranging from small to big enterprises. EPPA is a beginning association lacking a good service portfolio and institutional capacity to serve the Ethiopian Poultry sub-sector in general and its members in particular. Though the importance of the association is acknowledged by its members, non-members, board, government and other stakeholders, EPPA needs advisory and financial supports to fully grow in order to perform its roles and professionally represent the poultry producers in Ethiopia. In order to professionalize EPPA, Agriterra in partnership with Agribusiness Support Facility (ABSF) in 2014 developed a funded Action Plan towards strengthening and establishing the management function of the association through subsidizing management staff, setting up a governance structure, technical backstopping to help the association analyze and understand the poultry sub-sector, development of 3 year strategic plan, and various trainings and exchange visits. EPPA implemented the 2014 Action very well and made significant improvements in its operations. EPPA has requested Agriterra and ABSF to continue support in 2015. The 2015 Action Plan will mainly focus on increasing the membership base of small-scale poultry producers through actively approaching these potential new members and through putting extra effort on organizing activities or lobby results that provide significant benefits to the members. Furthermore, the 2015 Action Plan will focus on sustaining the operations of the association through assistance in accessing various other funds and membership fees.