Oromia Development Assossetion (ODA) has extensive experience in designing and implementing Education in Emergencies (EiE) interventions across crisis-affected areas of the Region. Over the years, ODA has consistently delivered high-quality education, protection, and resilience-building services through strong partnerships and community-centered approaches. ODA has immense and proven experience in delivering Education in Emergencies interventions. In every project, ODA not only provides direct learning support but also strengthens local education systems through training, material provision, improved protection services, and community engagement.
Its strong presence at the Woreda level, cost-effective operational model, and solid logistical capacity position ODA as a reliable and impactful EiE actor committed to ensuring that crisis-affected children access safe, inclusive, and uninterrupted education.
Education in Emergencies (EiE)
Protecting the Right to Learn in Crisis-Affected Communities.
Our Commitment
The Oromia Development Association (ODA) is committed to ensuring that children and adolescents affected by conflict, drought, displacement, and other emergencies can access safe, inclusive, protective, and quality education. Through its Education in Emergencies (EiE) programming, ODA works with government institutions, UN agencies, international organizations, and development partners to restore learning opportunities, strengthen education systems, and protect vulnerable children.
ODA’s current EiE portfolio covers crisis-affected communities across Guji, Borena, East Bale, Bale, Horo Guduru Wollega, and North Shewa, reaching children who are out of school or whose education has been disrupted by emergencies.
Our Current Education in Emergencies Experience.
ODA is currently implementing a range of integrated education and child protection interventions in partnership with organizations including UNICEF, Save the Children International, Geneva Global Ethiopia, GPDI, and Imagine1day, with support from partners including The LEGO Foundation, KfW, Finland, FCDO, OCHA/EHF, and UNICEF.
Access to Education
Providing inclusive learning opportunities for out-of-school and crisis-affected children through Accelerated Learning Program (ALP) and ASR/catch-up education approaches.
Safe Learning Environments
Rehabilitating damaged classrooms and improving safe learning spaces so children can continue learning in crisis settings.
Teaching and Learning Materials
Providing essential learning materials, including combined desks, blackboards, exercise books, stationery, learning kits, and other classroom resources.
Child Protection
Strengthening child protection through case management, family tracing and reunification, community-based child protection mechanisms, safeguarding, psychosocial support, positive parenting, and community dialogue.
Inclusive Education
Supporting children with disabilities through identification and screening, assistive devices, tailored support, and strengthening Inclusive Education Resource Centers (IERCs).
Adolescent Girls’ Support
Providing menstrual hygiene management (MHM) services, awareness, rehabilitation support, and hygiene supplies to promote girls’ dignity, participation, and retention.
Life Skills and Resilience
Integrating life-skills education and socio-emotional support to help children and adolescents develop resilience and cope with crisis-related challenges.
School Feeding and Nutrition
Supporting school feeding and home-grown school feeding initiatives to improve children’s nutrition, attendance, and participation in learning.
Education System Strengthening
Building the capacity of teachers, schools, communities, and local education authorities to improve the quality, inclusiveness, and sustainability of education services during and beyond emergencies.
Our Approach
ODA applies a child-centred, inclusive, protective, and resilience-focused approach to EiE. We combine education, child protection, psychosocial support, disability inclusion, WASH, life skills, and community engagement to address the multiple barriers faced by children affected by emergencies.
Our interventions prioritize continuity of learning, protection, inclusion, community ownership, and system strengthening, while working closely with government education structures and local communities.
Where We Work
ODA’s current EiE interventions extend across crisis-affected areas of Guji, Borena, East Bale, Bale, Horo Guduru Wollega, and North Shewa Zones of Oromia Region, including Saba Boru, Aga Wayu, Girja, Dire, Dubuluk, Wadera, Odo Shakiso, Ginnir, Agarfa, H. Abote, Debre Libanos, Abadengoro, and Horo.
Building Resilience Through Education
ODA believes that education is both a right and a critical pathway to recovery and resilience. By keeping children learning, strengthening protective environments, supporting teachers and families, and reinforcing local education systems, ODA contributes to ensuring that emergencies do not permanently interrupt children’s education and development.
ODA welcomes strategic partnerships with government institutions, UN agencies, donors, international NGOs, foundations, and other development partners to expand innovative and sustainable Education in Emergencies and child protection interventions across crisis-affected communities.
ODA Institutional Capacity and Operational Effectiveness
As a membership-based organization, ODA operates with a strong foundation of accountability, transparency, and community ownership. This governance structure ensures that interventions are driven by local priorities and grounded in participatory decision-making. As a result, ODA is able to implement projects with exceptional efficiency and minimal administrative overhead, allowing the majority of resources to directly benefit children, families, and communities in need.
ODA’s institutional presence is reinforced by its well-established zonal offices across all zones of the region. These decentralized structures enable effective coordination, rapid deployment of staff, and timely execution of both development and emergency projects. This regional footprint ensures that ODA can respond swiftly based on the nature, urgency, and geographic scope of emerging needs.
In addition, ODA maintains strong logistical and operational assets, including a fleet of vehicles, fully functional field offices, and reliable supply-chain and procurement systems. These capacities support the timely delivery of learning materials, school furniture, and emergency supplies, while also ensuring continuous monitoring, quality assurance, and rapid response during crises.
Overall, ODA’s institutional strength, community-driven governance, and operational readiness position the organization as a capable, trusted, and competitive partner for delivering high-impact, cost-effective, and timely humanitarian and development interventions.