ETHIOPIA: ECS establishes Standard Financial Procedures for all the Dioceses
Ethiopian Catholic Secretariat (ECS) is in the final stage of establishing a standard financial procedure that will be adhered to by every secretariat in the Eparchies and Vicariates in the country.
Speaking during the opening of the 5- day Training on Financial Management for Diocesan personnel of Ethiopia Bishop’s Conference held in Addis Ababa on 1st August, the ECS Secretary General, Very Rev. Abba Hagos Hayish said that, the training which is organized by AMECEA is very timely for ECS since it is in line with the plan of the Bishops’ Conference which wants every Eparchy and Vicariate to adhere to common standard of financial management.
Abba Hayish said that, currently the government and private sector including the Church is demanding transparency and accountability in the administration of funds. “This demands preparation to our personnel if we really want to meet the required standards set,” he said.
He thanked the Catholic Bishops of Ethiopia for sending their personnel for the training and AMECEA for organizing the training and for making Ethiopia one of the beneficiaries of the programme.
Presenting the Vision and Mission of AMECEA, the Secretary General of AMECEA Very Rev. Fr. Ferdinand Lugonzo said that, the topic makes a good introduction to the training, while making reference to the objectives set by AMECEA Fathers to work in solidarity and address common pastoral concerns of the region.
Fr Lugonzo said that as AMECEA is growing in terms of number of dioceses and Catholic populations, demands also increase while resources decrease. “How much are we able to manage the little resources we have or receive to serve the pastoral vision and mission of the Church in the region? Fr Lugonzo challenged the participants.
The training brought together 30 participants from all the 9 Eparchies and Vicariates of the conference. The participants included Diocesan Directors, Financial Administrators & Coordinators and Project Managers. They were also trained on Church administration, project Planning and Management, Taxation, Financial Management, Business Ethics and Resource Mobilization.
A cross-section of participants interviewed by AMECEA Online News after the training expressed gratitude to AMECEA for organizing the training as they wished if they could get another chance of similar training in order to help meet the challenges as they prepare themselves to meet the financial standards required by the Ethiopian Government, Partners and the Bishops Conference of Ethiopia.
Speaking to AMECEA Online News, the AMECEA Coordinator for Capacity Building program Ms. Christine Mbugi, said that she was impressed with the turnout of the participants. “The participants took the training very serious and you could tell that they needed that training course,” she said adding, “I believe all the participants will make use of the skills and knowledge they have learnt to implement in their various pastoral duties.”
Ms Mbugi commended the Ethiopia Catholic Secretariat for the preparation of the training even though the notice was short.
The Coordinator said that similar training is planned for Kenya Conference of Catholic Bishops (KCCB) in early September 2017, which will take place in Mombasa, Kenya. “Upon availability of funds the same training is planned for Tanzania and Malawi early next year.
The workshop was supported by USCCB – Pastoral solidarity Fund for the Church in Africa.
