MCMDO Launches New Humanitarian Project, Bringing Teams Together for Effective Implementation
Mothers and Children Multisectoral Development Organization (MCMDO) officially launched its new humanitarian project through a two day staff induction and pre deployment orientation held on 22 and 23 October 2026 in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia. Funded by the Ethiopia Humanitarian Fund (EHF) through its 2026 First Standard Allocation, the US$2.5 million project will run for 12 months and aims to reach 161,301 people across Yalo, Dangur, Wenbera, Abiy Adi town and Tahtay Adiyabo.
Titled Integrated Multisectoral Support to Newly Displaced People and Vulnerable Host Communities, the project brings together eight sectors: Agriculture, Camp Coordination and Camp Management (CCCM), Education, Health, Emergency Shelter and Non Food Items (ESNFI), Nutrition, Protection, and Water, Sanitation and Hygiene (WASH). The induction brought together project staff, MCMDO management and head office coordinators to strengthen coordination, clarify implementation responsibilities and establish a shared understanding of the project’s objectives and expected results.
Building a Shared Vision for Better Results
Opening the training, Dr. Solomon Getachew, Executive Director of MCMDO, emphasized the organization’s ongoing transformation and encouraged the project team to be active contributors to this journey. He called on staff to work collaboratively, take ownership of their responsibilities and strengthen coordination across departments and sectors, stressing that the team’s collective commitment would be essential to achieving meaningful results for the communities they serve.
Throughout the two days, presenters from MCMDO’s programme, human resources, finance, compliance and technical teams shared guidance on the project’s operational and sector specific priorities. The discussions covered implementation procedures, financial management and reporting, risk management, donor compliance, monitoring and accountability, as well as the activities and indicators guiding the project’s eight sectors.
The two-day orientation was facilitated by Resom Sisay, Addis Ababa Area Manager and Protection, Gender and Inclusion (PGI) Focal Person, whose effective facilitation helped guide the sessions, encourage participation and maintain a clear focus throughout the programme. His contribution supported constructive discussions, coordination among participants and the development of a shared understanding of the project’s implementation priorities.
Mulugeta Tolera, Humanitarian Response Programme (HRP) Director, delivered an in depth presentation on the project’s objectives, planned interventions, implementation priorities and expected results. His session provided staff with a deeper understanding of the project’s overall framework, the rationale behind its planned activities, and the approaches required to translate project objectives into effective action. He also discussed key implementation procedures, coordination mechanisms, reporting requirements, procurement processes and monitoring arrangements, helping participants gain a clearer understanding of their respective responsibilities and the operational steps needed to ensure coordinated, accountable and effective project delivery.
The orientation covered key administrative, financial, compliance and technical aspects of project implementation. The Human Resources session addressed staff responsibilities and deployment related matters, while the communications session highlighted visibility requirements and donor recognition. Financial management and risk and compliance sessions focused on financial requests, reporting, documentation, accountability and adherence to donor requirements. The MEAL session introduced monitoring, evaluation, accountability and learning processes, emphasizing the importance of tracking progress, documenting results and using evidence to improve programme quality.
Technical discussions covered the project’s eight sectors: Agriculture, Camp Coordination and Camp Management (CCCM), Education, Health, Emergency Shelter and Non Food Items (ESNFI), Nutrition, Protection, and Water, Sanitation and Hygiene (WASH). These sessions explored sector priorities, planned interventions, indicators and implementation requirements, helping staff develop a shared understanding of the activities and expected results across the different project areas.
Turning Project Priorities into Action
Beyond the presentations, participants worked in groups according to their respective project implementation areas. The exercises focused on developing woreda level implementation and action plans, including risk mitigation measures. This collaborative process helped translate the project’s objectives into practical plans tailored to local needs while encouraging coordination among field teams.
Learning from Experience to Achieve Better Results
Dr. Solomon Getachew encouraged staff to apply lessons from previous projects, anticipate challenges, strengthen coordination and build on MCMDO’s achievements to improve implementation through teamwork and accountability.
The two day induction marked an important step in preparing the team to deliver timely, needs based humanitarian assistance to newly displaced people and host communities.
The project is implemented by MCMDO with funding from the Ethiopia Humanitarian Fund (EHF).
