Consortium Christian Relief and Development Association (CRDA)

Consortium Christian Relief and Development Association (CRDA) is an indigenous non-profit umbrella organization. It is an association of Non-Governmental Organizations (NGOs) and Civil Society Organizations (CSOs) engaged in relief and rehabilitation, developmental activities focusing on poverty alleviation and policy advocacy and lobbying. It is the first legally registered association of NGOs/CSOs operating in Ethiopia and serves as a forum for collective vision and action. It allows resource mobilization and the sharing of experiences for effective and sustained impact. CCRDA builds capacity to ensure efficiency and quality are met, efforts are not duplicated and lessons can be learnt. All this is geared towards championing societal transformation.

Establishment
When rains failed in most parts of former Wollo and Tigray provinces of Ethiopia in the 1970s, famine set in and reached a critical stage in 1973. The then existing government of Ethiopia finally acknowledged the existence of one of the worst famines the provinces had ever experienced. About that time, Government officials approached church agencies for the latter's assistance in the relief efforts. A meeting of churches was summoned to discuss the matter. The meeting was called and thereafter participants continued to meet regularly, resulting in the establishment of the Consortium Christian Relief and Development Association (CCRDA), in May 1973.

Vision
CRDA’s Vision is see a poverity free Ethiopian society in which human dignity, justice, equality, and peace prevail; and in which the essential needs of all people are met.

Mission
CCRDA’s Mission is to nurture the emergence and growth of a vibrant civil society by supporting member organizations in building their capacity and strengthening their collective voice and that of their constituencies.

To this effect, CCRDA provides a variety of services to its members and other development partners on the basis of the principles stated in Organizationsl Objectives and Services of CCRDA.

CCRDA’s services reach the wider community, particularly the poor, marginalized and vulnerable citizens, through activities and interventions of its members, which are undertaking community-based, sustainable development interventions and policy advocacy and lobbying.