OF THE FEDERAL DEMOCRATIC REPUBLIC OF ETHIOPIA 7th Year No. 28 ADDIS ABABA - 19 June , 2009 CONTENTS Proclamation No. 240/2001 Ethiopian Women's Development Fund Establishment Proclamation Page 1518 Hive come to PROCLAMATION NO . 240/2001 A PROCLAMATION TO PROVIDE FOR THE ESTABLISHMENT OF THE ETHIOPIAN WOMEN'S DEVELOPMENT FUND WHEREAS , in order to enable women with low living standard organize in income generating activities with the view to alleviating their economic and social problems , it has become necessary to provide them with financial and technical support ; WHEREAS , as the problems of women are problems of the society as a whole and from lessons learned from past women's associations , the situation requires special attention . support and follow - up of the government and the public : WHEREAS , in order to strengthen their all - out par become necessary to create conducive conditions that help women create their own social movement ; WHEREAS , to achieve these objectives , it has become necessary to set up the Ethiopian Women's Development Fund ; NOW , THEREFORE , in accordance with Article 55 ( 1 ) of the Constitution of the Federal Democratic Republic of Ethiopia , it is hereby proclaimed as follows : Unit Price The African Law Archive - No.28 19 June , 2001 – Page 15 19 PART ONE General Short Title This Proclamation may be cited as the “ * Ethiopian Women's Development Establishment Proclamation No. 240/2001 . " Definition ** Region " means the Regions specified in Article +711 ) of the Constitution of the Federal Democratic Republic of Ethiopia and , for the implementation of this proclamation , includes the Addis Ababa and Dire Dawa Administrations . Establishment 1 ) There is hereby established the Ethiopian Women's Development Fund ( hereinafter referred to as " the Fund ' ' ) as a federal government body having its own legal personality . 2 ) The Fund shall be accountable to the Prime Minister . 4. Objectives of the Fund The Fund shall have the following objectives : assist organizations that work for the respect of the rights of women in acquiring managerial skills by coordinating and implementing capacity building , training and other similar programs ; 2 ) provide financial , material and technical support to income generating activities run by organized women groups ; 3 ) without prejudice to the provisions of Sub - Article ( 2 ) of this Article , to create situations which enable crippled women participate in income generating activities and provide them with special assistance so that they could make their own livelihood ; 4 ) organize women around income generating ac tivities or assist intermediary professionals . mass organizations or government institutions in de veloping their technical and managerial capacity in project administration ; 5 ) encourage women to create and expand small - scale businesses : 6 ) in order to bring about change of attitude in the society regarding gender equality , provide financial and technical support , information , education and communication services that increase awareness . 5. Powers and Duties of the Fund The Fund shall have the following powers and duties : 1 ) provide financial and technical support for selling up and strengthening of groupings of women around income generating activities ; The African Law Archive - No.28 19 June , 2001 - Page 1520 coordinate and follow - up the implementation of capacity building and training activities that will make possible the formation and strengthening of women's organizations ; create means by which tools and implements that will reduce the required energy , time and cost and that may increase the productivity of women : ensure that the fund is allocated for essential activities only and that replenishment is made based on requests supported by relevant documents ; 5 ) provide information , education and communication services that will enhance awareness of women regarding gender economic , politieal and social issues ; own property , enter into contracts , sue and be sued in its own name ; 7 ) perform such other activities as may be necessary for the attainment of the objeciives of the Fund . Structure of the Fund 1 ) The Fund shall , at the Central level , have : ( a ) Board of the Ethiopian Women's Develop ment Fund ( hereinafter referred to as the “ Board ” ) : ( b ) A Central office of the Fund , with a head to he appointed by the Government and the neces sary staff . 2 ) The Fund may , as is conducive , be established at Regional level and shall have the following Organs : ( a ) Steering Committee of the Region ; ( b ) Regional office of the fund with a head appointed by the Regional government and the necessary staff . PART TWO Central Organs Of the Fund 7. Members of the Board The Board shall have the following members : 1 ) Head of Women's Sub - sector in the Prime Minister's Office Chairperson 2 ) Heads of Women's Affairs Burcax of the Regions Members 3 ) Representatives of relevant organizations and the institutions designated by the Government Members 4 ) Head of the Central Office of the Fund Secretary Powers and Duties of the Board The Board shall have the following powers and duties : 1 ) guide and supervise the overall administration and operation of the Fund ; 2 ) issue directives related with allocation and utilization of the Fund and monitor the implemen tation of same ; 3 ) without limiting the generality of the foregoing , the Board shall : The African Law Archive No.28 19 June , 2001 Page 152 1 issue project implementation manual and im prove same from time to time ; approve the Fund's annual budget and program ; { C ) approve the Fund's annual financial report : nominate external auditor . ( d ) establish a salary scale for employees of tliv Fund : ( c ) decide on other policy matters concerning the Fund . Meetings of the Board The Board meets once every three months ; provided . however , that extraordinary meetings of the Board may be held at any time at the call of the Chairperon . 2 ) There shall be a quorum where more than half of the members of the Board are present at a meeting 3 ) Any decison of the Board shall be made by a simple majority vote of the members present . In case of a tie . however , the chairperson shall have a casting vote . The Board may draw its own rules of procedure . Powers and Duties of the Central Office The Fund's Central office shall have the powers and duties to : 1 ) promote the objectives and activities of the Fund throughout the country : ensure that the administrative directives of the Fund are complied with ; 3 ) assist regional offices in enhancing their capability in project preparation , promotion , appraisal , im plementation , monitoring and evaluation : 4 ) prepare and submit to the Board consolidated annual budget and programs of the Fund ; im plement same on its approval ; 5 ) direct and coordinate the technical support provided by the fund : 6 ) monitor the budget and work program implemen tation and financial operations of the regional offices and ensure their compliance with the requirements of the Fund's Operational manual ; 7 ) effect expenditures in accordance with the budget approved for the central Office ; 8 ) review replenishment requests from regional of fices and forward withdrawal applications to finan cing sources in accordance with the directives of the Board ; 9 ) prepare and submit , to the Board , quarterly , semi annual and annual reports on the activities , expen ditures and financial situation of the Fund ; The African Law Archive – No.28 19 June , 2001 – Page 1522 10 ) organize , monitor , and supervise the overall capacity building , training , research , educational information services of the Fund ; 11 ) prepare consolidated annual financial statements and ensure that they are audited by external auditors ; make proposals to the Board on policy matters : oversee the implementation of the Fund's activities ; 14 ) Carry out such other activities with a view of developing the resource and persistence of the fund . Head of the Central Office of the Fund 1 ) The Head of the Central Office shall , subject to the overall guidance of the Board , be responsible for proper execution of the Fund's activities in line with the requirements of the Operational Manual . 2 ) Without limiting the generality of Sub - Article ( 1 ) of this Article , the Head of the Central Office shall : exercise the powers and duties of the Central Office provided for in Article 10 of this proclamation ; ( b ) employ and administer the employees of the Central Office in accordance with the Federal Civil Service law ; ( c ) effect expenditure in accordance with the budget approved for the Central Office ; ( d ) represent the Fund in all its dealings with third parties at the level of the Central Office ; may delegate part of his powers and duties to the employees of the Central Office to the extent necessary for the efficient performance of the Fund's activities ; 3 ) In the absence of the Head , the person delegated shall discharge all the functions conferred upon him by the Head of the Central Office . PART THREE Regional Organs Of the Fund 12. Members of the Regional Steering Committee There shall be established , in each Region , a Regional Steering Committee whose members shall be desig nated by the respective Regional Government . The African Law Archive No.28 19 June , 2001 - Page 1523 Powers and Duties of the Regional Steering Committee Each Regional Steering Committee shall have the Powers and duties to : ensure that the operations of the Fund within the region are carried out in accordance with this Proclamation , the Operational Manual and the decisions of the Board ; 2 ) approve draft annual work programs and budget proposals of the Fund for the region to be submitted to the Board through the Central Office for final approval : 3 ) approve the quarterly , semi - annual and the annual physical implementation and financial reports of the Regional Office ; decide on all project proposals , plans and other issues related with the implementation of the Fund's work program for the region . Meetings of the Regional Steering Committee The Regional Steering Committee shall meet once cvery three months ; provided , however , that ex traordinary meetings of the committee may be held at any time at the call of the Chairperson . There shall be a quorum where more than half of the members of the Committee are present al i meeting . 3 ) Any decision of the committee shall be made by a simple majority vote of the members present . In case of a tie , however , the Chairperson shall have a casting vote . The Committee may adopt its own rules of procedure . Powers and Duties of the Regional Office Each Regional Office shall have the powers and duties 1 ) promote the activities of the Fund throughout the Region ; 2 ) prepare and sumbit to the Steering Committee annual work program and budget proposals of the Fund for the region , and submit same to the Central Office upon approval of the Steering Commitice ; 3 ) appraise project proposals by applicants and make recommendations for the Regional Steeering com mittee ; make the necessary arrangements for implemen tation , monitoring and evaluation of projects ; 5 ) utilize properly the fund allocated for projects ; The African Law Archive No.28 19 June , 2001– Page 1524 6 ) coordinate and supervise training and other capacity building activities ' carried out by the Fund in the Region ; 7 ) prepare and submit to the Steering Committee quarterly , semi - annual and annual financial and physical implementation reports , and submit same to the Central Office upon approval by the Steering Committee ; 8 ) give access to any financial and project records to the Central Office ; 9 ) prepare replenishment requests as requirements of the Operational Manual and submit same to the Central Office to effect disbursements ; 10 ) effect expenditures in accordance with the ap proved budget . per the 16. Powers and Duties of Head of Regional Office 1 ) The Head of each Regional Office shall , subject to the overall guidance of the Steering Committee , be responsible for the proper execution of the Fund's regional activities in line with the requirements stated in the Operational Manual ; 2 ) Without limiting the generality of Sub - Article ( 1 ) of this Article , the Head of each Regional Office shall : ( a ) exercise the powers and duties of the Regional Office of the Fund provided for in Article 15 of this Proclamation ; ( b ) employ and administer the employees of the Regional Office in accordance with the Civil Service laws ; ( c ) effect expenditures in accordance with the budget approved for the Regional Office ; ( d ) represent the Fund in all its dealings with third parties at the level of the Regional Office ; ( e ) delegate part of his powers and duties to the employees of the Regional Office for the efficient performance of the Fund's activities in the Region . 3 ) In the asbsence of the Head of the Regional office , the person delegated shall discharge all the func Lous conferred upna him by the Head . PART FOUR Miscellaneous Provisions 17. Ensuring Consistency of practice The Project Implementation Manual shall , in order to ensure consistency of practice , govern all operations and activities of the Fund . The African Law Archive No.28 19 June , 2001-- Page 1525 18. Sources of Finance The Fund which shall be a revolving fund and be utilized to financing trainings for beneficiaries of the fund shall be obtained from the following sources : 1 ) financial contributions of the Federal and Regional governments ; 2 ) financial contributions of donor agencies , and 3 ) _other Sources . 19. Bank Accounts The financial contributions referred to in Article 18 of this Proclamation shall be deposited in a bank in the name of the Fund . 20. Audit The accounts of the Fund shall be audited annually . Procurement and Utilization of Goods Procurement and utilization of goods shall be carried out in accordance with the Operational Manual to be issued based the Government Procurement Regulations and Directives . Issuance of Directives The Board may issue directives for the proper im plementation of this Proclamation . Duty to Cooperate Any person , organ of Goverment administration , and private organization , shall have the duty to cooperate with the Fund in the execution of its activities . 24. Inapplicable laws Any law which is inconsistent with this Proclamation shall not be applicable . 25. Effective Date This Proclamation shall enter into force as of the 19th day of June , 2001 . Done at Addis Ababa , this 191 " day of June , 2001 . PRESIDENT OF THE FEDERAL DEMOCRATIC REPUBLIC OF ETHIOPIA The African Law Archive