The Role of NGOs in Human Capital Development

‘Human Capital' development is indispensable in developing countries like Ethiopia where in shortage of physical and financial capital with abundant labor force and natural resources is evident. Education, training and health care are the most important instruments in the development of human capital. In this regard, this work aims to examine World Learning/BESO II Project's primary education improvement program in Sidama Zone, SNNPRS. The work has revealed that the project's objectives were appropriate in promoting primary education in the region and the Zone. The project also has mobilized the local community with the limited amount of support it provided to the project schools. Initiating the local community to contribute for the improvement of the schools, it has developed a sense of ownership. Consequently, the enrollment of students, especially girls, had increased. The project has also contributed a lot for the improvement of quality education in the project schools. The project ,however, failed short of sustainability. This work, therefore, will be useful to educational planners, policy makers, development /educational researchers and NGOs working in similar projects.

Abera Argo, MA in Regional and Local Development Studies;BA in Educational Administration at Addis Ababa University.He has served as a lecturer at the department of Governance and Development Studies, Hawassa University and an Area Development Program Officer at World Vision Ethiopia. He is currently the Dean of Hawassa College of Teacher Education