It's a Monty Python Week
on J and M in Assosa (Ethiopia), 16/Dec/2007 11:40, 34 days ago
Jeremy has decided this has been a“Monty Python week’You often wonder how John Cleese etc came up with the ideas they have done– you just need to be here to realize it is all possible. First of all on Monday we heard that our ex manager, our current manager’s manager had been deposed following the evaluations. Then we heard he had resigned, then we heard from one of our political experts that the Party would not accepthis resignation. They say he is a ’good man’ and there is nobody with his ability to do his job. Certainly he is well educated and speaks excellent English. When I suggested that he might not want his job back my political friend laughed and said ‘Oh he will, it is just a game.’ Nothing further has happened and he has not been seen.As you know Jeremy has been working flat out on procurement processes which he hopes to finish this week. The contracts for the purchase of computers and office furniture have been signed some weeks ago, the equipment is ready to be delivered but this week when payment requested we were told that the Bureau of Finance has lost the contracts. There were 5 contracts signed in total. Our only hope is that there might be copies in the office of the man who is currently in prison. So we would like to get into his office but this is no mean feat as there are no duplicate keys and the offices have metal doors. I suggesting calling with his wife and collecting the key but that was totally rejected as nobody can go into his office except him. There is no concept that everything in your office is MI property. So the solution is to write to the Prison requesting that they bring him to the MI personally. I cannot think of anything worse for all concerned, totally humiliating for him.Then we had a trainer who completed a 5 day training course a few weeks ago and he came to collect his salary for training. Unbeknownst to us he had been a guarantor for Muleneh the man who died in the accident 18 months ago. Muleneh in turn had been a guarantor for another expert who disappeared after we had been here a month. Apparently this expert had purchased goods, a samsonite case, with money borrowed from the MI and not re paid the MI for them. Our trainer is now being refused payment until the case is replaced. The trainer bought a case in Addis last week but the MI refused to accept it as… wait for it… it is the wrong colour! Now he is stuck with a case he does not want and still no payment- and then they wonder why the MI has such a poor reputation. How could you encourage anyone to train at the MI in those circumstances.The UNDP wrote on Wednesday 12th to say that money would not be paid for the delivery of equipment to the Internet café (sorry Knowledge Centre) at the MI unless invoices were submitted by Friday 14thas it is the end of their financial year. This means guessing the amount to claim and as it is bound to be different from the amount claimed the auditors in turn will have lots of questions.It is all such hard work this bureaucracy.Maybe we are just tired but I think we are feeling glad we are leaving!However you can see all of these being Monthy Python moments. I am sure that things like this happen all the time but this week they have all involved us.Really bad news is that 2 of our experts left this week– of course 2 of the better ones. They are going to work on projects for the HIV and AIDS sector in extremely remote rural areas for twice the salary. I thought they might not actually take the jobs but the money is good and they would like to complete a masters degree in a year or two.They will return to the bright lights of Assosa every weekend. We have been to areas they are going to and I suppose the only thing in their favour is that there is nothing to spend money on so you can save a lot!Although it is a blow for the MI we are pleased for them and I don’t think I am being to arrogant in saying that they are now better equipped to do a good job. It is good for the MI’s reputation to be able to produce experts like this.We have recommended that they are replaced with more experienced graduates if possible.We are off to Addis on Sunday 16thuntil 1stJanuary so I wish you all a wonderful Christmas and a Happy New Year in 2008.See you in the New Y