End Line Evaluation for Green Tanning Initiative (GTI) project in Ethiopia

Overview

This end-line evaluation covers the EU-funded Green Tanning Initiative, implemented by Solidaridad Ethiopia with Stahl Holdings BV, MVO Netherlands, the Ethiopian Leather Industries Development Institute (LIDI) and the Ethiopian Leather Industry Association (ELIA). The project aimed to contribute to a sustainable, quality, environmentally friendly leather value chain that generates green business growth and jobs in Ethiopia. It introduced chrome-free tanning and gave technical, social and gender training to abattoirs, raw hide and skin (RHS) collectors, tanneries and leather manufacturers, mainly in Addis Ababa. The evaluation assessed relevance, effectiveness, efficiency, impact and sustainability near the end of the project period (2018 to late 2021).

Key findings

• Respondents rated the project positively on the survey: relevance 74.6%, effectiveness 73.3%, efficiency 68%, outcome/impact 74%, sustainability 73% and organisational set-up 70%.
• The project planned to benefit 1,500 workers (60% women) directly; according to Solidaridad Ethiopia, 900 women (70%) took soft-skills training, but the evaluators concluded that the 60% women target was not achieved.
• Several planned results were not delivered: international and local buyer matchmaking and the LIDI testing scheme (Output 3), business cases for 2 tanneries, access to finance through 2 financial institutions, a national industry code of conduct, and full adoption of energy, water and chemical saving systems for an EU niche market.
• Addis Ababa Abattoirs reported skin defects falling from 15,564 kg in 2012 to 7,794 kg in 2013 and union–management negotiations shortening from four years to four days after training; it also received 1,000 slaughter knives.
• Abattoirs were linked as suppliers to 3 tanneries, tanneries developed 3 local sourcing plans, staff from 20 tanneries exchanged lessons through peer-to-peer sessions, and LIDI developed and trained on a cleaner production guideline with project support.
• By November 2021, EUR 1,212,615.69 of the EUR 1,299,246.42 budget had been spent (93%); the line for wider uptake by 20 tanneries (Outcome 4) was only 53% spent.
• Wallia tannery collapsed because of financial problems, other tanneries shifted to the local market during COVID-19, and chrome-free leather is priced 10–15% above conventional leather, which made it harder to find buyers.

In figures

Recommendations

• Extend the project by one or two years to complete remaining activities with the remaining budget, and strengthen staffing with competent personnel.
• Continue support at current sites, including financial capacity support for skin collectors and some tanneries, help for late adopters, and in-kind equipment.
• Train and accredit slaughter professionals, provide slaughter houses, and give skin collectors incentives (e.g. salt, knives, gloves, seed money) to protect skin quality.
• Solidaridad Ethiopia should focus on market linkage and job creation and leave training to LIDI and ELIA, and develop a marketing strategy with tanneries, unions and government.
• Conduct business case development and a feasibility study before developing future project proposals.
• Target women as an independent beneficiary group and lobby government and tannery owners to open access to leadership positions.
• Review and reorganise budget lines against activity plans, and make the project technical committee function effectively.

Lessons learned

• Economic incentives (including in-kind support such as slaughter knives) combined with practical skills quickly helped bring about social change, such as better union–management relations and gender assertiveness.
• Market demand must be matched to the supplying sector's capability, including raw material quality, price competitiveness, workmanship and cross-cultural communication with buyers.
• Appointing one independent commercial agent in Ethiopia to handle foreign buyer requests could improve communication between buyers and suppliers.
• Industrial projects need at least five years to achieve planned impact and sustainability.
• Appraisal and feasibility studies before launch, and clear roles for factories and partners, are crucial for achievement and sustainability.

Methodology

The evaluation used a mixed-methods, participatory design based on DAC criteria. It combined a Likert-scale survey of 159 respondents (collected with KoBoToolbox, analysed in SPSS 26) drawn by stratified random and purposive sampling from target tanneries, Addis Ababa Abattoirs, two RHS suppliers and a leather manufacturer, with key informant interviews (Solidaridad, CSR Netherlands, LIDI, ELIA, Ministry of Trade and others), FGDs, field observation and document review. The report gives the female share of respondents inconsistently (27.5%, 33% and 34%).

Limitations

• The evaluators found no documented monitoring and evaluation reports, only a steering committee presentation from July 2021.
• The evaluation took place before the project closed; some activities and a planned policy dialogue were still pending for December 2021.
• The evaluation team had difficulty scheduling interviews because coordination depended on the project coordinator.