Background

SUNARMA was registered as an Ethiopian NGO in February 2001. It grew because of a need in the Wof - Washa forest area for assistance with environmental work. It was formed by a general assembly of 18 founding members, a board of directors of 7 and is managed by an Executive Director. Its 18 founder members include senior ex-government staff with long experience of environmental programmes, directors and staff of both international and Ethiopian NGOs, university staff, freelance consultants and private business representatives. General Assembly membership has now risen to 25. Two members of the Degraded Land Reclamation Youth Project in Wof-Washa have also recently joined the General Assembly.

SUNARMA has many international friends including a group in England who were invited to form a support organisation, SUNARMA UK (SUK). SUK was born and registered independently with the UK Charity Commission (No 1093680). It has its own board and structure and its sole function is to support SUNARMA in Ethiopia. It does this by offering technical input and ideas as well as assisting with fund raising. Its proximity to western donor organizations has also proved an advantage.

SUNARMA's shared vision for rural people in Ethiopia is 'stable and productive communities living in a stable and productive environment's.