Company Profile
The Ethiopian Society of Sociologists, Social Workers and Anthropologists (ESSSWA) was founded in June 1996 as a professional society of sociologists, social workers and anthropologists with full legal recognition in April 1997. ESSSWA re-registered according to the new Charities and Societies proclamation number 621/2001 as Ethiopian Resident Society with the Certificate number of 0350 in November 2009.
The supreme body of the association is the general assembly composed of all members electing Administrative Board of Seven individuals that manage ESSSWA based on their competence and potential contribution to advance the objectives of the association. The Board meets once in a quarter to ensure smooth operation of the association’s planned activities.
ESSSWA works with a vision to see sustainable and positive social change in Ethiopia and to be active participant in the transformation process. The mission of the society is to represent the interests of the professionals of Sociology, Social Work and Anthropology and advance the application of these disciplines for the well being of the Ethiopian Society. ESSSWA realizes its missions through policy research and advocacy, education, training, networking and information exchange services to our members, government and nongovernment organizations, the private sectors and the society at large.
Our core values guide all activities and serve as a constant reminder of what is most important for us to succeed. The core values are professionalism, integrity and leadership, unity in diversity, innovation and learning, quality service, participation and partnership.
ESSSWA had over six hundred fifty members working in governmental, nongovernmental, multi and bilateral UN agencies and higher learning institutes. The society had three regional chapters in Bahir Dar, Awassa and Mekele. Besides, ESSSWA had members working in regional universities such as Jimma, Gondar, Hwassa, Haramaya, Gondar, Semera, Jijiga, Bahir Dar, Dilla and in many of the sector line offices. Prior accomplishments of the society include sponsoring and undertaking research, providing training, conducting seminars, conferences, publishing articles, books and proceedings. The trainings, seminars and conferences are delivered to members, non member stakeholders concerned with the issue including high level government officials who can influence the policy environment.
The areas covered in research, workshops, conferences and publications are diverse which includes cultural practices, values and codes, resettlement, displacement, refugee, pastoral livelihoods, development, youth, elderly, child abuse, neglect and sexual exploitation, HIV/AIDS, orphanage, care and support, crafts, pottery and other important social, economic, cultural and development issues.
ESSSWA works for the professional interests of members from sociology, social work and anthropology professions. ESSSWA works with Oak Foundation on Child Protection: Child Sexual Abuse and Exploitation with the objective of enhancing the capacity of Social Workers working with children exposed to sexual exploitation and abuse. ESSSWA had also ongoing discussions bearing fruits regarding a course on children with Addis Ababa University, Department of Sociology and School of Social Work. Besides, ESSSWA works with The World Bank as a lead for the National Social Protection Platform on Social Protection and Safety Nets in Ethiopia.
