Colleges take key steps toward lasting impact in final phase of STEP project

May 8th 2025- Addis Ababa, Ethiopia- As the STEP project nears its conclusion, the momentum continues. On May 8th and 9th, an engaging and hands-on training brought together trainers from Bahir Dar, Dire Dawa, and Tegbareid colleges to focus on a crucial next step: implementing and scaling up the project’s results in a sustainable and impactful way.

This two-day session centered around creating actionable implementation plans aligned with each college’s broader strategic goals. Trainers explored what it takes to turn project outcomes into lasting change—highlighting the importance of realism, alignment with institutional objectives, and teamwork. One message: “Don’t become a Don Quixote.” In other words, avoid chasing unrealistic ambitions alone. When efforts aren’t grounded in achievable goals or shared among a capable team, implementation can quickly become a “mission impossible.”

Through a structured process, participants assessed progress to date, defined their goals, and translated them into SMART (Specific, Measurable, Achievable, Relevant, Time-bound) activities. Using an impact matrix, they identified which actions could be launched immediately, which ones need further development, and which require reconsideration—always ensuring alignment with college priorities.

While defining clear goals and objectives proved to be a challenging task, the outcome of the training was a powerful one. Each college now holds a practical, strategic roadmap in hand—ready to transform the results of the STEP project into long-term institutional growth and success.