RCCHE sees the current lack of participation as an important contributing factor to the widespread poverty in Ethiopia - both as a root cause and as an effect.
RCCHE has been engaged in several awareness raising activities in the country side including recent participation in the 2005 national elections.
RCCHE is currently implementing the project “right to participation for the rural poor”. The project has the specific objectives of increasing the knowledge and skills of poor people in conducting public affairs at local level.
The project aims to improve the target groups capability to mobilize, organize, and form free associations and join existing ones to claim and defend their rights and interests. To reach this goal small community based organisations has been formed and they know meet regularly and discuss affairs of importance to their daily lives.