The success of the ESSP depends on how key Ethiopian partner organizations and stakeholders, such as research institutions, ministries, universities, regional organizations, and civil society, perceive its relevance and utility, can be engaged in fashioning it, and are convinced of its usefulness in making rural development strategy decisions. Only through such levels of institutional engagement will the knowledge support system be able to provide improved and commonly accepted approaches that can foster, enhance, and improve synergies among the varied and multiple development efforts in Ethiopia's rural economy.
In addition to its partnership with EDRI, the ESSP program partners with:
- Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development (MoARD)
- Ministry of Finance and Economic Development (MoFED)
- Ministry of Trade and Industry
- Ethiopia Chamber of Commerce
- Addis Ababa University
- Central Statistical Authority (CSA)
- Ethiopian Agricultural Research Organization (EARO)
- Ethiopian Economics Association (EEA)
- Regional agricultural universities and research institutions
- Alemaya University of Agriculture
- Amhara Regional Agricultural Research Institute (ARARI)
- Oromia Agricultural Research Institute (OARI)
- Private Research firms
- African Center for Economic and Historical Studies (ACEHS)
- Ethiopian Technology Policy Studies Association (ETPSA)
- AgriDev Consulting
Thus, collaborative research arrangements are being forged with specific institutions in a flexible manner to tailor the program to the specific needs of the action research priorities or types of analysis being undertaken.