Professionalisation of primary cooperatives and SACCO BHAG: Serving 50.000 farmers/members and raise them to Ethiopian middle income  and to be a model Union nationwide. Dire Multipurpose Farmersrsquo; Cooperative Societies Union was established in 2009 with founding members of those ldquo;off springsrdquo; (38 multipurpose primary cooperatives) in rural kebeles of Dire Dawa Administration encompassing around 6 825 individual farmers and pastoralists. Its initial capital was Birr 38 000. Currently  the union has increased its individual beneficiaries under the member cooperatives to 7700. Its capital has grown from 38 000 Birr in 2001 E.C. to 8 550 151.70 at the end of 2010 E.C. Since its establishment  the union has been providing various services for farmers and pastoralists of rural communities. The focus with Dire Dawa for the 3 year project plan is:    - To Create PCs which are independant and active (4 PCs  and irrigation coops Gabro village and Legebira kebele)        ? With own capital  store  warehouse  staff. Can operate independant. Independant business. Fullfill inspection criteria FCA.    - Make PCs member of the SACCO. Profitable SACCO business.        ? 10 active PC SACCOs connected with the SACCO Union   - Increased capital at Union level                   ? 2 million Birr in two years Priorities for 2020 AP: 1. Further strengthening of 4 selected PCs 2. Creating RSACCO women groups and connect them to the SACCO 3. Land and poultry farm via FACT and capital realisation via IC The BHAG of the organisation is: Serving 50.000 farmers/members and raise them to Ethiopian middle income  and to be a model Union nationwide. The goal for this year project is to further strengthen the 4 selected primary cooperatives  creating RSACCO women groups and connect them to the SACCO  and obtain land and the poultry farm via FACT and generate capital for it via IC. Dire FCU is located in the city state of Dire Dawa in the east of Ethiopia towards Djibouti. The town used to be a busy business center on the route between Djibouti and Addis Ababa. It still is but a bit less  although the new train rail should improve the situation. Agriculturally the area is arid and prone to drought spells. There is limited irrigation available. Most common crop is Sorghum and vegetables (onion  tomato  etc.) in irrigated areas. The area is not very stable and often travel outside the city is limited. The Union focuses on input supply (fertilizer  chemicals  improved seeds) to their farmers. There is close collaboration between the Union and Hazera (an Israeli seed company) an agronomist on Union level is trained by Hazera and hybrid seeds are sold to the Union. Output marketing is not happening at the moment due to limited surplus from the members and the proximity of the Dire Dawa market to the farmers.The focus with the Union is on their primary cooperatives and the SACCO activities. Furthermore  the Union tries to expand its activities via the obtainment of land via a FACT trajectory. Mamp;E of these activities will be done via the audit reports of the Union and the improved activities at SACCO level. Primary cooperatives will be monitored based on their action plans.Sustainability of the project should be guaranteed via the strengthening of the Union and the PCs. The cost sharing principle is implemented and gradually shifted from Agriterra to the Union.Gender will be the focus for this year since we will include more actions on SACCO and women groups here.