Kotebe University of Education

___________________________________________________________________________

Project:
Ethiopian Agricultural Business Corporation: Gymnasium
and Recreation Center

Project Proposal

February 2022
Addis Ababa
Project:
Ethiopian Agricultural Business Corporation:
Gymnasium and Recreation Center

Project Proposal

Submitted to:

Ethiopian Agricultural Business Corporation

February 2022
Addis Ababa
Table of Content
I. Technical proposal
1. 1. Background
Creating fit and healthy society who has a culture of living active lifestyle is indispensible
factor for the development of a nation. For enhancing productivity of citizens and building
human capital that are required

Creating fit and healthy society who has a culture of living active lifestyle is indispensible
factor for the enhancement of productivity of citizens and building of social capital
essential for the development of a nation. Being physically active is one of the most significant
actions that people of all ages can take to improve their health In light of this, making an
investment of resources to have people who demonstrate positive attitude and are able to
make dicision to lead active lifestyle is considered as essential decision to promote
productivity of citizens and building human capital that could be the bedrock for the
development. Moreover, research findings and documents of international organizations
report that developing active society has considerable impact on the economic development
of a country through mainly reducing medical cost.

To build healthy and active citizens, the low-cost tool is using sport, physical activies and
recreation. Regular physical activity is one of the most important things to maintain and
preserve human health. Being physically active is one of the most significant actions that people
of all ages can take to improve their health. Participation in physical activities, sports and
recreation Performing physical activity regularly can help to keep individuals thinking, learning,
and judgment skills sharp as they age. It can also reduce the risk of depression and anxiety and
help to sleep better. In contrast, Physical Inactivity delivers the following health consequences
such as overweight, diabetes, high blood pressure, high cholesterol, asthma, arthritis, poor
health status, premature death, heart disease, some cancers, loss of bone density, stiffening of
joints, weakening of muscles, weakening of heart, & lungs and degeneration of cellular energy
systems (Mokdad AH et al., 2003).Currently, Physical inactivity has become a challenge due to
the rising rate of non-communicable diseases in human life (Saqib et al., 2020).
For the people to be engaged in physical activities, sports and recreation, they should be

provided with opportunities. One of the opportunities is availability and access of sport and

recreational facilities.
Globally, there is considerable evidence that physical fitness, and the behaviors that build it, can
reduce risk of illness and early death (Paoli A, et al.,2014; Washington, D.C. U.S. Dept. of
Health and Human Services ,2000; Hopkins WG & Walker NP, 1988; Brown C et al., 2014).
Physical activities are included in sustainable physical activity, performed with sufficient
duration, frequency, and intensity to promote good health and wellbeing (Bjornara HB et al.,
2016). These physical activities need practice in a week. An adult needs to do moderate-intensity
sustainable physical activity at least 150 minutes throughout the week, according to the WHO
recommendations (Malm C et al., 2019).
In this modern era, physical activity has become the priority in public health from childhood to
adults, from a young age to an older age among men and women (Lebrun C., 2011). Because of
that many government and non-government organizations are giving attention to build fitness
centers like gymnasium in their compound(provide opportunity to the community or convenient
environment to attract the society to participate in sport and recreational activities).Building such
kind of fitness centers can create experience for everyone in the organization to understand the
health benefits of physical activity. Building gymnasium in the organization is the right decision,
because, Physical activity has a strong relationship with major non-communicable diseases
(Saqib et al., 2020). 

Physical inactivity causes 6 % global deaths (Dominique Wakefield, 2014). The sedentary
lifestyle is the leading cause of the increased mortality rate globally, and WHO stated that about
3.2 million deaths per year are occurring due to physical inactivity across the world (WHO,
2020).According to Saqib et al. (2020) globally people are less active due to technological
advancement, social changes, and economic growth. In ancient times people were more active
because they need to find food (hunting and gathering) and fight or flight for safety. In this
technologically advanced era, studies explored that leisure activity and sports levels have
increased. Physical activity is allied with transportation, housework, or any other human body act
that needs energy for consumption due to different economic growth interventions for economic
growth (Ibanez J, 2005).Modern technological advancement is the main factor in declining the
level of physical activity in developed countries like the USA and developing countries, for
example, China. Physical activity level was decreased by about 35% in men and 46% in women
from 1991 to 2006 in China (Paffenbarger RS et al., 1991).
Many studies that have been conducted in different countries and populations to explore the
benefits of physical activity demonstrated that physical activity is much more useful than
medication in some health conditions (Jr RS P et al., 2011). Physical activity and health status
have a linear relationship as physical activity increase, and then physical fitness and health also
improved (Naci H, and Ioannidis JP, 2013).

A healthy society is a state of complete physical, mental and social well-being and not
merely the absence of disease or infirmity. The enjoyment of highest attainable standard of
health is one of the fundamental rights of every human being regardless of race, political
belief, economic or social conditional Constitution (WHO, 1946). The societies’ right to live
healthy lives is declared by world health organization. But, in the contemporary world, the
health of the society is becoming a critical issue. To confirm this, World Health Organization
2010; stated that, non-communicable diseases are the leading causes of death globally killing
more people each year than all other causes combined. Contrary to popular opinion, available
data demonstrate that nearly 80% of deaths due to non-communicable diseases occur in low- and
middle-income countries. This is also the issue of Ethiopia according to the report of World
Health Organization (WHO, 2011) estimated that 34% of Ethiopian population is dying from
non-communicable diseases, with a national cardiovascular disease prevalence of 15%, cancer
and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease prevalence of 4% each, and diabetes mellitus
prevalence of 2%. Communicable maternal, perinatal and nutritional conditions accounted for
57% of the deaths. This estimation is compared with East African countries, such as Kenya,
Uganda, and Eritrea, the result is double burden of non-communicable diseases, with higher
prevalence of pre-existing communicable, maternal, perinatal and nutritional conditions,
constrains the already-meagre health resources and hinders economic development in Ethiopia
(Berhane Y,2006).

Non communicable disease threaten progress towards the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable
Development, which includes a target of reducing premature deaths from non-communicable
disease by one-third by 2030.At the present time, health care costs for companies are drastically
increasing. This issue has become an increasing problem due to the many complications that
come with individuals not being physically active. In order for companies to think about ways to
reduce costs, perhaps management can look to exercise as a way to improve employee
 performance, mood and subjective health. As individuals are becoming more and more educated
on the topic of physical exercise and the benefits, the numbers of gym memberships have
increased as well. In addition to this, the recent studies showed that physical exercise had in fact
been proven to increase mood and increase job performance. The positive effects of exercise on
work performance span far and wide. In addition to sharpening mental performance, regular
physical activity improved time-management skills, which in turn improved the ability to meet
deadlines (Thomas, et al, 2003).

As more individual recognize the benefits of exercise, the ability to do so during the work day
will become more important; employee fitness center will reflect the concern on organization.
The significance of employee fitness center for organizational effectiveness is confirmed by
different authors. According to Debats, (1891) employee fitness program viewed as a mechanism
for recruiting and retaining employees. Furthermore, it has been shown that Corporations are
becoming more concerned with stress since it has been perceived that high stress levels result in
poorer work performance, lower productivity, higher turnover, absenteeism and accident.
(Galt,1985). In line with this, Driver & Ratliff, 1982,are show that, Employees fitness program
are through to reduce the impact of stress by improving the health of the employees through
higher fitness level.

The Federal Democratic Republic of Ethiopia National Sport Policy (MYSC, 1999), Article
3.1.3, supported citizens physical exercise participation and stated that, facilitate the participation
of employees of governmental and non-governmental organizations in various sport activities at
their working places by working in conjunction with their employers. Furthermore, the current
Government supports the society’s participation in physical activities and becoming part of the
reform. Therefore, based on the above Global experiences, Ethiopian Agricultural Business
Corporation (EABC) management has decided to establish Employees ’Fitness Center
(Gymnasium) grounded on the following major needs;

2. The need of Ethiopian Agricultural Business Corporation

Ethiopian Agricultural Business Corporation has early history of serving the community using
the sport and recreational facilities that it had them constructed in its compound. Although they
look now abandoned and kept without use and maintenance for longer time, the standard outdoor
facilities that include tennis, basketball, handball, and volleyball courts and the football field
were , in the past, used for community sports and recreation. The employees of the organization,
the sport clubs found in Addis Ababa, and the nearby community around the organization were
provided with the services of using the facilities for sports’ trainings and competitions.

It is obvious that these services provided opportunities to the youth of the time to unmask their
potential for sports and contributed to the wider community in the promotion of health and
productive citizens.

Being Ccognizant of the contributions of sport facilities to provide opportunity for participation
these facts, tThe Ethiopian Agricultural Business Corporation has decided to revive the services
it was providing to the community using its courts and fileds, For this purpose, the organization
is, now, underway to construct the new full-fledged gymnasium. In parallel with the
construction, it has planned to make the purchase of fitness machines and equipment. To
successfully accomplish the project and launch the program, EABC is interested to be consulted
by experienced organization. As a result, the corporation requested Kotebe University of
Education by the letter identified with Ref. No. 45 አግሥኮ/ሰፖ 7 dated: 07 ታህህሣሥ 2014 to
provide it a consultancy service. With this regard, the corporation wants the university to consult
it in all aspects of the project mainly focusing on:

 Preparing cost estimation of the fitness machines

 Preparing specification of the bid document for purchasing the fitness machines
 Evaluating the bid documents submitted by the bidders against the specification
 Consulting on the interior design of the gym in accordance with the purpose
 Consulting the installation of the machines and the gym set-up
 Preparing written and practical test to recruit fitness instructors
 Giving training to the selected instructors in preparation to launching the fitness and
recreational programs

According to the request , Kotebe Education University has an interest to provide consultancy
that will address all the listed needs and others essential needs that have not been described in
the request letter. The university has the required mandate and the experiences of providing
consultancy services to the multitude of organizations entering contract agreements. As a
University, Kotebe University of Education is mandated to provide consultancy services
Therefore, the University gladly accepted to entertain the request provide consultancy services
on the expressed needs of the Ethiopian Agricultural Business Corporation.

To realize the consultancy service, the University recruited relevant professionals from different
disciplines through a merit-based competition and developed this Project proposal.

3. Objectives

2.1 General objective

The general objective of this consultancy service is to counsel the Ethiopian Agricultural
Business Corporation to establish a full-fledged gymnasium and recreation center in the
compound of corporation.

2.2 Specific objectives

The following are the specific objectives of the consultancy service

 Consult the Corporation to establish a standard gymnasium in the Ethiopian Agricultural

Business Corporation compound;
 Firew: To provide advice and guidance on the design of the buildings and layout of
gymnasium and recreation center
 Advise the corporation to procure an up-to-date and standard gymnasium machine and
equipment;
 To advise and support proper installation of the purchased machines and equipment;
 Counsel the corporation to recruit, train and supervise fitness trainers for the gymnasium;
 Direct the corporation about the management of the gymnasium and recreation center to
deliver sustainable services to its employees and the surrounding community;
 Guide the corporation on the mechanism of using the gymnasium and recreation center
services as a means of revenue generation.
4. Benefits of the Corporation

The Corporation obtain the following benefits from the gymnasium and recreation Center

1. Enhance the employees’ health status and improve work efficiency

2. Reduce health care coast of EABC
3. Provide reasonable price fitness services to the surrounding community
4. Generate income to support government allotted budget of EABC
5. Outsource sport facilities for the national and international sport tournament of the
country
6. Create a conducive working and social environment in EABC
7. Create emotional attachment between the EABC and the employees via physical
exercise and sport participation
8. Considered the value of employee fitness program as occupational therapy role
9. Participation in physical fitness program becomes organizational(EABC) culture

5. Core Consulting Activities

The following are core consulting points covered during the consultation period;

 Firew:Design and construction

o Consulting design and construction of the construction gymnasium and recreation
center

 Solomon: Processing Procurement Activities

o need identification

o prepare specification of all gymnasium machines and equipment

o prepare bid document

o vendor selection.

o payment negotiation.

 Dr.Yemane Team: Consulting on Operational issues

o Installation of gymnasium equipment and machines;
 o Developing gymnasium guidelines, training manuals andquality assurance for
gymnasium and recreation center;
o Recruit relevant professionals for running the gymnasium and recreation center
and provide induction training;
o Developing standards and data base for gymnasium users;
o Develop a uniqueness strategy(e. g.; disability care, childcare center,
physiotherapy center…)for inclusive service delivery;
o Develop monitoring and evaluation strategy of gymnasium and recreation center.

6. Detailed Consultancy Activities

 Firew: Design, construction and layout

 Solomon: Processing Procurement Activities

 Dr.Yemane Team: Consulting on Operational issues

The expected consultancy services will be provided by the team through carrying out several
subsequent activities. These activities are listed below.

1. Holding a meeting with the consultancy service recipient to gain an insight about the project
2. Conducting market assessment to have information about available physical exercise
machines in the market
3. Obtaining information about fitness machines, arrangement in the gym, service provision
through visiting selected model fitness gyms in Addis Ababa
4. On the basis of the purpose of the sport and recreation center, the design and size of the gym,
and the number of customers who will be expected to use the facility, identifying and
determining the types, brands and required number of fitness machines
5. Following up the installation and the set-up of the fitness machines from the perspective of
physical activities performed on them, the availability of free space between them, and the
direction of the machines when installed.
6. Preparing written and practical examinations to recruit and employ fitness instructors
7. Correcting the examinations and submitting the results for the decision of the management to
select competent instructors
8. Preparation of training materials to offer capacity building professional training to the
employed fitness instructors
9. Offering training to the fitness instructors
10. Developing gym regulation and consulting the client to establish an effective facility and
program management system that will enable the organization provide quality and
sustainable services to the community
11. Following up the functionality and effectiveness of the established system
12. Design strategies how the gymnasium and the cafeteria generates income with the connection
of physical activities
7. Methodological approach

 Firew: Design and construction

 Solomon: Processing Procurement Activities

 Dr.Yemane Team:Consulting on Operational issues

The main purpose of this consultancy service is to provide the Corporation with professional support
/input/ in its endeavor to construct the sport center mainly the gymnasium that will be equipped with
exercise machines and provide an opportunity to the community to use the facilities for physical exercise,
sport, game, play and recreation. In providing its services the consultancy team will apply different
methodological approaches. Methodological approach refers to the ways preferred to undertake the
assignment and the approach that the team outlines and employs in the process of carrying out the
planned activities to meet the project goal.

Based on the type of activity, the team will apply individual, group and team approach to carry out it.
Since the project demands the input of different professionals, the consultancy team has been built to
consist of sport science, architecture, and procurement professionals. If the activity requires specific
profession, either a single team member or a group can be involved. There are also activities that require
the involvement of the team.

The whole activities that the team is going to carry out over consultancy time will be performed applying
different methodological approaches. These approaches will involve:

ð Consultative meetings
ð Field survey
 ð Market assessment
ð Reporting
ð Examining internet source,
ð Analyzing the design
ð Workshop

Meeting

Meetings will be used as strategy to discuss on the consulting issues before changing them into actions
that will have effects on the gym, exercise machines and fitness programs. Frequent meetings will be held
in the team and with the project owner. Suggestions, comments and amendments on the gym design,
choice of location, and the program content etc…will be provided through discussions.

Field survey

Before providing suggestions, comments and ideas on the consultancy tasks, the team will gather
information from the sources through field visiting. Accordingly:

o The team will have recurrent visits of the construction sites to follow-up if the suggestions and
comments given by the team for the betterment of the project are being taken into consideration.
o In order to gather information and sharing experiences about the gym interior design, the machine
brand, types of machines and equipment, machines set-up in the gym, the conditions and locations of
other ancillary spaces in the gym, the team will visit selected model gymnasiums in the town.
o To consult the project owner on the possible ways of purchasing the required machines, the team will
first gather information from selected gyms recently constructed in the government offices of Addis
Ababa and other private best gymnasiums.

Market assessment

Market assessment will be used to gather information about what types and brands of machines available
in the market here in the town, their prices, and to identify possible options of purchasing the goods. The
team will consult the Ethiopian Agricultural Business Corporation (EABC), regarding the purchase, based
on the actual market. Fitness products and services market analysis is now very developed and scientific.
This assessment will distinguish the current updated exercise machines, software and programs with their
full working capacities. This market assessment will be vital to install all the purchased exercise machines
to deliver the required fitness service to the community.

Reporting

In addition to the consultative meeting, the team will use written report to be submitted to the service
recipient (EABC) to provide comments, suggestions and ideas. The reports will include the comments,
suggestions and innovative ideas essential to make the gym more convenient, to provide quality service to
the prospective customers and to sustainability of the program.

Data sources

Internet, electronic medias and published materials (books, articles, magazines, news papers and etc) will
be the other source of information that the team will use to get new ideas about conditions of exercise
machine brands, their features, capacities and services, about organization and layout of the gym, fitness
program management.

The methodological approaches mentioned above are depicted for clarity on the following diagram

Consultative meeting with the client

Meeting
(EABC) and discussions in the team
Surveying the construction, other gyms

Obtaining experience and information from other gyms

Methodological approach to carry out activities

Examining the design of the center

Gathering information from internet source Market assessment visiting fitness machine importers
Figure – Methodological approaches
Analyzing gym design

Today is very mature in the wide application of gymnasium design internally and externally.
Understanding and correcting the internal and external gymnasium design is very essential for installation
and good quality services. The consultative team will realize and modify the design to keep its standard
by considering the current status of world best gymnasiums. the KUE consultancy team is available to
consult on gymnasium layout and equipment selection for community residential and workplace fitness
centers and its always challenging and interesting to be involved in this specialist area of EABC.

Workshop

The consultancy team will provide a meeting at which a group of people engage in intensive discussion
and activity on a gymnasium project. This workshop possibly will introduce a new ideas, inspire
participants to further explore it on their own, or can illustrate and promote actual process practice in the
gymnasium building process. It is a grand approach to create awareness on skill as it gives participants
and owners of the project an opportunity to understand the importance and the accomplishments of the
project.

Supervision of selected gymnasium in the city

Supervision of sample recreational, gymnasium and fitness centers is very essential for this project. The
team will select and supervise best governmental and private health based gymnasiums in Addis Ababa
city. The team will make an effective supervision, which will support professional practice, reflection and
improve project work environment. This supervision will create an opportunity to amend best experience
for our project.

8. Action Plan

Please insert here

Roles of Kotebe University of Education

Kotebe University of Education is one of the public universities in Ethiopia under the Ministry of
Education which was established 50 years ago being the pioneer higher educational institutions trained
teachers for Ethiopian Schools. Along with the training programs, it has got profound experiences in
providing services to the community. As any educational institution in Ethiopia, Kotebe University of
Education, presently, is expected to be engaged in community services which could resolve the problems
that the society faces.

With this respect, having entered contract agreements with organizations to provide professional services,
the university has successfully accomplished several large consultancy projects. Some of these projects
are:

- Offering capacity-building training to officers and personnel of different bureaus of the city
administration
- Solving the problems of housing in Addis Ababa through conducting research that investigated
condominium house mismanagement

In addition to providing consultancy services to other organizations, the university has experiences of
managing its sport facilities and equipment located in the compound of the university and the programs.

In this project, the university will play the following roles.

 Provide consultancy services through the convened team which consists of selected professionals
 Facilitate transport services to the consultancy team members when they move from the
university for the purpose of carrying out the activities until the completion of the project
II. Financial Proposal

Budget required to accomplish each of the activities are summaries.

Note that fees are based on man-hour and the professional fee is birr 400.00
per hour.

Estimated time Payment in birr

No Activities 1pers 3 pers Per hour One per 3 person
1 Holding meeting to gain insight 8 24 2400 7200
2 Market assessment about machine 10 30 3000 4500
3 Surveying model gyms in AA 16 48 4800 14400
4 Identify brands, types & number 5 15 1500 4500
5 Follow up installation & arrannge 12 36 3600 10800
6 Preparing written & prac. exams 8 24 400 2400 3600
7 Correcting exam & submit results 6 18 1800 5400
8 Preparation of training materials 15 45 4500 13500
9 Offering training 12 36 3600 10800
10 Developing gym regulation 16 48 4800 14400
11 Following system effectiveness 18 54 5400 16200
Total 126 378 37,800 105,300
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