to Article 41 (4) of the Constitution the Government has the obligation to allocate ever increasing resources to provide for public health, education and other social services. The Government is expected to provide special assistance to the Nations, Nationalities, and Peoples least advantaged in economic and social development. It works within the context of the ideals and objectives on which provisions are made in the Constitution. This allows for harnessing the resources of the nation, promoting national prosperity and an efficient, dynamic and self-reliant economy and controlling the national economy in such manner as to secure the maximum welfare, freedom and happiness of every citizen on the basis of social justice and equality of status and opportunity. The Government therefore, undertakes various measures to ensure that the first beneficiary of natural resources is the society in which the resource is found. This is done through action by the Government such as forming cooperative associations to work on mining activities to explore gold, tantalum and other precious metals. Administrative and Institutional Measures The Government has designed the Commune Development Program (CDP) which is aimed at realizing the aspirations of historically disadvantaged communities for equitable and accelerated development in line with the development of others in the country. . The CDP is one of several approaches pursued to improve the livelihoods, expand basic services and build grassroots institutions among such communities. These communities are also given the opportunity to consider any other viable options and alternatives including continuation of their existing condition. The CDP is designed to operate under the provisions of the Ethiopian constitution and key public policies and strategies as well as good practice guidelines. Key aspects of these provisions concern the voluntary movement and consent of peoples, community participation in the provision of information and in consultation in the decision-making processes of the CDP. The program has thus been guided by these key principles. Participation in the commune program has been fully voluntary. Regional and local authorities started the process with rounds of consultation to inform people about the rationale and objectives of the program as well as its benefits and challenges. This constitutional provision has been strictly pursued. The decision is then left entirely to the households concerned. People who decide to move to new sites retain full rights 113