The purpose of this study was to assess the Organizational Design of WESSOâ€“EducationrnPanel in Afar Region. Hence, it examined the core activities (responsibilities) of WESSO,rnthe Organization Structure (division of work, departmentalization, organizationalrnhierarchy and coordination of WESSO), Performance level, Human Resource systemsrn(number, experience and qualification of WESSOs Staff, recruitment and selection,rntraining and development) and organizational design problems of WESSOs in the region.rnTo this end, descriptive survey method was employed.rnOut of 5 zonal Education Departments in Afar Regional state, 3 zones were selected forrnthe study using simple random sampling technique. Then, using Stratified SamplingrnTechnique, 9 WESSO Educational Panels and 27 Schools were selected out of 29rnWoredas and 137 Schools.rnInformation was obtained through questionnaire, interview and documentation. Threernkinds of questionnaire were distributed to 48 Principals and Vice-principals, 26 WESSOsrnEducational panels staff members and 27 Zonal Education management members andrnexperts using available sampling technique. Out of these, 45 Principals and Viceprincipals,rn24 Educational Panels Staff members, 27 Zonal Educational Departmentsrnmanagement members and experts were filled in and returned. In addition, 3 ZonalrnEducation Department heads of the sample zones were interviewed, and documents relatedrnto the study were examined. Pilot test was made and then some unnecessary statementsrnwere modified. Various statistical tools such as Percentages, Weighted Means, Chi-square,rnt-test and one way ANOVA were used for data analysis.rnThe findings of the study revealed that some of the responsibilities of WESSO were notrnclearly pronounced; the designed organizational hierarchy of WESSO, the accountabilityrnof WESSO to Zonal Pastoral and Agro-pastoral development, Health, Education, andrnWater Resource found problematic; the performances of WESSOs in managing therneducational activities were found to be low; the human resource systems for WESSOEducationrnPanels were not aligned with the jobs requirements, i.e., the education panelsrnwere understaffed and their staff were under qualified; various methods of recruitmentrnwere not used to attract required candidates; and the selection criteria were emphasized onrnnational /nationality and services; some organizational Design Problems such as poorrndecisions, slow decision making, too much conflict among employed were recurred.rnIn general, the existing set-up of Education panel in WESSO was not appropriate tornimplement education sector strategy. Hence, it was recommended to make responsible thernEducation unit in Woredas, to strengthen the Human Capacity, and to establish the woredarnEducation office together with Health but separate from the other two