This study attempts to investigate the contribution of decentralization for local development inrnGozamin Wereda (District) of East Gojjam Zone Administration in the Amhara Regional State inrnEthiopia.rnThe study presents the contribution of decentralization in promoting local development. Bothrnqualitative and quantitative approaches were employed to collect the data for the study. Therninstruments used to collect the data are survey questionnaire, interview and focus grouprndiscussion. Primary and secondary data were collected from different actors of development inrnthe Wereda as well as official reports and documents were consulted from Gozamin Weredarnsector offices. The analysis was supported by literature, legal and official documents. The Majorrnfindings focused on health, education, agricultural extension services and political powers ofrnlocal Councils and their duties were depicted as follows. On average, the services in health,rneducation and agricultural extension have increased by 35%, 5% and 6% respectively during thernlast eight years. The community participation in socio-economic development activities hasrnincreased by an average of 22% during the last consecutive eight years, and their majorrncontribution were focused on cash, material and labor for the construction of health centers,rnschools, farmer training centers, potable water points and rural roads.rnThe study reveals that the kind of services that were provided to each Kebele is unbalanced andrnit differs from Kebele to Kebele due to the capacity of Kebele leaders in mobilizing human andrnfinancial resources. The Wereda administration is dependent on the state grants to cover theirrnexpenditure needs. As a matter of fact, Gozamin Wereda receives 87% of the expenditure needsrnfrom the Regional Government, while 13% of the expenditure need is collected from the Wereda.rnDecentralization enables and increases the involvement of the community in political andrndevelopment issues. On the other hand, the study reveals that there is no space for participationrnof different political parties at both the Kebele and the Wereda levels. This results in the lack ofrndebate on policy issues and policy alternatives from political opponents that is in favor of thernpeople. The study also presents evidences that the powers and duties of Kebele and WeredarnCouncils are very weak to decide on issues under their jurisdiction because of the dominance ofrnthe executives at the Kebele and Wereda levels