Ethiopia Economy and Political Layout

By Phil Bagley

Ethiopia Economy and Political Layout. Agriculture, Environmental Management. Find out about Ethiopia Economy from years back, A Book. Good governance is primarily concerned with the processes for making and implementing decisions irrespective of whether the decisions are wrong or right. The term has gained currency over the last fifteen years and was a catchword frequented in global political lexicon and the academia. The concept of good governance was also incorporated in the MDGs as a major component of the battle against poverty. The term implies the prevalence of accountability, transparency in government functions, serving the public in the context of the rule of law, responsiveness, equity and inclusiveness in decision making, effectiveness and efficiency in service delivery. Accountability is one of the basic elements of good governance in which central and local government bodies are obliged to report

• Language: English
• Publisher: Lulu.com
• Release date: Jan 26, 2017
• ISBN: 9781365710544

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Ethiopia Economy and Political Layout

Ethiopia Economy and Political Layout

Governance, Agriculture General Environment

____________________

Author

Phil Bagley

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First Printing: 2017

ISBN: 978-1-365-71054-4

Printed in the United States of America

Publisher by Victoria General Printing, LTD.

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Ethiopia

Opportunities and Challenges for Good Governance in Ethiopia

Good governance is primarily concerned with the processes for making and implementing decisions irrespective of whether the decisions are wrong or right. The term has gained currency over the last fifteen years and was a catchword frequented in global political lexicon and the academia. The concept of good governance was also incorporated in the MDGs as a major component of the battle against poverty.

The term implies the prevalence of accountability, transparency in government functions, serving the public in the context of the rule of law, responsiveness, equity and inclusiveness in decision making, effectiveness and efficiency in service delivery.

Accountability is one of the basic elements of good governance in which central and local government bodies are obliged to report, explain and be answerable for the consequences of decisions they make on behalf of the citizens they serve.

Transparency both in decision making and implementation refers to how and why decisions are made and the relevance of the decisions to the polices and strategies as well as action plans. Transparency equally means the right of citizens to be informed on the entire process of decision making mechanisms.

The consistency of decisions made in consonance with the rule of law and the legal competence of decision making government bodies and individual functionaries is an important factor for the legitimacy of the decisions and therefore for the assurance of good governance.

Good governance is characterized by responsiveness and balance in making decisions by accommodating various competing public interests and focuses on the best interest and needs of citizens. Timeliness, effectively and efficiency in the decision making process add special valued to the prevalence of good governance. Making decisions on a participatory manner is one of the linchpins of good governance.

Over the last fifteen years, good governance has become a major area of focus by the Ethiopian government. The liberalization of the economy and the corresponding structural adjustments in various economic, relative democratization of public life and the promotion of the private economic sector has triggered the demand for good governance in the country.

Although the government of Ethiopia exhibits a strong political will to ascertain good governance in the country articulately in the upcoming GTP 2, period, there are huge challenges and hurdles that wait ahead. These challenges partially emanate from the old and recent history of the country. Ethiopia was ruled by aristocratic dynasties who claimed that they rule the nation by the divine power vested upon them as elects of God. Government administration was infested with the policy of gerentocratic meritocracy in which offices were held either as a reward for valor in war or as the result of a link to the royal family or a specific ethnic group. The unprecedented political suppression and economic oppressions which the citizens were subjected set the breeding ground for feudal mentality and belief in predetermined fate.

The prevalence of recurrent drought and food shortage, unfathomable level of poverty and the consequent poverty induced counterproductive mentality, periodic wars and displacement; migration that resulted from political repression the wiped out almost an entire generation threatened the survival of citizens and the existence of the Ethiopian state. The totalitarian regime of the Derge added fuel on the already raging fire. National chauvinism, narrow nationalism, nepotism and parochialism prevailed over the nation. There was no reasonable governance let alone good governance.

Despite the above mentioned drawbacks, since 1992, the country has enjoyed a comparative advantage through remarkable changes that had set the ground for the possibility of ascertaining good governance in the country. Constitutionally established federal state, unwavering political commitment of the government, prevalence of peace and tranquility in the country, economic liberalization, promulgation of favourable development policies, establishment of democratic institutions like Human Rights Commission and Office of the Ombudsman, huge human and natural resources would certainly help to buttress the ground work for instituting good governance in Ethiopia. The cornerstone for instituting good governance in Ethiopia are already in place but still there is more to be desired.

Good governance cannot be attained only through the efforts made by the government. Civil society organizations, the entire public, institutes of higher learning, the private sector, and religious organizations should be able to find their niche in contributing to the enhancement of good governance in Ethiopia.

There are considerable issues and concerns that are being voiced by the public. Fluctuations in the supply of electric power, undesirable red tape that is still prevalent in the public sector, unjustified skyrocketing of the prices of goods and services particularly on food items need to be addressed a concerted efforts to attain good governance.

Democracy, Human Rights, and Governance

We promote an improved governance environment in Ethiopia to enable the country’s sustainable and inclusive development. To support this effort we work to expand efforts to increase resiliency and adaptation to manage conflict at the national, state and local levels. We also work to promote accountable governance that is responsive to the aspirations and needs of its citizens and that government and constituencies come together to develop consensus on improving service delivery and policy. Additionally, we promote the rule of law for sustainable development practices and access to justice and support for vulnerable populations.

To increase the resilience of populations in Ethiopia’s lowlands, we support communities and the Government of Ethiopia to prevent and manage conflict. Closely linked to these efforts is assistance to enhance accountable governance supporting the government’s focus on building the institutions of good governance, thereby promoting transparency and public accountability. Additionally, we collaborate with government at national and regional levels, universities and civil society actors on strategic areas such as improving public access to justice through legal aid and education in order to build confidence in the legal system and providing non-violent means to resolve disputes. We also provide continuing education to the judiciary on human rights and application of the law.

To sustain major development gains made in the health, education, water, agriculture and humanitarian sectors, We strengthen participatory governance within communities across its portfolio. This supports local populations to hold government more accountable for commitments they have made, improving service delivery as a result. From pastoralists taking the lead in managing rangelands and water sources to parent-teacher associations driving improvements in the classroom, We are helping to build social accountability and community voice.

We also promote and support the role and capacity of local organizations as key partners to Ethiopia’s development, and their role in promoting transparency and good governance. For example, efforts focus on encouraging local organizations to play an active policy role in Ethiopia’s Extractive Industries Transparency Initiative. We also support local organizations to work with government on improved protection and services for vulnerable populations, including persons with disabilities and those affected from harmful traditional practices.

Activities Include

     Access to Justice and Legal Awareness: This activity aims to make a difference in the lives of vulnerable populations (including low-income groups, the disabled and victims of gender based violence) by raising awareness of their legal rights, providing them with the means to access expert legal advice to seek redress and obtain professional representation before a court of law. Beneficiaries include the most vulnerable communities living in the rural and urban/peri-urban areas of East and West Hararghe zones of Oromia Regional State, Shinile and Jijiga zones of Somali Regional State, along with Harari Regional State and Dire Dawa.

     Communities Helping Their Environment and Land by Bridging Interests: The activity strengthens social cohesion, peacebuilding and collaboration among pastoral and agricultural communities in southern Ethiopia (SNNP and Oromia regional states) through sustainable natural resource management, land use agreements and livelihood opportunities.

     Enhancing the Status of Human Rights Protection and Systems of Good Governance in Ethiopia: This activity builds the capacity of Ethiopian judicial and law enforcement authorities to handle cases and improve the quality of justice and enforcement of human rights in Ethiopia. Via the bi-annual Joined-Up Justice Forum, the activity also provides a platform for justice sector and law enforcement professionals to discuss and reach consensus on common issues in connection to their role in interpreting and enforcing the law.

     Inclusive Skills Training and Employment Program: The activity supports the increase of the numbers of local organizations providing youth and adults with disabilities, access to mainstream vocational skills training, business skills training, and formal sector employment opportunities. Interventions are centered in Tigray and SNNP regional states and Dire Dawa.

     Local Capacity Development: In support of USAID Forward, the activity strengthens the institutional capacity of local Ethiopian organizations partnering directly with USAID for the first time in the areas of financial management, activity management, and monitoring and evaluation skills.

     Peace Centers for Climate and Social Resilience: The activity, which implements in Borena Zone, aims to mitigate identified and existing risk factors that will likely trigger or drive potential conflict and to increase the capacity and confidence of households, communities and customary/formal institutions to become more adept and resilient in anticipating, absorbing and recovering from future shocks.

     Strengthening Institutions for Peace and Development II: The activity establishes and strengthens partnerships between government and local communities to better understand and address issues that lead to violent conflict and to promote the adaptation of government interventions to be conflict sensitive.

Ethiopian Politics

The government is largely led by ethnic Tigreans. This is in contrast to the Imperial regime, and the Derg which replaced it, which were both dominated by the Amhara.

Ethiopia has been ruled by a coalition of four parties, the Ethiopian People’s Revolutionary Democratic Front, since 1991 with Meles Zenawi as its leader until his death in August 2012. Current Prime Minister Hailemariam was expected to run for office during the 2015 elections.

Ethiopia is a federal republic. The ruling Ethiopian Peoples’ Revolutionary Democratic Front (EPRDF) controls the government. The Ethiopian peoples Revolutionary