Ethiopia Country Profile

Private Anti-Corruption Initiatives

  • Media: In principle, freedom of the press, access to information of public interest and prohibition of censorship are guaranteed by the constitution. However, the reality of the situation has reportedly deteriorated in recent years, especially following the 2005 elections when large numbers of journalists and other civil society actors were imprisoned or intimidated. Freedom House 2009 as well as the US Department of State 2008 report that authorities occasionally detain, beat or harass journalists and, as a result, an increasing number of journalists practise self-censorship or are forced into exile. In a 2005 UNECA study, 75% of the experts surveyed reported that the media operates in an environment where their rights are frequently violated by the government. Authorities frequently invoke the 1992 Law on the Press regarding publication of false and offensive information in order to justify the arrest and detainment of journalists. In late 2008, Parliament adopted a new media law after heavy debate and criticism from civil society, international NGOs and donors. Although the law barred government censorship of private media and the detention of journalists, it also allowed prosecutors to seize material before publication in the name of national security, and has given the government broader powers to pursue defamation cases against the media. The state controls all broadcast media. Access to the media is very unequal throughout the country. The privately-owned press continues to criticise the government, but is constrained by low circulation, financial struggles and the fact that the government owns all printing presses in the country and occasionally refuses to print private publications. Freedom House 2009 ranks Ethiopia 165th out of 195 countries in relation to press freedom and describes the country's press environment as 'not free', while the Reporters Without Borders 2010 ranks the country 140th out of 175 countries.

  • Civil Society: Civil society in Ethiopia is generally considered to be weak and it is consequently not particularly active in the fight against corruption. However, there are some organisations voicing their views on corruption issues, and there has generally been a growing interest on behalf of the private sector and CSOs/NGOs in fighting corruption. However, this activity is not without costs. The leaders of two influential CSOs dealing with governance, Daniel Bekele of ActionAid and Netsanet Demissie of the Organisation for Social Justice in Ethiopia, were arrested in November 2005 and convicted of 'crimes of outrage against the Constitution'. More than 60% of experts surveyed in a 2005 UNECA study reported that civil society had a weak or no influence on government policies and programmes. Still, however, citizens surveyed by the Transparency Ethiopia: Corruption Diagnostic Baseline Survey 2009 believe that it is extremely important to include members of civil society and the private sector if corruption is to be fought in Ethiopia. According to several sources, including Global Integrity 2008 and Transparency International 2009, a law proposed by the government in May 2008 has caused serious concerns among civil society groups, NGOs and donor agencies. The law, if passed, will prohibit international and most local NGOs from operating in key sectors and facilitate thorough government monitoring of internal organisational activities, and eventually might prompt international organisations to withdraw from the country. In essence, the law will prevent civil society and NGOs from taking part in democracy building initiatives and acting as a check and balance against government abuses.

  • Transparency Ethiopia (TE): TE is a local chapter of Transparency International. It was legally established in 2002, and conducts advocacy work on anti-corruption laws and works to promote greater public awareness of corruption issues through reporting, workshops, seminars and events. It also seeks to build coalitions with the private sector, other civil society organisations and governmental entities to prevent corrupt practices and strengthen public institutions. For example, TE has been conducting research and functioned as advisor on selected anti-corruption issues for the Federal Ethics and Anti-corruption Commission (FEAC). TE produced the Corruption Diagnostic Baseline Survey 2009, intending to gather data on citizens' confidence on public institutions and to evaluate the quality of public services.

  • Organisation for Social Justice in Ethiopia (OSJE): The OSJE is a human rights NGO that aims to promote social justice, democracy and good governance by addressing the denial and violations of basic rights of the poor and marginalised. The OSJE functioned as a secretariat for a 35-member coalition of NGOs to observe the May 2005 elections, and has been publicly outspoken about corruption in the country. The leader of the organisation has been jailed on charges of treason.

  • ActionAid: ActionAid is an international NGO with an Ethiopian chapter working against poverty and injustice through various focus areas, such as HIV/AIDS prevention, justice and good governance. The leader of the chapter has been outspoken about governance issues and has been jailed on charges of treason. The organisation has been accused by the Ministry of Justice for attempting to interfere with the administration of justice by calling for the release of jailed civil society leaders.

  • Initiative Africa (IA): IA is an Addis Ababa-based NGO and think-tank that brings together project managers and their organisations to improve and bring innovation to governance and development practices in Ethiopia and greater Africa. The organisation was established in 2002 by individual business entrepreneurs. IA promotes the study of public and private governance and facilitates dialogue and knowledge-sharing through locally driven development programmes and activities, such as workshops, analyses and conferences. IA works to combat inequality, injustice and power differentials by promoting actions that advance human rights, good governance and democracy, and by building the capacity of local CSOs/NGOs working in this area. IA works in partnership with communities, government agencies, international organisations, NGOs and the private sector.