Ethiopia Aid effectiveness in the health sector - Action for Global ...
Ethiopia Aid effectiveness in the health sector - Action for Global ...
Ethiopia Aid effectiveness in the health sector - Action for Global ...
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<strong>Ethiopia</strong> – <strong>Aid</strong> Effectiveness <strong>in</strong> <strong>the</strong> <strong>health</strong> <strong>sector</strong><br />
<strong>sector</strong>, which represents 9.8% of <strong>the</strong> annual <strong>health</strong> budget (<strong>the</strong>se figures only<br />
reflect money <strong>in</strong> <strong>the</strong> budget and exclude DP-funded <strong>health</strong> projects). 52<br />
Key challenges<br />
Despite be<strong>in</strong>g <strong>in</strong> an arguably better situation than o<strong>the</strong>r CSOs, <strong>the</strong> organisations<br />
work<strong>in</strong>g <strong>in</strong> <strong>the</strong> <strong>health</strong> <strong>sector</strong> still face many challenges. Access to f<strong>in</strong>ancial<br />
resources and lack of capacity and tra<strong>in</strong>ed workers feature high on <strong>the</strong> list of<br />
compla<strong>in</strong>ts. Moreover, <strong>the</strong> fact that some DPs, such as USAID, prefer to work<br />
with INGOs, does not help <strong>the</strong> situation. In addition, <strong>the</strong> new law still grants<br />
significant powers to <strong>the</strong> Government. Members of <strong>the</strong> Consortium of<br />
Reproductive Health Associations (CORHA) met with representatives of <strong>the</strong><br />
M<strong>in</strong>istry of Justice, who stated that <strong>the</strong> law will not affect organisations <strong>in</strong> <strong>the</strong><br />
<strong>health</strong> <strong>sector</strong>. 53 Still, <strong>the</strong> Government holds broad powers over CSOs, which<br />
contradicts <strong>the</strong> AAA and potentially limits implementation of <strong>the</strong> AE agenda.<br />
4. Conclusions and recommendations<br />
AE <strong>in</strong> <strong>Ethiopia</strong> faces significant challenges. Rapid progress <strong>in</strong> <strong>the</strong> <strong>health</strong> <strong>sector</strong><br />
has not healed <strong>the</strong> wounds caused by <strong>the</strong> 2005 elections and donors are<br />
reluctant to make fur<strong>the</strong>r concessions. Fur<strong>the</strong>rmore, <strong>the</strong> Government’s poor<br />
record on human rights and <strong>the</strong> new Charity Law has not helped rebuild trust<br />
among DPs and CSOs. The arrival of vertical donors to <strong>the</strong> <strong>health</strong> <strong>sector</strong> has<br />
multiplied <strong>the</strong> resources available, but it has also created fur<strong>the</strong>r harmonisation<br />
and alignment problems.<br />
The determ<strong>in</strong>ation of <strong>the</strong> Government and DPs to make <strong>Ethiopia</strong> a success story<br />
will probably help to iron out differences and we will probably see good<br />
progress <strong>in</strong> <strong>the</strong> near future. However, it looks like build<strong>in</strong>g an enabl<strong>in</strong>g<br />
environment <strong>for</strong> CSOs and recognis<strong>in</strong>g <strong>the</strong>ir role as political actors will stay a<br />
pend<strong>in</strong>g issue <strong>for</strong> <strong>the</strong> <strong>for</strong>eseeable future. The Charity Law is not a good start but<br />
<strong>the</strong>re are still opportunities <strong>for</strong> change. Progress will need to be made one step<br />
at a time.<br />
Recommendations:<br />
• The Government should respect human rights and freedom of speech.<br />
Differences between <strong>the</strong> Government and Development Partners (DPs) <strong>in</strong> this<br />
regard are seriously h<strong>in</strong>der<strong>in</strong>g advancement <strong>in</strong> aid <strong>effectiveness</strong>.<br />
• Even if Vertical donors are start<strong>in</strong>g to change <strong>the</strong>ir attitude and make progress<br />
<strong>in</strong> <strong>the</strong> pr<strong>in</strong>ciples of alignment and coord<strong>in</strong>ation,, much more ef<strong>for</strong>ts are needed<br />
to improve greater aid <strong>effectiveness</strong><br />
• Cont<strong>in</strong>ue mak<strong>in</strong>g progress on <strong>the</strong> implementation of <strong>the</strong> aid <strong>effectiveness</strong> (AE)<br />
agenda <strong>in</strong> <strong>the</strong> <strong>health</strong> <strong>sector</strong>. IHP+ signatory countries should fulfil <strong>the</strong>ir<br />
commitments by back<strong>in</strong>g <strong>the</strong> Government’s preferred aid delivery mechanism..<br />
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