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Economic Aspects | Natural Resource Aspects | Institutional Aspects | Social Aspects |Ethiopia
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Decision-Making: Coordinating Bodies
No information is available.
Decision-Making: Legislation and Regulations
In
Environmental Legislation the most salient achievement is Proclamation 9/1995,
which established the Environmental Protection Authority. Although environmental
legislation, i.e., laws providing legal tools specifically meant for
environmental management and regulation, are yet to come, there are
proclamations that are sectoral in orientation which address various
environmental concerns. Some of the
Regional governments have established by law their own agencies for
environmental protection.
Some of the Environmental Laws in the making are: a Draft Proclamation on Institutional Arrangements for Environmental Protection, a Draft Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) Proclamation, and a Draft Pollution Control Proclamation.
Decision-Making: Strategies, Policies and Plans
In
Ethiopia, development activities in the past took virtually no account of
environmental issues in development planning.
Not only has a comprehensive Environmental Policy for the country been
adopted, but also the EPA has been actively involved in assisting other sectoral
policies to use environmental protection as a basis.
Depending
on their affinity to the environment, quite a number of sectoral policies
address environmental concerns directly or tangentially.
These are:
·
The National Population
Policy of Ethiopia (April 1993);
·
The National Agricultural
Research Policy and Strategy (October 1993);
·
The National Science and
Technology Policy (December 1993);
·
The Health Policy (1993),
the Energy Policy (1993), the National Health, Science and
Technology Policy (June
1994);
·
The National Drug Policy
(September 1994);
·
The National Policy on
Disaster Prevention and Management (1997);
·
The National Policy on
Biodiversity Conservation and Research (1998);
·
The Ethiopian Water
Resources Management Policy (1999); and
·
The National Fertilizer
Policy (1999).
The National Science and Technology Policy, in its natural resources development and environmental protection section, aims to promote the conservation of natural resources and environmental protection. The Health Policy places a premium on environmental health. The National Health Science and Technology Policy includes an item that promotes “environmental health by studying health problems associated with industrial and modern agricultural practices, and other [sources of] environmental pollutions”, and a second that aims to study and devise appropriate measures to promote occupational safety and health. The Ethiopian Water Resources Policy focuses on water quality management and water supply for industry. The policy also envisages the issuing of water pollution prevention and control strategies.
Decision-Making: Major Groups Involvement
No information is available.
Programmes and Projects
No information is available.
Status
No information is available.
Challenges
No information is available.
Capacity-building, Education, Training
and Awareness-raising
No information is available.
Information
One of the major tools for assessing the relationship between environmental and developmental concerns is EIA. The development of EIA is indispensable to effectively implement the Environmental Policy of Ethiopia and properly discharges EPA's main duties. Sectoral EIA Guidelines have been formulated to assist in the identification of major environmental concerns in sectoral development planning and implementation.
Research and Technologies
No information is available.
Financing
No information is available.
Cooperation
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WOMEN
Decision-Making: Coordinating Bodies
No information available.
Decision-Making: Legislation and Regulations
No information available.
Decision-Making: Strategies, Policies and Plans
No information available.
Decision-Making: Major Groups Involvement
The Government established the Women’s Affairs Office, issued a National Policy on Ethiopian Women which entitles and ensures a woman’s rights to property, employment and a pension. Importantly, it also empowers and strengthens women’s participation in decision-making, guarantees their rights to access to credit schemes, and creates a conducive environment for civic societies.
Programmes and Projects
No information is available.
Status
Women in Ethiopia, like their fellow sisters in other developing countries, have been victims of gender-based oppression and exploitation in all spheres of life. Their contribution has never been adequately recognized nor given economic value. They have often been denied the right to have access to and control over means of production and have, therefore, remained in the category of the poorest of the poor. Because of this, the Government of Ethiopia has given due consideration to the multi-faceted problems of Ethiopian women. The major achievements of the government in promoting and supporting the role of women in sustainable development are: institutional mechanisms for the advancement of women; capacity-building by establishing an institutional development fund; giving special attention to women fuel wood carriers; increasing the participation of women/girls in school enrolment, in decision making, and in the election process; and the measures taken by the government to improve the employment situation of women.
Challenges
Some of the major constraints hindering the progress of women in sustainable development are: the low level of consciousness in society of the role played by women in the development of the country; the deep-rooted cultural beliefs and traditional practices of society that prevent women playing their full role in the development process; lack of appropriate technology to reduce the workload of women at the household level; shortage of properly qualified female development agents to understand and help motivate and empower rural women.
Capacity-building, Education, Training
and Awareness-raising
No information is available.
Information
No information is available.
Research and Technologies
No information is available.
Financing
No information is available.
Cooperation
No information is available.
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CHILDREN AND YOUTH
Decision-Making: Coordinating Bodies
A “National Child Labour Forum” to combat child labour, such as child prostitution and children working in hazardous occupations, has been established.
Decision-Making: Legislation and Regulations
No information is available.
Decision-Making: Strategies, Policies and Plans
No information is available.
Decision-Making: Major Groups Involvement
No information is available.
Programmes and Projects
Following the Education Policy of Ethiopia, a number of Vocational Training Centres for youth completing high-school have been opening, starting in 2001. A number of national as well as international youth and children focused voluntary and civic organizations are active in the country. Bipartite and tripartite partnerships to strengthen the role of women, workers and the youth in the socio-economic development of the country are beginning to show improvements.
Status
An ever-increasing number of youth in schools and in neighbourhoods are voluntarily organized in clubs promoting diversified agendas (environment, AIDS, Child Rights, media, etc.), thereby contributing to the collective well being of society. Youth focused development programmes are increasingly being planned and implemented by both national and international NGOs.
Challenges
Repeated bouts of lack of peace and drought/famine have left their negative mark on the country’s children and youth. The unfortunate Ethio-Eritrea boarder conflict disrupted family life and education of many children and youth, and wasted essential scarce resource. Likewise, the reintegration and re-establishment of young men demobilized from military service remains a challenge for reasons of resource scarcity.
Capacity-building, Education, Training
and Awareness-raising
No information is available.
Information
No information is available.
Research and Technologies
No information is available.
Financing
No information is available.
Cooperation
No information is available.
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INDIGENOUS PEOPLE
As all of Ethiopia’s peoples are considered indigenous, this information can be found in the various chapters of this Profile.
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NON-GOVERNMENTAL ORGANIZATIONS
Decision-Making: Coordinating Bodies
No information is available.
Decision-Making: Legislation and Regulations
No information is available.
Decision-Making: Strategies, Policies and Plans
No information is available.
Decision-Making: Major Groups Involvement
The streamlining of NGO certification in 1995 by the Ministry of Justice paved the way for the acceptance of NGOs as one of the major actors in development. As a result, a number of national NGOs have become operational, particularly in the resource management sector. But residues from the past, e.g. cumbersome government procedures, rules and regulations, continue to hamper NGO activities in various ways.
Programmes and Projects
No information is available.
Status
Children, women, the rural and urban poor, marginalized and the disadvantaged are primary target groups of many of the NGOs operating in the country. Some of the NGOs directly implement projects at field level. Others provide capacity building support to community-based organizations (CBOs), local NGOs and local administrations.
Challenges
See under Decision-Making: Major Groups involvement.
Capacity-building, Education, Training
and Awareness-raising
No information is available.
Information
No information is available.
Research and Technologies
No information is available.
Financing
No information is available.
Cooperation
No information is available.
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LOCAL AUTHORITIES
Decision-Making: Coordinating Bodies
No information is available.
Decision-Making: Legislation and Regulations
No information is available.
Decision-Making: Strategies, Policies and Plans
No information is available.
Decision-Making: Major Groups Involvement
No information is available.
Programmes and Projects
The introduction of a Municipality Rehabilitation Programme in 302 towns including capacity building, is a major intervention aimed at improving the service delivery of local authorities. Most of the local authorities have increased their logistical and budgetary supports for community based development programmes. However, there is a shortage of resources to effectively implement social, environmental and other developmental programmes, including the development and/or maintenance of local (public) infrastructures.
Status
The lowest levels of local authorities in both rural and urban administrative set-ups are the ‘kebeles’. An ever improving and growing collaboration and partnership between local authorities and NGOs, CBOs and civic societies is another positive development. Local authorities are facilitating the involvement of these groups in fighting poverty and managing the environment.
Challenges
Because of limited resources, especial owing to shortage of trained people, many of the local authorities have low organizational capacity to plan, implement and enforce development programmes and policies. See also under Programmes and Projects.
Capacity-building, Education, Training
and Awareness-raising
No information is available.
Information
No information is available.
Research and Technologies
No information is available.
Financing
No information is available.
Cooperation
No information is available.
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WORKERS AND TRADE UNIONS
Decision-Making: Coordinating Bodies
A National Advisory Board representing government, labour and employers was established to advice government on major national labour administration issues, such as on occupational safety and health, employment creation, industrial relations, etc. Furthermore, labour tribunals (of tripartite composition) have been established in regional states for the expeditious settlement of labour disputes. Many unionised workers have been taking part in reforestation, industrial waste disposal and accident prevention activities.
Decision-Making: Legislation and Regulations
The Constitution of Federal Democratic Government of Ethiopia protects the basic rights of workers as enshrined in the United Nations Human Rights Declaration of 1948, including the right to organize freely and bargain collectively, the right to work in a safe and healthy environment, as well as the right to strike.
Decision-Making: Strategies, Policies and Plans
No information available.
Decision-Making: Major Groups Involvement
See under Decision-Making: Coordinating Bodies.
Programmes and Projects
The participatory Civil Service Reform Programme is expected to modernize the country’s civil service sector and benefit its organizational/human resources.
Status
Those labourers who are most negatively affected are women in the labour intensive industrial sectors. Ensuring stable industrial peace, which takes into account the best interests of the workers, employers and the public is thus a challenge area. The rate of unionisation (workers joining unions) is showing a decline. Increasing numbers of workers with HIV/AIDS is a major burden on the productive labour force. There are serious attempts at the national level to deal with HIV/AIDS, but the epidemic is, nonetheless, growing.
Challenges
No information is available.
Capacity-building, Education, Training
and Awareness-raising
No information is available.
Information
No information is available.
Research and Technologies
No information is available.
Financing
No information is available.
Cooperation
No information is available.
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BUSINESS AND INDUSTRY
Decision-Making: Coordinating Bodies
No information is available.
Decision-Making: Legislation and Regulations
No information is available.
Decision-Making: Strategies, Policies and Plans
Industrial development had its debut in Ethiopia at the turn of the last century. Most of the present industries in Ethiopia, however, belong to the manufacturing sector. Recognizing the benefits and principles of a free market economy and the underlying features of the industrial sector in Ethiopia, such as the low level of development, outdated technology, poor quality of products, low capacity utilization, high dependency on imported raw materials, and lack of skilled manpower, etc., the Government adopted a policy of agriculture-led industrial development. The policy aims at attaining economic growth by encouraging both domestic and foreign investment in all sectors. It encourages the expansion of the private sector (domestic and foreign investments), including through privatising public enterprises and assets.
Decision-Making: Major Groups Involvement
No information is available.
Programmes and Projects
No information is available.
Status
The consumer preference in Europe and other developed countries for organic products presents Ethiopia with an opportunity to exploit the present condition in which most agricultural products are produced without chemical inputs.
Challenges
Environmental pollution associated with manufacturing activities are rather intense in areas of industrial concentration. Although there is some level of localised air and land pollution, the major pollution problem that is posing a significant threat is that caused by industrial wastewater discharged from manufacturing establishments. The pollution problem of the manufacturing sector has an economic dimension too as some of these industries are discharging valuable inputs, semi-processed products and even final products, as wastes.
Capacity-building, Education, Training
and Awareness-raising
No information is available.
Information
No information is available.
Research and Technologies
No information is available.
Financing
No information is available.
Cooperation
No information is available.
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SCIENTIFIC AND TECHNOLOGICAL COMMUNITY
Decision-Making: Coordinating Bodies
The Ethiopian Science and Technology Commission (ESTC) co-ordinates the formulation of both the national and the sectoral science and technology policies.
Decision-Making: Legislation and Regulations
No information is available.
Decision-Making: Strategies, Policies and Plans
The National Science and Technology Policy, issued in 1993, addresses two key concerns in promoting scientists and technologists. The policy addresses a number of science and technology issues that may promote sustainable development in the country.
Decision-Making: Major Groups Involvement
No information is available.
Programmes and Projects
The number of professional societies/associations has increased over the last ten years. The government is attempting to create a conducive working environment for scientists and technologists. Scientists and researchers are being encouraged through the National Science and Technology Award Scheme.
Status
No information is available.
Challenges
No information is available.
Capacity-building, Education, Training
and Awareness-raising
Awareness creation activities, which target the general public on science and technology and environmental issues through various mechanisms, are also being implemented through the science and technology popularisation programme of ESTC. It covers issues on science and technology, including issues of environment and sustainable development. Moreover, ESTC supports school science education programmes through establishing Science and Technology School Clubs.
Information
No information is available.
Research and Technologies
Scientific research and technological innovations are essential for sustaining and accelerating the development of Ethiopia. Enrolment in universities in science and technology fields is increasing fast, though the numbers involved are still very small compared to the size of the population.
Financing
No information is available.
Cooperation
No information is available.
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FARMERS
Decision-Making: Coordinating Bodies
No information is available.
Decision-Making: Legislation and Regulations
No information is available.
Decision-Making: Strategies, Policies and Plans
No information is available.
Decision-Making: Major Groups Involvement
No information is available.
Programmes and Projects
The new National Agricultural Extension Programme, now in its fifth year, is steadily growing both in scope and coverage. When it started in 1996, its service was limited to only food crops in areas of reliable rainfall. Recently, natural resource development and management dimensions have been added. The main focus so far has been on the introduction and dissemination of modern agricultural practices (fertilizers, seeds of improved varieties, agricultural implements and other technologies) in the production of the major food crops: wheat, maize, tef and sorghum, vegetables, oil crops and pulses. To help achieve food security, livestock development was so fashioned as to boost and augment crop production. Soil and water conservation has been another important component of the extension system. The plan for the year 1999, in terms of reforestation, agroforestry, water and soil conservation consisted of 432,475 demonstration plots while what was actually realized surpassed this target by 111,612, a clear overachievement indicating how well farming communities responded to this initiative.
Status
Agriculture is the mainstay of the Ethiopian economy, accounting for the lion's share of the gainful employment and some ninety percent of the foreign exchange earnings of the country. Cardinal measures resorted to so as to make agriculture measure up to these calls and at the same time improve rural income and the living standard of farmers is the expansion of the agricultural extension system. The increasing pressure on land due to unchecked population growth has perpetrated a situation where traditional soil enrichment practices, particularly fallowing and crop rotation, have had to be abandoned. That is why the use of chemical fertilizer and composting are increasing. In the context of farming in Ethiopia, the most prized resource is land, especially in the highlands where sedentary agriculture has been the norm for millennia.
Challenges
In Ethiopia, the fact is that development has to come with and through smallholder agriculture, or there will be no development with any semblance of equity.
Capacity-building, Education, Training
and Awareness-raising
No information is available.
Information
No information is available.
Research and Technologies
No information is available.
Financing
No information is available.
Cooperation
No information is available.
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Decision-Making: Coordinating Bodies
No information is available.
Decision-Making: Legislation and Regulations
No information is available.
Decision-Making: Strategies, Policies and Plans
No information is available.
Decision-Making: Major Groups Involvement
No information is available.
Programmes and Projects
Science is playing an increasing role in improving the efficiency of resource utilization and in finding new development practices, resources and alternatives. It is thus an essential component in the search for feasible pathways towards sustainable development. The government, through the ESTC, has launched a Research and Development Granting Scheme to encourage young scientists. Nevertheless, the support involved is still minuscule.
Status
No information is available.
Challenges
The
availability of scientific and technological information, as well as access to
and transfer of environmentally sound technologies are essential requirements
for sustainable development. The low national capacities presently at the
disposal of the country are limiting technology transfer activities in the
country. The high cost of technologies is the major challenge to the country in
transferring environmentally sound technologies. The country’s efforts to
create a suitable environment for technology transfer are continuing and it is
hoped that they will provide better opportunities to transfer appropriate
technologies in the future.
The relatively small number of basic research activities in the country severely limits the generation of the scientific data and information required to manage natural resources and the environment effectively, and thus contribute to the sustainability of development. The expansion of possibilities for scientists from Ethiopia to participate in international scientific research programmes dealing with problems of environment and development are needed to provide better opportunities for the country to improve its capacity for sustainable development.
Capacity-building, Education, Training
and Awareness-raising
No information is available.
Information
No information is available.
Research and Technologies
No information is available.
Financing
No information is available.
Cooperation
There are also donors who support scientific research in Ethiopia. These include the Swedish Agency for Research Cooperation (Sida/SAREC), the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), the International Foundation for Science (IFS), and the Joint Ethio-Russian Biological Expedition (JERBE).
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Decision-Making: Coordinating Bodies
No information is available.
Decision-Making: Legislation and Regulations
No information is available.
Decision-Making: Strategies, Policies and Plans
No information is available.
Decision-Making: Major Groups Involvement
No information available.
Programmes and Projects
Efforts to counter the poor infrastructure with respect to the availability and flow of information in Ethiopia are being set up, and information systems that operate electronically are being created. For example, the Mapping and Geography Authority has a well-developed information system, the Ministry of Water Resources Development and all other relevant institutions, including EPA, have collaborated to create an environmental metadatabase, which has now been inaugurated. EPA is also developing an environmental information system compatible with the Environmental Metadatabase.
Status
No information is available.
Challenges
Low living standards and low literacy rates are clearly evident in Ethiopia. These characteristics severely limit people’s access to modern means of information transmission (TV, radio, internet, satellite communication, telephone, etc.). Networking information exchange among public institutions and others is also a task for the future. The various freedoms enshrined in the constitution (rights of expression, thought, press, etc.) promote the generation, flow and access of information for decision-making. However, the poor infrastructure limits the exercise of these rights.
Capacity-building, Education, Training
and Awareness-raising
No information is available.
Information
No information is available.
Research and Technologies
No information is available.
Financing
No information is available.
Cooperation
No information is available.
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Decision-Making: Coordinating Bodies
No information is available.
Decision-Making: Legislation and Regulations
No information is available.
Decision-Making: Strategies, Policies and Plans
No information is available.
Decision-Making: Major Groups Involvement
No information is available.
Programmes and Projects
No information is available.
Status
No information is available.
Challenges
No information is available.
Capacity-building, Education, Training and Awareness-raising
No information is available.
Information
No information is available.
Research and Technologies
No information is available.
Financing
No information is available.
Cooperation
Ethiopia
is a party to the numerous international conventions. They include:
·
The Basel Convention on
the Transboundary Movement of Hazardous Wastes;
·
The Convention on the
Prohibition of the Development, Production, Stockpiling and Use of Chemical
Weapons;
·
The Convention on the
Protection of the Ozone Layer;
·
The United Nations
Framework Convention on Climate Change;
·
The Rotterdam Convention
on Persistent Organic Pollutant; and
·
The Stockholm Convention
on Prior Informed Consent.
Ethiopia
has ratified the following conventions and protocols:
·
The Convention to Combat
Desertification (1997);
·
The Convention on
Biological Diversity (1994);
·
The United Nations
Framework Convention on Climate Change (1994);
·
The Montreal Protocol on
Ozone Depleting Substances (1994);
·
The Convention on
International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna & Flora (1998);
·
The Basel Convention
(2000);
·
The Stockholm Convention
on Organic Pollutants (2002); and
·
The Rotterdam Convention
on the Prior Informed Consent Procedure for Certain Hazardous Chemicals and
Pesticides in International Trade(2002).
The ratification process of the Cartagena Protocol on Biosafety, the Basel Protocol on liability and the Basel Ban Ammendment is well underway.
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