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Policy Issues Poverty Reduction Strategy Paper (PRSP) Poverty Reduction Strategy Paper (PRSP) is a component of a new anti-poverty framework announced in late 1999 by the World Bank (WB) and International Monetary Fund (IMF)...More Poverty Action Network of Civil Society in Ethiopia (PAN/E) The NGO PRSP Taskforce that was established in June 2001 to accomplish certain specific tasks (Click Here for details), has now transformed to Poverty Action Network of Civil Society in Ethiopia (PAN/E for short) starting 16 March 2004 after two years and eight months of active participation in the Ethiopia's PRSP process, and would like to announce to all that PAN/E will continue on what the PRSP Taskforce has built and will do more in the following four strategic areas of engagement: 1. Policy Research, Dialogue and Advocacy; 2. Implementation and M&E of the Ethiopia's SDPRP 3. Networking, Coordination and Constituency Building (mainly linking Civil Society's Actions exerted towards poverty reduction and information sharing at the grassroots and partnering with all stakeholders: Government, private sector, donors and international institutions); and 4. Capacity Building.
PAN/E will soon post its publication on
www.crdaethiopia.org. New Economic Partnership for Africa's Development (NEPAD) CRDA/PAC CONSULTATIVE MEETING OF REPRESENTATIVES OF AFRICAN CSO AND NGO NETWORKS ON THE NEW PARTNERSHIP FOR AFRICA’s DEVELOPMENT (NEPAD)...Full Declaration Ethiopian CSOs/NGOs in the New Partnership for Africa’s Development (NEPAD) initiative (April 2002)...Full documentAlternative Draft CSO/NGO Legislation As our partners recall, an NGO Legal Framework Consultative Taskforce formed in 2003 consisting of Action Aid Ethiopia (AAE), Action Professionals' Association for the People (APAP), AIDOW, Catholic Relief Service (CRS), Cher Ethiopia, Christian Relief and Development Association (CRDA), Christian Children's Fund of Canada (CCFC), Consortium of Reproductive Health Association (CORHA), Ethiopian Women's Lawyer Association (EWLA), Forum for Social Studies (FSS), Hope Enterprise, HUNDEE, Inter Africa Group (IAG) and PACT Ethiopia reviewed a draft NGO Legislation prepared by the Ministry of Justice (MoJ). The Taskforce in consultation with the MoJ repeatedly revised the document but unfortunately, the Ministry time and again failed to include NGO suggestions. Thus, the Taskforce during its meeting in July 2004 agreed to draft an alternative legislation. Doing so, it tabled the document for discussion by holding a press conference on October 29, 2004.
Commentary and Observations on the latest NGO/CSO Draft Legislation It is to be recalled that in May 2004, an Activity Report on NGO/CSO Draft Legislation outlining the deliberations of the Task-Group and the progress made in developing the draft proclamation by giving an article-by-article account that attempted to graphically and comprehensively describe and record what transpired during the successive meetings held by the TG was submitted. This report is a follow up of the aforementioned report offering a commentary and/or observation on the draft prepared by the Ministry of Justice and submitted for our consideration and observation in June 2004. Like the previous report, this report also will indicate article-by-article, which agreements and/or understandings have been brought on board and which have been left unattended to without any change. In this report cross-reference will be made to the detailed May report for further clarification on detailed and pertinent issues. Therefore this report should be read in tandem with the May report. What this report sets out to do is simply indicate areas of convergence and divergence so as to easily and readily identify issues that need to be further taken up and addressed. And by way of conclusion will indicate the major areas of difference and the critical issues that need to be taken up and addressed further. Major developments of NGO/CSO Task Group working sessions with the drafting team of the NGO/CSO Draft Legislation: Observations and Recommendations of the NGO Community on the Ministry of Justice’s Current (Third) Draft NGO Registration and Regulation Proclamation NGOs’ persistent push for a legal framework is finally paying off. The Ministry of Justice has at last come up with a draft NGO Legislation, which was tabled for discussion at a workshop held from June 3- 4, 2002 at the ECA, Africa Hall, Addis Ababa...More on the Draft Legislation Comments on the Tax Exemption report NGO Observations on Ministry of Justice NGO Licensing and License Renewal ...NGOs are currently operating in a dynamic and fast changing policy and environment. One such dynamic policy shift involves the new tax regime namely Income Tax and the Value-Added Tax (VAT) of Ethiopia, which seems to have caught the NGO community unaware and unprepared to deal with it. The new tax regime, especially VAT, is indeed a step learning curve for NGOs and the tax authorities as well. This issue has become a common topic in Ethiopia, both for those working in the sector and those outside of it. And as of late, the lack of information and clarity on tax issues as it applies to NGOs, has become a cause of anxiety and uncertainty. It has thus become a topical issue warranting utmost priority. One of the most critical of these tax regimes is the current VAT regime.... READ THE EXECUTIVE SUMMARY OF THE PAPER This document presents the Civil Society Organizations’ (CSOs) preliminary observations on the draft document entitled "Civil Society Organizations Capacity Building Program" prepared under the auspices of the Federal Ministry of Capacity Building (MCB).... Full Document Ministry of Capacity Building - Civil Society Organizations' Capacity Building Program Program Design As required by the Ministry of Capacity Building, this Zero Draft program document sets out the first draft of a program design to build the capacity of civil society organizations to contribute to the achievement of SDPRP objectives in a closer partnership with government. The program design is situated within an understanding of civil society organizations, which sees them as occupying an arena beyond the family and distinct from the public and private sectors. Following international practice, the program’s conceptualisation of civil society includes formal and informal member-serving organizations and third-party serving organizations, including NGOs. Government envisages enhanced roles for civil society in achieving SDPRP objectives in terms of strengthening democracy, service delivery and decentralization. The program design takes this as its point of departure in considering for what purposes CSO capacity needs to be built. The program is organized around three sub-programs:
These sub-program address changes and reforms that are required respectively in: (i) the government system; (ii) between government and CSOs; and (iii) within the CSO community. Each sub-program contains a number of components and specific initiatives that address the changes and reforms that are required. The program rests on four strategic priorities:
This last is the most difficult technical problem facing program design; since capacity building for civil society potentially encompasses the entire adult population of Ethiopia. It is impossible to envisage a program that could be rolled out across the country in a short period of time. In addition to what is proposed in this program design, therefore, new solutions to creating capacity to build civil society capacity will need to be found as the program is implemented. The Zero Draft intended for public consultation is available for download in PDF format - to download click below Appendix 1 We encourage you to contact us with your questions, suggestions and comments on this document via; crda@telecom.net.et or Tel: 251-1-390677/393133.
Ethiopia: A Country Status Report on Health and Poverty A comprehensive draft document prepared for The World Bank Africa Region Human Development & Ministry of Health Ethiopia. Full Draft Document The participation of NGOs/CSOs in the Health Sector Development Program of Ethiopia This study is commissioned by Christian Relief and Development Association (CRDA) and examines the participation of NGOs/CSOs in the Health Sector Development Program (HSDP) of Ethiopia. It is undertaken at the beginning of 2004 with a purpose to generate information about the participation of NGOs/CSOs in the health sector, identify factors and conditions affecting the success and/or shortcomings of their participation, and strengthen collaboration between Government and NGOs/CSOs in realizing the goals of the HSDP. The study employed qualitative methodologies of key informant interview and review of relevant documents. Full Document |
