CDBS reveals that peoples are optimist about the reduction of corruption in the coming two years
Addis Ababa – Transparency Ethiopia launched Corruption Diagnostic Baseline survey (CDBS) today March 6, 2009 at Ghion hotel. According to the Diagnostic Survey Peoples in the capital city are optimists that corruption will be decrease on the coming two years.
Transparency Ethiopia as part of its Research & Advocacy program, has conducted CDBS in the capital city in the year of 2008. The survey was intended, among others, to gather data on the people’s confidence on public institutions evaluate the quality of services rendered by these institutions, through making sample respondents rate and rank socio-economic problems, the amount, frequency and severity of bribes.
Speaking on the launching ceremony, Ato Eyasu Yimer Director of Transparency Ethiopia said that the survey will have a paramount importance for the government and concerned bodies to evaluate what have been done so far and take corrective measures by pointing weakness reflected on the survey.
He said that the recommendation of the findings suggested that, the government should clean the services rendered by governmental institutions.
Transparency International Chair of the Board of Director, Huguette Labelle said that such survey would be an important source for public service providers to identify sector where service delivery improvements should be warranted. She said that the survey could be used as foundation to make further similar studies.
According to the findings of the survey, the public ranked corruption fourth next to other socio-economic problems, cost of living, unemployment and housing, that prevailed in the city. According to the survey people give the first three rank for service delivery public school registration, telephone and electricity installation while judicial records procedure receive the lowest quality improvements ranking
13th.
The survey further indicated that among government institution Kebeles has got the lowest rank on getting peoples trust while Quality & Standards Authority and Sport Federation stood second and third respectively.
According to the survey Drivers’ license procedure and property registration; the judicial records procedure and the tax procedure tie for the 1st place and 2nd place respectively with average bribes of 500 and 400 birr respectively. (See table 14)
As per the survey findings, 39 percent of the respondents claimed that corruption has gotten worst or remain on the same level on the coming two years while the majority of the respondents 59 percent of them reflect their view that the level of corruption will go down on the coming two years. However, the greater majority of the respondents, 55 percent of them claimed that corruption reached at the worst level in the past two years while 44 percents responded that it wasn’t as such serious.
The surveys indicate that Media and religious organization have a vital role to mobilize the public stand against corruption while the survey emphasizes the need to include Civil Society Organization in the national anti corruption initiative.
On the launching ceremony, attended by dignitaries, journalists and invited guests, it was indicated that government, non-governmental organizations, the private sector, and the public at large must remain vigilant to expose corruption and stand firm to fight corruption.
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Notes for Editors:
The survey was sponsored by the Royal Netherlands Embassy in Addis Ababa and the Norwegian Church Aid-Ethiopia.
The survey was conducted on behalf of Transparency Ethiopia by African Economic Studies consulting firm in October & November, 2008.
A panel on “Corruption and Public Service Delivery in Ethiopia” convened
A panel organized in collaboration with the Federal Ethics and Anti-Corruption Commission (FEACC) was held on July 3, 2008 at Ghion Hotel. The panel which was the second of the series of panel discussions which are envisaged to be held in this year had the theme: “Corruption and Public Service Delivery in Ethiopia: Issues on Some Selected Public Services.” The intention of the panel was to:
- To discuss and public awareness on some corruption sensitive public services;
- To facilitate the exchange of information and expertise on issues of corruption and public service delivery
- To encourage/urge the various government offices and stakeholders streamline corruption in the programs and activities
- To identify corrupt practices and discuss on institution and legal gaps that could affect the proper implementation of public service delivery
- To promote mutual understanding and shared responsibility among stakeholders in the fight against corruption; and
- To come up with possible remedies and mechanisms by which corruption couldn’t be a threat to the national development.
Opening the panel, Mr. Eyasu Yimer, Director of Transparency Ethiopia (TE) said that such panel discussion has greater contribution to bring professionals and participants with different backgrounds together that would allow the exchange of ideas and experiences between themselves, adding that this would be vital to identify the problems and come up with workable solutions to the combating of corruption in the public service delivery.
On the other hand, in his opening satement at the panel, Ato Ali Suleiman, Commissioner of FEACC, Said that the civil service, which has wide coverage and extent live telecommunication, electricity supply, financial and health sectors, revenue collectors and license authority, the construction sector and others should be cleared from corruption and ethical problems to discharge its responsibility and play due role in national development. The Commissioner further noted that while the commission’s mandate is limited to governmental agencies in and development organizations, TE should extend its net work to combat corruption and malpractices in the private sector and NGOs.
Three Papers related with the theme were presented by Mr. Garbis Korajian, Dr.Yayehirad Asnake and Ato Bezabih Gebreyes. The panel was moderated by Dr. Hailemichael Abera, President of the Civil Service College.
The presentations were followed by a question and answer session which generated considerable debate that dealt with a wide range of issues. This allowed participants to forward comments, suggestions and raise issues that they did not understand. It also enabled the presenters to clear areas of misunderstandings.
Participants were drawn from the whole spectrum of stakeholders including prominent personalities, public servants, public officials, professional groups, academia, the private sector, the NGO community and the media.
The panel was sponsored by TE from the financial support obtained from the Royal Netherlands Embassy and the Norwegian Church Aid Ethiopia.
In his closing statement, Dr. Hailemichael Abera urged every segments of the society including the government, religious institutions, non-government organizations, individuals and others to exert their effort to fight corruption so as to accelerate the development of the country which in his view is something achievable. He concluded his remark by expressing gratitude to all participants who attended the panel actively.
Radio Programme Of TE back top
Transparency Ethiopia on the 20th of April has begun transmitting a weekly Amharic radio program on corruption issues. The program is transmitted on radio Fana, FM 98.1, from 5 PM to 5: 30 PM every Sunday.
The overall aim of the program is to educate the public on the essence, manifestations and adverse effects of corruption, and consequently contribute to the creation of a corruption intolerant society in our country. The program is also expected to constitute an important forum for a multi-polar discussion (mainly involving public, government, private sector and civil society) on the issue of corruption.
Transparency Ethiopia invites readers to listen on this weekly radio program and write on matters they wish to comment on.
TE Hold Annual General Assembly Meeting back top
On the 10th of May 2008, Transparency Ethiopia (TE) held a half day Annual Regular General Assembly Meeting (GAM). In the meeting held at Ghion Hotel, members discussed on three agendas. These were annual performance report, the 2007 audit report and draft membership development policy of the organization.
After having discussed the two reports thoroughly, the meeting has come to terms with the points raised and approved both reports. Similar discussions undergone about the membership development policy and approved by acclamation with some corrections.
Due to the repeatedly reported corruption scandals and the seemingly deteriorating ethical values in Ethiopia, the General Assembly has passed resolutions that to be announced to key government and non-government organizations and other stakeholders.
Global Corruption Report Launched back top
The Global Corruption Report (GCR) 2008 launched across the globe on 25th of June 2008 with the theme “Corruption in the water sector.’ The central message of the report is put as “Urgent action is needed to mobilize all stakeholders to develop practical ways of tackling corrupt practices in the many and varied parts of water sector.” In addition to the water corruption, the report also discloses the 2007 edition of corruption perception index that ranked about 180 countries. The Corruption Perception Index (CPI), which reflects levels of corruption in the public sector as perceived by business people, country analysts and ordinary citizens points out alarming levels of corruption in the majority of countries covered by the index. These include many of the world’s poorest nations including Ethiopia. |
