Forging A CSOs-friendly Environment

U.S. President Donald Trump’s executive order late January freezing funding for the United States Agency for International Development (USAID) for 90 days has had a debilitating impact on countries like Ethiopia that rely on aid provided by one of if not the largest aid organization in the world. Although precise figures are unavailable on the number of affected institutions, over 85 percent of civil society organizations (CSOs) operating in Ethiopia have paused operations following the Trump administration’s decision to suspend the funding and either fire or put on leave thousands of the Agency’s workers, with organizations working on human rights, peace, health, and development issues have particularly affected by the cutoff of funding. Ethiopia has been receiving billions of dollars of aid from USAID for years now, making it the second largest recipient of US assistance in sub-Saharan Africa and the fifth biggest in the world. For a country grappling with a plethora of humanitarian crises impacting tens of millions of people, the abrupt halting of funds has sent a shockwave that underscores the imperative to end its dependence on foreign assistance and stand on its own feet.

CSOs in Ethiopia play an important role in fostering democracy, promoting human rights, and addressing social and economic challenges. They serve as a bridge between the government and citizens, advocating for marginalized groups, providing essential services, and holding authorities accountable. However, they operate in a complex environment characterized by both internal and external challenges that hinder their effectiveness. Chief among the internal shortcomings they suffer from is limited organizational capacity. A significant proportion of them struggle with weak institutional structures and a lack of skilled personnel, resulting in mismanagement of resources, internal conflicts, and a loss of trust among stakeholders, including donors and beneficiaries. To make matters worse the vast majority of CSOs are over- reliant on external funding, exposing them to vulnerabilities they have no control over. Donor priorities may not always align with local needs and fluctuations in funding or changes in donor policies can jeopardize the sustainability of CSOs, forcing them to scale back or abandon critical initiatives. These challenges have limited their ability to design and implement effective programs, monitor and evaluate their impact, and sustain their operations over the long term.

CSOs also are confronted with a slew of challenges which are extrinsic to them. Ethiopia’s legal framework for CSOs has historically been restrictive. The 2009 Charities and Societies Proclamation imposed severe limitations on the activities of CSOs, particularly those focused on human rights, governance, and advocacy. Although the 2019 Civil Society Organization Proclamation introduced some reforms, challenges remain. Bureaucratic hurdles, lengthy registration processes, and ambiguous regulations continue to stifle the operations of many CSOs. They are also often subjected face political pressure, harassment, and intimidation, particularly when their work challenges government policies or exposes human rights abuses. This has created a climate of fear and self-censorship, discouraging such CSOs from engaging in advocacy or holding authorities accountable. The lack of a robust legal framework to protect CSOs from such pressures further exacerbates the problem. Moreover, in some cases they face public skepticism and mistrust, partly due to a lack of awareness about their role and contributions. Misinformation and negative perceptions, often fueled by political actors, tend to undermine the legitimacy of some organizations and reduce their ability to mobilize community support. This is especially true for those working on such sensitive issues as human rights and governance.

There are a number of strategies CSOs need to pursue to overcome the challenges besetting them. In order to address the challenges intrinsic to them, they must first and foremost focus on enhancing their institutional capacity as it relates to project management, governance, and advocacy with a view to ensure transparency, accountability, and inclusivity in decision-making processes. This should be underpinned by initiatives intended to attain financial freedom. Reducing dependence on external funding requires of them to explore alternative revenue streams. This encompasses, among others, mobilizing local resources through membership fees, crowdfunding, and forging partnerships with the private sector and more importantly local communities. Diversifying funding sources not only enhances sustainability, but also helps them to remain responsive to local needs.

Insofar as alleviating the external challenges they are faced with is concerned the responsibility primarily rests on the shoulders of the government. This said they must take it up on themselves to engage in collective advocacy to push for a more enabling legal and regulatory environment in the form of lobbying for the removal of bureaucratic barriers, the protection of their rights, and the establishment of clear and consistent regulations. Forming alliances and networks with other civil society actors, both within Ethiopia and internationally, can go some way towards achieving this goal.  Collaborative efforts can amplify their impact, reduce duplication of efforts, and provide a united front in advocating for policy changes. Networks on the other hand offer opportunities for knowledge sharing, capacity building, and mutual support.

As CSOs in Ethiopia navigate a difficult landscape to survive and stay relevant it is vital that they do whatever is within their means to fulfill the role they are expected to play in promoting the country’s aspiration for development and democratization. Needless to say they cannot thrive without the contribution of the government, the general public, and the international partners in creating an enabling environment. Only by addressing these challenges can Ethiopia’s civil society realize its full potential as a catalyst for positive change and a fundamental pillar of democracy and development.