The Ethiopian ERALD Made in Ethiopia ዘ The collective conscience, the pride and the prejudice X-TRA Sunday X-TRA Page 23 Unmapped destinations Morocco to alert Ethiopia in water management sights expertise Page 12 Page 20 Only Diplomacy and Talks will Achieve what War Cannot Let us unite with love; Accomplish surpass in forgiveness! Page 19 Vol. LXXVI No 286 9 August 2020 Nehassie 3, 2012 Price Birr 5.75 Agelgil and The Signs of Genuine Filseta Greatness Page 16 Page 24 Feasible regulation vital to protect national parks from destruction Page 3 Novel Crisis affects good governance expedition of GERD Ethiopia not only a spring Page 2 of development but also historic Why CSOs prove emblem of this voiceless in generation Ethiopia? Page 3 Page 2 THE ETHIOPIAN HERALD SUNDAY EDITION 9 AUGUST 2020 PAGE 2 Herald Exclusives Why CSOs prove voiceless in Ethiopia? BY HAFTU GEBREZGABIHER set of roles in societal development. Over the last two decades, these roles have shifted Having over 2700 legally registered civil as the external environment for civil society society organizations (CSOs) in the country, has changed.” their role is rather found insignificant, due He added that a “renewed focus on the to the general claim against civil societies in essential contribution of civil society Ethiopia, a country of hundred ten million. to a resilient global system alongside When mobilized, CSOs, sometimes called government and business has emerged”. the “third sector” (after government and The mere existence of CSOs is for delivering commerce), have the power to influence services to meet education, health, food the actions of elected policy makers and and security needs; implementing disaster businesses. But the nature of civil society - management, preparedness and emergency what it is and what it does is evolving, in response; bringing expert knowledge and response to both technological developments experiences to shape policy and strategy; and more nuanced changes within societies, don’t give us (CSOs) recognition.” organizations (NGOs), labor unions, giving power to the marginalized; and according to the World Bank. The other limitation that hinders CSOs from indigenous groups, charitable organizations, encouraging citizen engagement. The CSOs in the Ethiopia are not well contributing their due role is the constraint faith-based organizations, professional Upholding integrity, justice, accountability, positioned as their image was highly of resources. The main sources of their grant associations, and foundations.” equity and the right of people starting from damaged specially during the last decade are external funds. Currently, due to the The term became popular in political and their internal governance up to having or so and the biased designation of corona virus pandemic, even such sources economic discussions in the 1980s, when platforms that could strengthen the role of civil societies as wrong partners by the have been facing depletion. Thus, with the it started to be identified with non-state civil society can help the country benefit local media, say Population, Health and resources not at hand, CSOs couldn’t play movements that were defying authoritarian from the registered civil societies and those Environment Consortium (PHE-Ethiopia) their role. This should be the concern of the regimes, especially in central and eastern pending registration, according to Negash. Executive Director Negash Teklu said. government, Negash further stated. Europe and Latin America. “If we really want to change the rights and “The image, which was created on the civil The new law Ethiopia has redefined CSOs Klaus Schwab, founder and executive interests of this group, encouraging them to society’s sector, is due to the government’s making void the previous confusions in chairman of the World Economic Forum, govern themselves recognizing the various push. Their name was wrongly taken. More NGOs and CSOS. Thus, as of now, there is wrote in the preface to a 2013 report, the policy directions is essential. Recognizing than anything, the media till to date, has no more NGOs classification in the country. Future Role of Civil Society: “NGOs, the civil societies to the right way will up to now marked us wrong partners. The According to the World Bank: “Civil society labour leaders, faith-based organizations, give the country a good leverage. Make media is pushing up to now with the wrong refers to a wide-array of organizations: religious leaders and other civil society sure that no one should be left behind the image. Even government affiliated Medias community groups, non-governmental representatives play a critical and diverse development goals,” Novel Crisis affects good governance expedition of Ethiopia BY MEHARI BEYENE particularly vulnerable extremely difficult choices, rather than make during COVID-19: false compromises, to address the impact of The COVID-19 crisis has had a moderate borders have been a prime COVID-19 across the continent. The Africa impact on governance, peace and security source of new infections, Joint Continental Strategy for COVID-19 in the Horn of Africa particularly, in the requiring dedicated provides a clear vision for how the African countries of Djibouti, Eritrea, Ethiopia, health and economic Union will work with its member states to Somalia, South Sudan and Sudan, so interventions. address the multi-faceted challenges posed disclosed by Africa Union. by the pandemic. Africa Union As to Africa Union’s report, as of 24 July, Commissioner for Peace ‘’Whilst the focus has been on mitigating there were 50,066 cases and 1,392 deaths and Security, Ambassador the health and socio-economic impacts, confirmed of COVID-19; the true caseload Smail Chergui on his COVID-19 has the possibility of is likely understated due to limited testing part said that the novel significantly impacting governance, peace capacity. No country has experienced coronavirus disease has and security and reversing gains made in significant political instability. Political spread rapidly around Africa. COVID-19 could delay electoral change and reform processes remain mostly the world since it was processes and could affect accountability, on track. No major conflicts have emerged first identified in January service delivery and the quest for improved since the start of the COVID-19 pandemic. 2020. This pandemic governance on the continent. In addition, Al-Shabaab remains a threat in the region represents a major crisis the virus has delayed the implementation and could be strengthened by the loss of for countries across the of critical peace agreements and hampered livelihoods. African continent, not our mediation efforts at the local level’’ he On the report, COVID-19 has delayed only in the risk to lives. indicated. progress in implementing reforms in some Africa has a young He went to say that terrorist and non-state countries and is inhibiting government population, which should armed groups have not ceased their attacks effectiveness across the region. The decrease the numbers against innocent populations. In West integration of different armed forces in South of severe cases, but it Africa, Boko Haram insurgents launched Sudan has been put on hold and elections has large numbers of an offensive against an army base claiming in Ethiopia have been postponed. Elections levels and jeopardizing livelihoods. Political people with underlying health conditions the lives of hundreds of peacekeepers. In the in Somalia were postponed due to internal stability and progress may be tested as the which make them vulnerable. Perhaps Horn of Africa, Al-Shabaab has continued to security concerns and not COVID-19. In health, social and economic impacts of most significantly, health systems have pose significant risks to civilian populations most countries, government operations have COVID-19 grow. Lockdowns, which are very limited capacity to treat severe cases. in the region, especially in Somalia and been constrained due to closures of non- now being relaxed in many countries, have Importantly, the economic impacts will be Kenya. While the spread of terrorism and essential services and government workers strained livelihoods. Food insecurity is severe. Measures to contain the spread of extremism on the continent is worrisome, it being asked to work from home. Budgets expected to deteriorate across the region in COVID-19 will inhibit economic activity is even more alarming to see terror groups will be constrained by reduced economic the coming months. These stresses are likely and could hit the poor hardest, especially leverage the outbreak of coronavirus to activity, and the fall in the oil price affecting to continue to grow and, in some countries, those living in cities. spread misinformation as a recruitment oil-exporting countries, further affecting may lead to civil unrest, political instability Added he said that the consequences tactic. service delivery and possibly corruption. or violence.’’ The report pointed out. of COVID-19 pandemic could be long- The impact of COVID-19 has hampered He capitalized that while COVID-19 The report indicated that bilateral country lasting. Supporting countries to address mitigation efforts to improve stability in the creates clear challenges to government relationships have been stable and the immediate and long-term impact of region. effectiveness and risks to peace and security, borderland areas in the region have been COVID-19 requires a regional approach. the pandemic may, in place, also present ‘COVID-19-related