Citizens’ engagement with government to address issues related to service delivery has long been a challenge in Ethiopia. The social accountability concept was successfully introduced in Ethiopia in 2006 through a pilot program with World Bank funding. Since 2011, VNG International has been the main implementer of Social Accountability in Ethiopia through the Ethiopia Social Accountability Programme (ESAP), in two phases. The current and third Phase Ethiopia Social Accountability Program (ESAP III) was launched in 2019 and runs until 2024. Confident in its approach from the previous phase, the third phase of the program extended its reach to over 400 woredas (municipalities), or half of the total Woredas in the country). It sought to enhance social accountability in the five basic service sectors, namely: Education, Health, Rural Roads, Agriculture and Water and Sanitation (WASH), and other identified sectors that are fundamental for a delivery of these primary sectors (e.g., electricity). After twelve years, this system of institutionalized accountability is to be handed over to the Government of Ethiopia in May 2024.
But how do you guide such a transition? This was the main question guiding a Panel Discussion hosted by VNG International in Addis Ababa in March 2023. We have invited the Ministry of Finance of Ethiopia, the World Bank, Helvetas Swiss Intercooperation Ethiopia and the British Council to jointly discuss this topic. Mr. Pieter Jeroense, Director of VNG International, opened the discussion, highlighting the importance of ensuring ownership by local actors in the sustainability of international programmes such as ESAP. He highlighted that: “Local democracy is not a given and something we should support – internationally and domestically. … We should always look for innovative ways to build trust between citizens and government.” One way in which ESAP, a flagship programme of VNG International, achieves this, is through digital innovation. Our Citizen Report Card, now rolled out in over 330 woredas, maps citizen priorities which enable woredas to plan and budget better.
The Ministry of Finance highlighted the importance of Social Accountability to the Government of Ethiopia and (re)stated its dedication to institutionalize the programme into the governance system of Ethiopia. They indicated that: “The launching of ESAP-IDA as a supply-led SA intervention in the five basic service sectors portrays the commitment of the government to translate these enabling policy and legal frameworks in to concrete action that contributes to improved basic service delivery, while further strengthening an accountability relationship between public service providers and citizens” With the Ministry of Finance’s Channel One Programme Directorate, we are currently working with the MoF to document our approach, inform manuals and trainings for all woreda staff and establish Social Accountability focal points at the regional level.
While it is crucial that GoE owns and enacts Social Accountability in all layers of government, it requires strong, resilient, and self-sustaining civil society (demand and supply). As correctly stated by our colleagues at Helvetas and the British Council, both responsible for implementing large-scale CSO-strengthening programmes in Ethiopia, effort needs to be put in both ends of the spectrum. How can civil society continue to be active, without the support of a facilitating non-governmental organization? ESAP will organize a follow-up exchange on sustainability with all Implementing Partners of ESAP, to further detail how our CSOs can remain active and engaged after the programme ends.
Please find more information in the concept note: here. Want to stay informed about how we institutionalize Social Accountability in Ethiopia? Feel free to contact Meskerem Girma, Team Leader ESAP, at Meskerem.Girma@esap.org.et or contact Bo Altena, Project Director for ESAP at bo.altena@vng.nl