Diagnosing Corruption in Ethiopia - Ethiomedia

Other Study Findings
Education Sector Corruption in Ethiopia 107
Table 3.8 Summary of Corruption Risks in Buildings and Facilities
Perceived corruption risk
Form of corruption
Management
Low Medium High
Collusion with contractor when planning construction or
maintenance of facilities
o
Misappropriation of building funds by public officials or
community leaders
o
Procurement Low Medium High
Favoritism, nepotism, or bribery in the short-listing of
consultants or contractors
o
Tendering companies owned by persons linked with the
award of contracts
o
Bypassing of correct procurement procedures o
Specifications that favor a specific supplier o
Fraud, falsification of tender documents, with or without
associated bribery
o
Collusion among contractors or consultants in bidding o
Bribery to influence evaluation of tenders o
Service delivery Low Medium High
Bribery or extortion related to the granting of permits,
licenses, and authorities
o
Defective construction, substandard materials, or
overclaiming of quantities
o
Bribery to cover up failure to meet specifications or other
nonperformance
o
Extortion of facilitation payments to ensure payment of
certificates
o
Source: Author.
The mapping exercise presented above represents only part of the overall
picture of corruption risks affecting the education sector in Ethiopia. To
be fully assessed, such risks must be considered in the institutional and
political context in which they occur. People tend to engage in corruption
when the risks are low, the penalties mild, and the rewards great
(Klitgaard, MacLean-Abaroa, and Parris 2000). This dynamic suggests
that corruption risks will be accentuated where there are wide-ranging
discretionary powers or where accountability mechanisms are weak.
Following a review of general perceptions of corruption arising from the
study, each of these factors is briefly considered in turn.