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278 Diagnosing Corruption in Ethiopia
Similarly, current initiatives to further strengthen project planning,
procurement, and management procedures within ERA are important
but could be undermined if the broader underlying issue of skills
shortages (capacity) is not also addressed. Capacity should be
strengthened not only through civil service reform (beyond the scope
of this study) but also through the extended use of proven management
systems and procedures and related training, as further detailed
below.
By contrast, little emphasis has so far been placed on addressing the
risks associated with trust, which significantly influence behavior in
the sector. Trust should be restored through specific confidencebuilding
measures (detailed below), including a fairer allocation of
risk in contracts and more openness about the practical application of
rules limiting the commercial interests of officials involved within the
sector.
Recommendations
Validation of study results. Given the vast and diverse extent of
Ethiopia’s construction sector and the limited scale, scope, and depth
of this study, it is important to recognize the tentative nature of its
conclusions and related recommendations. Though the study findings
have been broadly validated through stakeholder consultation, that
consultation process was itself limited and should be extended before
any major decisions are made to implement recommendations.
Specifically, the Ethiopian government should have time to consider
the findings and engage in ongoing dialogue with other stakeholders,
including industry representatives, donor agencies, and civil society. A
possible vehicle for such consultation may be the NMSG established
under the CoST initiative. Such an approach could lead to constructive
engagement on key issues, in turn allowing for early action in
priority areas.
Areas requiring further study. Along with ongoing work in consolidating
and validating the findings, there will in due course be a need to fill gaps
in its scope—particularly those relating to cross-sectoral issues, the
power sector, and large-scale community infrastructure initiatives.
Within the roads sector, early follow-up studies are recommended to
help the authorities identify and correct unequal contract relationships
and to better understand why many companies have chosen to withdraw