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Construction Sector Corruption in Ethiopia 279
from (or not even enter) the construction market. Any such study should
include consultation with international construction companies not currently
working in Ethiopia.
To better understand the nature of competition in the sector, it is
recommended that a study be conducted of unit costs, initially within
the roads subsector. Such a study, which would look at both input costs
and output costs, would seek a better understanding of the drivers of
current high output costs and profit margins. Its scope should also
include a review of the process by which decisions are made about the
appropriate standards for new roads.
Other recommendations. Detailed stakeholder recommendations relating
to each stage of the value chain are included in the tabulated summaries
previously presented in tables 6.1–6.6. At a more strategic level, the following
set of overlapping recommendations relate directly to the conclusions
previously presented in figure 6.5.
Accountability
• Improved transparency. This recommendation should not be limited to
Ethiopia’s participation in the CoST initiative, significant as that is, but
should also be a vehicle for broader transparency across the sector.
Government, industry, donors, and civil society all have a role to play
in promoting greater transparency and by demonstrating a willingness
to share information that will result in greater clarity and accountability
in the sector.
• Independent professional body. Consideration should be given to the
benefits of establishing an independent body or bodies responsible for
defining and upholding professional standards within Ethiopia’s construction
sector. This will in turn have a bearing on current discussions
between industry and government about the most appropriate means
of providing for the impartial and transparent classification, registration,
and regulation of companies working in the sector. Its influence
would ideally also extend to universities offering engineering degrees.
• Strengthened role for civil society. This is a cross-cutting issue that extends
beyond the scope of the study. However, it is recommended that full
advantage be taken of the opportunity presented by the CoST initiative
to explore the benefits of increasing recognition of the role that civil