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Corruption is widely seen as a major obstacle to economic growth, investment, and poverty
reduction in developing countries. The challenge of corruption in Ethiopia has not been
widely discussed in recent decades, perhaps because people have not perceived it as a
significant constraint in their lives and businesses, or perhaps because a culture of circumspection
has discouraged open dialogue. The result has been a dearth of information flow
and debate on the issue.
Diagnosing Corruption in Ethiopia: Perceptions, Realities, and the Way Forward for Key Sectors
begins to fill this information gap and provides an independent overview of corruption.
It presents the findings of a study conducted by the World Bank, with financial support from
Canada, the Netherlands, and the United Kingdom, in conjunction with the Federal Ethics and
Anti-Corruption Commission of Ethiopia. The study mapped the nature of corruption in eight
sectors —health, education, water, justice, construction, land, telecommunications, and mining.
The study focused on three objectives:
• Developing frameworks to enable mapping of the potential areas of corruption in the sectors
• Mapping the different forms and types of corrupt practices in the selected sectors
• Considering the higher risk areas and identifying appropriate sector or cross-sectoral
responses by the government and other stakeholders.
In designing the methodologies for the diagnostics, the sector experts developed approaches
that best suited the sector and stakeholder context, incorporating universal principles as well.
One common element in the methodology is the effort to tap into the perceptions and
knowledge of all stakeholders—whether politicians, senior government officials, private
sector businessmen, civil society advocates, or consumers.
The diagnostics strongly suggest that corruption in the delivery of basic services in Ethiopia
is comparatively limited and potentially much lower than in other low-income countries.
The findings point toward an emerging pattern in sector-level corruption, with interesting
variations in the levels of corruption across the sectors studied. The study recommends
additional analysis, reforms to facilitate capacity building, and increased transparency
and dialogue among stakeholders.
The primary audience for this publication includes government officials, development
professionals, sector specialists, and others interested in Ethiopia, governance, or corruption.
ISBN 978-0-8213-9531-8
SKU 19531