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Challenges in the Era of Globalization - iaabd

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Proceed<strong>in</strong>gs <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> 12th Annual Conference © 2011 IAABD<br />

Abstract<br />

Governance <strong>of</strong> Public Investment Projects <strong>in</strong> Ethiopia<br />

Asmamaw Tadege Shiferaw, asmamaw.shiferaw@ntnu.no<br />

Norwegian University <strong>of</strong> Science and Technology, Norway.<br />

Ole Jonny Klakegg, Ole.jonny.klakegg@ntnu.no<br />

Norwegian University <strong>of</strong> Science and Technology, Norway.<br />

In <strong>the</strong> recent years, Ethiopia has experienced relatively high level <strong>of</strong> economic growth and <strong>the</strong> government is<br />

implement<strong>in</strong>g large number <strong>of</strong> public <strong>in</strong>vestment projects. However, <strong>the</strong>re are concerns about <strong>the</strong> relevance and<br />

susta<strong>in</strong>ability <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong>se projects. This paper maps and reviews <strong>the</strong> front-end project governance system <strong>of</strong> Ethiopia<br />

and identifies <strong>the</strong> most important front-end challenges <strong>of</strong> public <strong>in</strong>vestment projects. The f<strong>in</strong>d<strong>in</strong>gs <strong>in</strong>dicate that <strong>the</strong><br />

top-down project approach, lack <strong>of</strong> mandatory control gateways at <strong>the</strong> front-end and weak l<strong>in</strong>ks between project<br />

stakeholders affected <strong>the</strong> effectiveness <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> project governance system. Be<strong>in</strong>g unable to identify <strong>the</strong> key priorities <strong>of</strong><br />

<strong>the</strong> society and lack <strong>of</strong> commitment from key stakeholders are identified as <strong>the</strong> most important front- end challenges<br />

<strong>of</strong> public <strong>in</strong>vestment projects.<br />

Introduction<br />

Demand for public services <strong>in</strong> sub-Saharan African countries is <strong>in</strong>creas<strong>in</strong>g cont<strong>in</strong>uously due to <strong>the</strong><br />

improvement <strong>in</strong> governance and awareness <strong>in</strong> <strong>the</strong> region. However, poverty, lack <strong>of</strong> basic <strong>in</strong>frastructure,<br />

and poor <strong>in</strong>dustrial development are cont<strong>in</strong>uously h<strong>in</strong>der<strong>in</strong>g <strong>the</strong> ability <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> nations to meet this demand.<br />

This is exacerbated by lack <strong>of</strong> transparency, lack <strong>of</strong> legal and f<strong>in</strong>ancial frameworks, and poor capacity <strong>in</strong><br />

managerial and technical expertise (Gidado, 2010).<br />

Ethiopia is located <strong>in</strong> this region with fast population growth and high public service demands. In<br />

Ethiopia, private sector services are not developed enough to satisfy <strong>the</strong> needs and <strong>the</strong> demands for public<br />

services. To reach <strong>the</strong>se high demands <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> public, <strong>the</strong> Ethiopian government has been plann<strong>in</strong>g and<br />

implement<strong>in</strong>g several public <strong>in</strong>vestment projects. Dur<strong>in</strong>g <strong>the</strong> last ten years, many public <strong>in</strong>vestment<br />

projects have been implemented and some are <strong>in</strong> progress. Many o<strong>the</strong>rs are also planned for <strong>the</strong> next five<br />

years. The Ethiopian government is used to set medium term development plans and <strong>the</strong> strategic<br />

objectives are economic development and poverty reduction. Us<strong>in</strong>g <strong>the</strong>se plans, different sectors have<br />

prepared detailed plans and programs <strong>in</strong> <strong>the</strong> <strong>the</strong>me <strong>of</strong> economic growth, agriculture and rural<br />

development, human development, <strong>in</strong>frastructure development and governance (MoFED, 2006).<br />

A grand hous<strong>in</strong>g development program, road sector development programs, health sector development<br />

programs, education sector development programs are some <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> programs implemented by different<br />

sectors to improve <strong>the</strong> public welfare. Under <strong>the</strong>se programs many projects are designed and implemented<br />

<strong>in</strong> order to provide goods and services to <strong>the</strong> public. However, project development <strong>in</strong> Ethiopia has<br />

experienced problems at <strong>the</strong> plann<strong>in</strong>g and implementation stages. Different studies at <strong>the</strong> M<strong>in</strong>istry <strong>of</strong><br />

F<strong>in</strong>ance and Economic Development (MoFED) <strong>in</strong>dicated that <strong>the</strong>re was no system that checks <strong>the</strong> l<strong>in</strong>ks<br />

between <strong>the</strong> project objectives and <strong>the</strong> government strategies. Wastage <strong>of</strong> resources and redundancy <strong>of</strong><br />

projects were common (MoFED, 2006). To m<strong>in</strong>imize <strong>the</strong> wastage <strong>of</strong> resources and elim<strong>in</strong>ate redundant<br />

projects, MoFED has tried to revise <strong>the</strong> system and adopted tools to appraise, monitor and evaluate public<br />

<strong>in</strong>vestment projects. However, projects still have problems related to usefulness and susta<strong>in</strong>ability.<br />

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