An Assessment of the Current Status of Decentralized Governance and Self-Administration in Amhara National Regional State: A Study on Awi Nationality Administrative Zone
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Date
2011-06
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Addis Ababa University
Abstract
The existence of Awi people as one ethnic group with its own culture and language has made it
necessary for the existence of Awi- Nationality Administrative Zone as self- governing entity
with three organs of government- elected council, administrative council (executive) and its
judiciaries at zonal level. Theoretically Awi Nationality Administrative Zone is expected to
play unique status due to its existence as the 3 rd separate tire of government from the federal
five levels structure and 2nd tire of government from the regional government structure. The
effort made by this study with the objective to assess the implementations of this unique status
of Awi nationality administrative zone with respect to devolution of political and
administrative power/authority, its fiscal autonomy as separate tire of government and its good
governance practice through the use of descriptive research is noteworthy. The existence of
Awi- Nationality Administrative Zone has its inception from article 39 of federal constitution
and article 73 of the regional constitution with the objective of protecting, preserving and
promoting Awi people’s culture and language through self- governance and self determination.
However, this study found that the implementation of such constitutional right were going on at
low pace than expected due to low commitment of administrators, financial dependence of zone
administration from the regional government, weak application of good governance
principles, regional interference on zonal affairs and less decentralized power/ authority of
legal nature. Lustily it is recommended to enhance zonal autonomy, decreasing financial
dependence, increasing administrator’s commitment, starting Awgni language for
administrative use, encouraging public participation in planning and managing projects,
enhancing transparency and clarity in financial administration or block grant
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Keywords
Awi nationality, Administrative zone