The Current Decentralization Process in Ethiopia the Case of Oromia Region
No Thumbnail Available
Date
2001-05
Authors
Journal Title
Journal ISSN
Volume Title
Publisher
Addis Ababa University
Abstract
Decentralization is believed to improve development activities by allowing
lower levels of government bodies and the people at large to participate in
development planning and implementation. Of course, such participatory
development through decentralization can be realized if important preconditions
such as political commitment, availability of and access to resources, capacity of
implementing agencies and the like are adequately met. The on-going decentralization process in Ethiopia has introduced a major
change in the political, economic and social systems of the country. The new
decentralization process, effected since 1991, is organized under federal form of
government whereby the country has been divided into nine regional governments
and one city administration under the umbrella of the Federal Government. The
regions are delimited mainly based on historical, linguistic and ethnic
considerations. This study is aimed at investigating the process of decentralization in the
country. It is conducted mainly on a case study technique where one region,
Oromia Region, is randomly selected from among the regions in the country. The
research provides a brief description of the conceptual framework of
decentralization, then the data collected and its analysis. Finally it presents
conclusions arrived at. Both quantitative and qualitative data collection methods
were used. Interviews were conducted with 25 key informants-individuals
assumed to have particular knowledge on the issue of decentralization. Group
discussions and survey questionnaires with 14 participants were also included in
the research. Oromia Region is the largest of all in terms of territorial size and
population. It has a relatively strong institutional and manpower situation as
compared to other regions. However, close scrutiny of regional activities reveals
that there is a lot to be done. Although authority and powers seem to be
decentralized, the extent of decentralization below regional levels, to the zonal,
woreda and kebele levels is limited. Moreover, the decentralization process in the
Oromia region is challenged by many problems such as low revenue basis, very
low administrative and manpower capacity and poor inter-organizational
arrangements and relationships. There is a large vertical imbalance between the revenue raising powers and
expenditure responsibilities of the Oromia Region. Therefore, every year, more
than 70 percent of the budget of the region is granted by the Federal Government
in the form of unconditional subsidy. This means that in Ethiopia, expenditure
responsibilities have tended to be centralized in favor of the Federal Government There are, of course, improvements in the participation of the private sector
in the economic activities of the region. The very reason for this is the market
economic system that the country follows. There are a number of significant
private investors with licenses operating in the region.
In general, decentralization is a recommended system of governance for
Ethiopia, for several reasons. Improving the balance between expenditure
assigrunent and revenues of the region, empowering lower level administrative
units with the required level of power and authority, and improving the
organizational arrangements and relationships of various functional units of
regions could pave the way for realizing the benefits of decentralization.
Based on the findings of the research, it is recommended that the Federal
and regional governments should make efforts to minimize the polarization effects,
through infrastructural developments and incentives to private and other
investments to peripheral areas. The Federal government should give equal
emphasis as that of general purpose grants to specific type grant which aims at
encouraging regions' efforts to expand their tax bases with the view of financing
their own development programs. There should also be measures to be taken to
attract and retain skilled manpower in lower level by providing attractive salaries,
conducive living facilities etc.
Particularly, in Oromia region, the lower levels should have more
discretionary power to undertake activitics in their respectivt; areas. Zonal and
woreda levels should operate not as totally appendages of regional goverrunents
and should devise a system where they are not controlled bureaucratically and
hierarchically by regional government bodies. Government functional units in
regions have to be revised and established in their best form. Redundant and
unnecessary offices should be removed and formed in line with the specific
circumstances of the region.
Description
Keywords
Decentralization is believed, improve development activities