The Charities and Societies Proclamation: Current Practice, Challenges and its Impact on the Activities of Selected NGOs/CSOs

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2015-05

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Addis Ababa University

Abstract

No other Ethiopian laws/proclamations have attracted as much attention as the CSP 621/2009. Ever since its inception over six years ago, it has aroused considerable attention and debate from a great variety of concerned parties. Despite this, the author is not aware of any previous comprehensive research study in the last three years that has been done on the CSP proclamation. Employing the Descriptive Qualitative Approach as its primary methodology, this study endeavors to extract the most important elements of this proclamation and examine why it has attracted so much attention. It examines the impact of CSP on the activities of CSOs/NGOs in the areas of the right of freedom of association, promotion of human rights, and the right to raise funds to support their programs and allocation of costs. Among the major issues examined are the restriction on Ethiopian Charities to mobilize at least 90% of their funding from local sources; the restriction of Ethiopian Resident Charities from participating in “rights activities”; and the 30% administrative ceiling and the way administration costs are defined. The study compares the CSP with CSO-related laws in other countries in Sub-Saharan Africa. The study found out that CSP is prohibitive in the area of Public Policy activities, restrictive in securing funding and lacks tax provision for individual and corporate donors to Charities, The study found out the positive impact of CSP as well: It encourages directing 70% or more of the fund to beneficiaries. It emboldens transparency stewardship and accountability of CSOs .Allowing CSO to involve in IGA was another positive finding. Finally, the study recommends practical ways that the government could change or modify the CSP legislation to create smoother and fairer relationships between the government and the CSOs serving the country

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NGOs/CSOs

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