Impact Assessment of the Charities and Societies Law on the Perception, Growth and Programs of Non-Governmental Organizations
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Date
2011-07
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Addis Ababa University
Abstract
Statement of the problem: Despite the recently introduced Charities and Societies
Proclamation by the government to ensure the constitutionally guaranteed right to the freedom
of association and giving support and facilitating the role of the Charities and Societies in the
overall development of the peoples of Ethiopia, there continues to be wide 5pread perception of
the threat and insecurity on the parts of the civic society. Considering the indispensable role
Civic society plays in the development and democratization process of the country, this study is
undertaken to assess the question whether the recently introduced Charities and Societies
Proclamation has an impact on growth and engagement areas of Ethiopian and International
non-governmental organizations.
Rationale: One of the rational is studies measuring the actual impact of the proclamation on the
scope of work of the Ethiopian and International non-governmental organizations from legal and
economic point of view is missing in the literature. Secondly, the Charities and Society
Proclamation law imposes vague and arbitrary criminal sanctions on those who violate its
provisions and are punishable under the criminal code as well as by administrative sanctions.
However, the impact of the law on criminal prosecution of the officials, members and voluntary
is an important legal issue that requires critical investigation. Thirdly, the CSOslNGOs law has
created a state of controversy and lack of trust between the government and the civic society
sector. However, the actual perception of the CSOslNGOs sector towards the law on important
aspect of the law is not measured so far and this demands critical investigation. Finally, the law
governing the Civic Society is found in different titles and in different proclamations on piece
meal basis. This faci opens up for an excellent opportunity to study the legal knowledge of the
Ethiopian and International CSOslNGOs and identifYing the gap between the perception and the
law.
Objective: The main objective of the study is to assess Ihe impact of the charities and society
proclamation on the growth and engagement areas of Ethiopian and International nongovernmental
organizations.
Methods: Both primary and secondary data are used for the purpose of this study. Descriptive
and statistical tools such as Chi-square tests and independent sample t- test are used in
analyzing the data collected.
Major findings: One major finding is change of the name of registration of most local NGOs
into Ethiopian Resident CSOsINGOs. Moreover, the research has found out that there is a
decrease in the total number of CSOsINGOs. In addilion to this, majority of the respondent 's
number of beneficiaries and employee of the non-governmental Organizations have been
affected. Almost half of CSOslNGOs have already been obliged to reduce the number of their
branch offices and source of fund. Most organizations have made important evaluation and
revision of their establishment documents, area of intervention and made readjustment on their
mandate in accordance with Ihe new proclamation to cope up with the impacl of Ihe law. There
are significant numbers of cancelation of organizations license involved in child developmentand care. There are also significant numbers of closing down organization due to failure of the
organizations to be reregistered as per the new law.
Recommendation: Creating an enabling environment for the operation of CSOslNGOs cannot
be guaranteed by the enactment af the law by itself unless it is complemented by reducing the
restrictian on foreign fonding. In this regard it is better to intraduce that Ethiopian Resident
Charity and Societies can decrease the percentage af their dependence on foreign source af
income by 15 percent annually and then ultimately raise 90 percent from local sources.
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Impact Assessment of the Charities and Societies