Kassahun, Meseret (PhD)Belayneh, Mesfin2018-06-202023-11-042018-06-202023-11-042016-05http://etd.aau.edu.et/handle/123456789/2135The study aimed at assessing the contribution of whistle blowing in combating corruption in five public sectors in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia. Qualitative research design and descriptive case study approach was used. Purposive and snow ball sampling techniques were used in this study. Accordingly, ten whistle blowers were selected using snowball technique while five ethics liaison officers from public sectors and four key informants from Federal Ethics and Anti-Corruption Commission were selected using criteria based purposive sampling respectively. The data collection instruments were in-depth interview, and observation supplemented with field note. In-depth interview, key informant interview, observation and secondary data collection methods were employed in the study. Descriptive analytical method is used in to analyze the qualitative data. The main results of the study were: poor implementation of whistle blowing scheme with lower protection coverage for whistle blowers, whistle blowing confidentiality exposition and absence of transparent and timeliness feed backs for whistle blowers in public sectors; whistle blowers lower participation and lack of selfless stance; invisible and bureaucratic challenges on whistle blowers for detecting corruption offence in public sectors and the commitment of leaders found as a key factor in determining effective whistle blowing system in the public sectors. In conclusion, absence of effective whistle blowing system results lower participation of the employee to detect corrupt practice in their working places. The employee whistle blower participation is challenged by simple visible to huge invisible factors which are networked by actors found inside and outside of the public sectors. Leaders in the public sectors at different managerial hierarchy not only role players for the challenges of whistle blowing scheme but also certainly influence the effectiveness of whistle blowing system in the public sectors. Finally, the study implication for social work education, policy frame works, future researches and interventions needed were indicatedenContribution; Corruption; whistle blower; whistle blowing; public sectorThesis