Agency for Civic Society Organizations has informed us that it has registered 542 new civic society organizations over the last one year since stringent requirements were annulled and replaced by liberal ones in the recently amended proclamation.
In this regard, now the country has more than 1,500 civic organizations, thanks for the reform measures underway in the country and for the amendment of the proclamation it brought with.
Civil Society Organizations (CSOs) are considered an important organ of a state as their role is increasing from time to time.
Be that as it may, the organizational strength and the overall contribution of CSOs in Ethiopia can be said at an adventitious level. Although they had tried to make some tangible contributions in the political and economic arena of the country in the past, the ruling regime of the time had made an enemy of them and stifled them to the last. The contribution they had made during the 2005 National General Elections and the aftermath consequences they had suffered are still fresh in our memory.
Later on their role was crippled altogether by the 2009 legislation which restricted their funding backup as well as freedom of operations.
Now the government has amended the legislation, and their number is blossoming. That is a good thing. But they are expected to do their best.
The agency in charge of regulating CSOs is preparing some guidelines that help foster their role.
In Ethiopia as well as abroad there is a strong belief that this is the right time for a strong intervention of CSOs. This is because CSOs are genuine constituencies that sit alongside other stakeholders. They are strongly desired for their irreplaceable role as watchdog and advocates, among others.
It is easy to witness that they are not working as ardent as they must compared with both their previous record as well as equivalent institutions in other countries.
This should be taken as a serious risk in the overall issue that the country and its people expect from similar institutions.
The political, economic and social issues of the country should not be left for the mercy of the government or political parties, and media. CSO’s should boost their role in a visible manner so that the people can get utmost benefit from the overall development of the country.
In addition to addressing the problems at hand it is important to see the far reaching role of the CSO’s in nurturing democratic system, justice and good governance. Therefore the government, the CSO’s themselves and other concerned stakeholders need to work hand in hand and waste no time to scale up the operation of CSO’s in the country.
Ethiopia is now at a time it is in need of their role than ever. At a time when the country is bracing to conduct election, undertaking an overall reform and experiencing challenges, and more importantly all stakeholders are doing their best to solve them, our expectation from the CSOs is naturally immense.
The Ethiopian Herald January 11/2020
