ADDIS ABABA – Unlike the experience of many countries, Ethiopia’s National Dialogue Commission (NDC) has employed a bottom-up approach to give ample opportunity to the public voice in the agenda setting, the commissioners said.
In an interview with local media, NDC Chairperson Prof. Mesfin Araya emphasized that experience of most countries that went under national dialogue indicates that their agenda was set top-down. However, in the case of Ethiopia, the public is the one that would set the agenda.
Also, Commissioner Zegeye Asefaw stressed that the public is the major body that is going to set the agenda of the national dialogue through the platforms that the commission will undertake to identify the discussion issues. The pre, during and post consultation programs planned to be carried out by the commission to sensitize the public; the pre-consultation program is ongoing and has so far been green lighted by the public.
So far, the commission has held talks with women associations, higher institutions, PWDs organizations, CSOs, NEBE, HRCs and other prominent organizations and individuals.
Appreciating the efforts of individuals and parties who are going a long way in alleviating the burden of the commission like that of Ethiopian Citizens for Social Justice party through preparing discussion manuals, Prof. Mesfin underlined that combined efforts would serve the national dialogue better than individual efforts.
“Though the public is the down who gets through the tough situation whenever something is up in the country, its consent is encouraging adding that the commission by itself would do nothing without the active participation of everyone.”
Indicating that they are compiling the experience of different countries, Zegeye mentioned that the commission would not adopt the model but take the experience and lessons. “Regarding maintaining neutrality in our activities, the government or other entity has not so far attempted to interfere in the commission’s tasks.”
Plan set to involve the Diaspora community since the commission’s major core objective is making the discussion all inclusive.
BY BETELHEM BEDLU
The Ethiopian Herald 12 June 2022
