Sound local government is becoming increasingly important in Ethiopia with the decentralization of power from the national to the regional and local levels. At the same time, many municipalities in the country contend with significant poverty levels, unemployment, in-migration of rural residents, and a limited capacity to provide basic public services. Strengthening local economies has become a high priority.
In September 2005, the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID) granted ICMA an associate award under ICMA’s CityLinks program to provide assistance to the Ethiopian cities of Addis Ababa and Adama for a period of two years (see accompanying description). The partnership between Adama and Portland, Oregon, was intended to facilitate Adama’s local economic development by attracting investment to the city and enhancing the relationship between the public and private sectors, with the ultimate goal of creating more jobs.
In September 2007, ICMA was awarded an extension to expand the CityLinks program to the city of Dire Dawa (one of the two “chartered cities” in Ethiopia); the Gambella region (state) and that region’s capital city, Gambella; and the Somali region and its capital city, Jijiga. The Somali and Gambella regions are considered to be “emerging,” with limited institutional capacity and areas that are prone to or already in conflict.
Activities under the extension sought to increase the institutional capacity in these regions to promote economic growth, improve service delivery and revenue generation, and promote mechanisms for citizen participation in public decision making.
In 2009, the CityLinks program was awarded a three-year extension to sustain the relationships created in earlier phases. The extension continues assistance to the regions and municipalities, incorporates support for development of strategic plans in the two target regions, encourages collaboration with national ministries, and promotes mechanisms for sharing information on good governance practices in the country.
In addition to the activities originally envisioned, ICMA developed and implemented an initiative to work in partnership with the Federal Ethics and Anti-Corruption Commission as it seeks to identify vulnerabilities and reduce opportunities for corruption at the regional and local levels. ICMA is also exploring ways to provide support to the Cities Network, a proposed information sharing and peer-to-peer network of local officials.
Because of government restrictions, ICMA is implementing its program through “transitional partnerships” with two locally placed nongovernmental organizations (Mercy Corps and PACT).
Program Activities
Following the early Adama-Portland partnership, the program increased the level of resources to promote additional peer-to-peer exchanges from the United States to Ethiopia and among cities in Ethiopia, as well as to build the institutional capacity of local and regional governments by utilizing technical assistance and training provided by local professionals and international experts. While continuing to work with Adama, Portland began a partnership with Gambella region and the city of Gambella.
The partnership with Adama continued to facilitate local economic development (LED). The city agreed to establish the position of LED specialist—a position that is central to developing LED policies for the municipality, establishing public-private partnerships and other forms of synergy with the private sector, and implementing a long-term vision for increasing Adama’s competitive advantages and economic growth.
Under the current extension, the program is expected to provide assistance to the Ethiopia cities and regions in the CityLinks program in some or all of the following areas: revenue generation, sanitation, organizational development/restructuring, public transit (Gambella), and emergency preparedness and response (Dire Dawa). Specific areas of assistance will be negotiated with each city based on immediate needs, previous commitments, and other ongoing programs, including donor-funded programs.
In addition to the municipal activities, the ICMA program is helping the Bureau of Finance and Economic Development (BoFED) of the Somali National Regional State (SNRS) lead a strategic planning process for the development of a 2010-2014 strategic plan. ICMA has conducted a capacity needs assessment and has provided the SNRS with a roadmap for providing training and conducting the strategic planning process to ultimately improve the SNRS’s ability to provide services and enhance economic development.
Following are a few activities implemented since the program began:
- Adama hosted the city’s first economic development conference in May 2008, which promoted its economic potential and advantages for investors.
- A workshop on basic concepts and best practices in emergency management was conducted in Dire Dawa. The workshop included presentations on the role of government in disaster preparedness, emergency management best practices from Florida, and the all-hazards approach to disaster management.
- A workshop on basic concepts and best practices in public transit and transport was conducted in Gambella city in March 2008. The focus was the role of government and public-private partnerships.
- A local economic development conference organized in May 2008 in partnership between the municipality of Adama and the local Chamber of Commerce served to highlight best practices and market and showcase the city as a locality ready for investment and supportive of public-private relationships.
- The Urban Management Centre, ICMA’s representative in South Asia, facilitated a six-day study tour for 10 Ethiopian government officials from Gambella and Somali regional states as well as Gambella and Jijiga towns to acquaint the delegation with the best practices in the urban local bodies in India, mainly focusing on public-private partnership initiatives.
Results: Adama
- Adama selected priority areas for economic development, identified its competitive advantages, and strengthened relationships between the public and private sectors in efforts to attract businesses and create jobs. The city then developed an action plan for an economic development strategy.
- Adama is progressing in planning an industrial district that is likely to emphasize agro-processing, thus providing opportunities for producers in the Oromia region (of which Adama is the capital) to process their products and market them to other regions of the country.
- Tourism and marketing brochures were developed to promote the city’s economic potential as a tourism destination and an agricultural center for investment. The brochures, distributed among local and international investors, have been used as models by other cities in Ethiopia.
Results: Dire Dawa
- Dire Dawa is institutionalizing an urban disaster preparedness unit to better respond to flash floods and other hazards. As part of the institutionalization process, three of the most affected kebeles during previous devastating flash floods (2005 and 2006) are becoming important stakeholders in the disaster prevention and preparedness efforts.
- An emergency operations plan (EOP) was drafted for the city.
- Emergency signal equipment is in the process of being procured.
- Firefighting gear has been donated to the local fire brigade.
- ICMA has begun a series of workshops with regional planning authorities to develop databases, service effectiveness indicators, and other tools for the development of a strategic plan for the region.
Results: Gambella
- The city of Gambella has identified its role in transit management and is developing the foundations for establishing partnerships with the regional government to coordinate in the implementation of that function.
- A pilot demonstration program in the city promoted coordination between the regional government and the city to provide signage for a new road built with funding from the regional government. The project also included public education for citizens on the appropriate use of roads by multiple users.
- A comprehensive solid waste collection plan has been developed.
- Five waste collection cooperatives, each with 15 members, were reestablished in five kebeles of the city to undertake door-to-door waste collection. To facilitate service agreements for door-to-door waste collection between these cooperatives and households or institutions, a format was developed through discussion with all stakeholders. Basic operating equipment necessary for the waste collection cooperatives and street cleaners was identified and proposed for procurement.
- The program has helped Gambella identify 10 intermediate waste disposal sites, two within each of the five kebeles, as well as three temporary landfill sites.
- Three non-functioning use-and-pay public toilets were identified as pilots for rehabilitation through support by the program. Necessary engineering drawings, designs, and specifications were completed in preparation for a competitive bidding process.
- As a result of the program’s continued consultation with the city administration and municipality, the Gambella Town Sanitation and Beautification Desk was created and staffed.