Promoting Democratization and Stability in Post-Election Ethiopia

(October 2005 - March 2008)

The national parliamentary and regional council elections held in May 2005, the country's first truly multparty ballot, have demonstrated a dramatic change in Ethiopian politics. Offered a wide range of choices, the Ethiopian people expressed diverse political opinions and have thus shown their enthusiasm and commitment for multiparty democracy and the greater participation in governance that it implies. The two opposition coalitions made strong showings in the Parliament and the Amhara and Oromia regional councils and won a large majority in the Addis Ababa city council.

While the pre-election period was characterized by unprecedented levels of open and respectful political debate, both between candidates for political office and among the population as a whole. As might be expected, tensions rose in the post-election period as results were announced, analyzed and challenged. Particularly unfortunate were the illegal protests that led to the death of more than forty demonstrators and the undercurrent of ethnic animosity that became a source of widespread worry among the population. Through it all the Ethiopian people showed political maturity and much patience and goodwill as the complaints investigation and results announcement processes played out. At the same time it is clear that expectations for a new style of governance are high.

Yet, with few traditions of either collaboration or consensus-building to serve as a channel for post-election aspirations or to mitigate post-election frustrations, and with few of the basic building blocks of multiparty democracy actually present, there is certainly the possibility that future policy, legislation and development planning will be elaborated without widespread consultation and buy-in from either opposition parties or important elements of civil society. In the current context of high expectations, this could be a recipe for either increasing tensions, instability and possibly violence, or at least growing disappointment that in the end will leave much of civil society and the opposition disgruntled and dejected and ultimately resigned to a failed transition to greater pluralism.

Anticipated program outcomes include:

• The culture and practices of multiparty democracy will be more widely understood and incorporated into media and the public dialogue.
• Studies and research will give reliable information to guide debate and build consensus on the underlying facts, enabling civil society organizations to better interact in the public sphere.
• Civil society organizations will become better equipped to advocate for policy positions while establishing the linkages they need to grow responsive to citizens and to remain sustainable over time.
• Government and civil society will be better able to anticipate and manage conflict at the regional, state, and local level.

In order to address the needs for consensus-building, solidify the gains of the election, and mitigate local-level conflict, Pact will undertake projects to promote consultation and consensus-building to establish early traditions of multiparty democracy, and to increase the effectiveness of conflict management policies and practices, emphasizing government/civil society partnerships.

Activities will be designed to provide support to Ethiopian government and civil society organizations. Where possible, linkages between actors and with other USAID programs will be included to reinforce the efforts in different sectors.

Illustrative activities include:

• A series of workshops, technical assistance and trainings for government, opposition parties, civil society, and private sector actors focused on the culture and practices of multiparty democracy.
• Assistance to governmental and nongovernmental actors to conduct studies and research on issues that are the focus of debate, where possible in partnership with university and think tank experts.
• Frequent forums to bring together stakeholders to discuss and debate issues of concern under government and civil society auspices, with a view to drawing together political antagonists in constructive dialogue.
• Support to civil society organizations to develop alternate sources of information dissemination to fill the media void in much of the country and to conduct specific information campaigns.

Interim Results

This project is still in the start-up phase.