Introduction 

1. Ethics Education and Communication Affairs

2. Corruption Prevention

3. Corruption Investigation and Prosecution

4. Corruption Ethics Infrastructures

5. Asset declaration and registration

6. Change Management

7. Legal Service

8. Construction Sector Transparency Initiative

9. Miscellaneous Activities

10. Budget Spending

11. Challenges Faced and Measures Taken to Address Them 

12. Conclusionn 

             

        Introduction           

Starting from its establishment in May 2001, the Federal Ethics and Anti-Corruption Commission of Ethiopia (FEACC) has been doing its level best to combat corruption and improprieties by making wide-ranging preventive and corrective measures.

The activities carried out by the Commission in coordinating the nation wide fight against corruption over the past ten years was covered by the previous annual reports, which the FEACC has been compiling and distributing every year. Accordingly, this report is prepared to inform the Ethiopian public, the international community, and other stakeholders about the performance of the Commission in the 2010/2011 budget year (2003 Ethiopian Calendar) mainly in the areas of ethics education, corruption prevention and law enforcement. The report also covers the activities carried out in the areas of disclosure and registration of asset, ethics infrastructures, budget spending, problems encountered and solutions provided, conclusion and appendices. The activities undertaken in connection with Construction Sector Transparency Initiative (CoST) are also given space in the report.

As part of its anti-corruption endeavor the Commission has launched efforts to contribute its share for the success of the Growth and Transformation Plan (GTP) of the government, which attached due attention to root out corruption by ensuring transparency and accountability. The FEACC has also identified the Federal government land administration, government huge procurement and sales in the area of infrastructures, government finance and tax and government justice system as focus areas to achieve the above objective.

We believe that the public is the driving force in the fight against corruption. As it is a vital input for the Commission, don’t hesitate to forward your comments regarding the performance report and related matters. 

Have a pleasant reading!.  

1. Ethics Education and Communication Affairsr

As the experiences of other countries suggest, ethics and anti-corruption education is one of the priority areas of corruption prevention strategy. Realizing this fact, the Commission has been preoccupied with the task of disseminating ethics and anti-corruption education. The following are the activities executed by the Commission in this regard:

Training

ü      In the period under review Training of Trainers (TOT) has been offered to several would-be trainers in 52 rounds. Among the trainees, some 2039 participants were drawn from Addis Ababa Land Administration, Sub City and Kebele Administrations, Ethiopian Revenues and Customs Authority, Federal and Addis Ababa Police Commissions, Media institutions and joint consultative forums, leaders of higher learning institutions, ethics and civic teachers, construction sector employees, auditors of various government institutions, Federal Transport Authority, corruption-prone public offices, religious institutions and joint consultative forums, financial institutions, Chamber of Commerce and Sectoral Association, various associations, and Non-Governmental Organizations and Charities, Dire Dawa Administration, justice offices and civic associations of Harere Regional State, among others.

ü      Some 29,378 participants drawn from various segments of the society also received awareness raising training on issues of ethics, corruption and related issues.  

Electronic Messages

The Ethics Education and Communications Affairs Directorate also used various channels of communication, including media, in disseminating ethics and anti-corruption education to the public in the reported period.

ü      The Commission produced eight radio and eight television spots on ethics and anti-corruption issues, which were transmitted. Some 17 radio and 10 television artistic spots were aired 324 times per month. Since February 2011 the Commission has started to transmit five additional spots on Radio Fana. Some 12 radio and TV artistic spots (six each) were produced.

ü      In cooperation with the Ministry of Education, the Commission transmitted seven artistic spots and one TV drama, using the educational plasma television.

ü      Concerning expanding ethics and anti-corruption education using radio and TV dramas, all radio and TV drama scripts submitted to the Commission by bidders were evaluated. Two qualified dramas (five episodes each) were produced in the period under review.

ü      Similarly, two TV dramas focusing on issues of gold fraud and illegal international call termination were aired. Another two radio dramas focusing on compensation payments regarding development related relocations were also aired.

ü      The FEACC also distributed 2,000 copies of two selected TV dramas that it aired on ETV to school ethics clubs, selected associations, universities and other institutions.

ü      Agreement was signed with ETV for the production of a documentary film that shows some of the best corruption investigations by the Commission. The filming of the documentary is well underway.

Website

ü      Some 159 up to date information, including news items, were posted on the Commission’s website.

ü      On the other hand, efforts are well underway to upgrade the Commission’s website. Preparation of Terms of Reference (TOR) is well underway with the help of professionals from Ministry of Information and Communication.  

Print Media

Publications are among the major ways that the Commission is using to disseminate and expand anti-corruption education among the general public. In the budget year various advocacy materials were published.

ü      In an effort launched to reach the public through print media outlets some 16 articles, were published on Amharic daily ‘‘Addis Zemen’’ and other newspapers based on the priority areas in the Commission’s five-year strategic plan (2003- 2007 E.C.)

ü      ‘‘Ethics’’, the Commission’s quarterly bilingual (English -Amharic) magazine, was published in 12,000 copies in each quarter of the year and distributed among stakeholders and the public.

ü      The Commission’s annual performance report for 2002 E.C. was also published in 2,500 copies.

ü      In connection with the Ethiopian New Year, some 2000 Agendas, 2000 calendars and 800 New Year greeting cards were published and distributed to heads of various institutions and employees of the Commission and also among the public.

ü      The Commission has prepared, published and distributed four brochures in 200,000 copies (50,000 each) on the Commission’s focus areas namely on land administration, huge government procurement, custom and tax administration, asset disclosure and registration and international anti corruption day.

ü      Another 200,000 copies of five brochures prepared on similar issues were also distributed.

ü      Some four illustrative posters carrying messages on International Anti Corruption Day, Assets Disclosure and Registration Proclamation, land administration, tax and custom and the Commission’s 10^th year establishment anniversary were prepared, published and distributed in 20,000 copies (5,000 each).

ü      Concerning billboards, two billboard messages were posted in seven areas.

ü      The Amharic Newsletter (Guadachin), an in-house newsletter designed to inform staff members of the FEACC about its activities and the Bi-monthly English news letter of the Commission was published and distributed. Insight aiming at informing foreign community specially residing in Addis Ababa was also published and distributed among embassies, civil society organizations and UN agencies.

ü      Some two booklets prepared on the importance of ethics aiming at supporting the activities of Ethics Liaison Units and ethics clubs, were published and distributed.

ü      The Commission has sent its performance report of 2002 E.C. and Strategic Plan of 2003 E.C. to Ethiopia Magazine, which is the annual magazine of  Government Communication Affairs Office.

ü      The graphic design stage of the Statistical Information Magazine that illustrates the Commission’s up-to-date information is already completed. Currently it is under publication. The Commission distributed its publications to the public through various means including postage, newspaper insertion, website and billboards.

ü      Some 16,000 brochures and fliers were published and inserted for distribution on Addis Zemen, The Reporter and Ethio-Channel newspapers.

ü      Some 24,500 brochures and fliers were published and distributed among the public.

ü      Some six articles covered by ‘‘Yeferedbet Wulowoch’’, one of the newsletters of the Commission that deals with Court news, were posted on five billboards in various places of Addis Ababa for over four weeks.

ü      Some 12 posters and 12 issues of ‘‘Guadachin’’, the Commissions in-house newsletter that convey anti-corruption messages, were also posted on various billboards in Addis Ababa for almost a month.

ü      Magazines, posters, leaflets brochures and publications were distributed to universities, development enterprises and associations for 2097 times.

 Module Preparation

ü      In 2003 E.C. the Commission published three modules on asset disclosure and registration, land administration and tax administration. Currently preparation of a module on huge government procurement is well underway.

Key Institution

ü      Out of the planed ten articles, some eight of them were prepared by the Commission and published on various public relation magazines of key government institutions.

Panel Discussion

ü      Three panel discussions on ethical issues concerning medical personnel, lawyers and construction sector professionals were organized by the Commission and aired live on ETV.

ü      Two live interactive radio discussions on issues of asset disclosure and registration and on the Commission’s 10th year establishment anniversary were aired live.

ü      At the request of various organizations that required sponsorship, the Commission sponsored 13 events, thereby transmitted its anti-corruption messages to the public.

ü      Three senior officials of the Commission participated in the panel discussion that the Ministry of Civil Service organized and briefed the participants about the changes made in the Commission. They also addressed questions raised by the journalist and the participants.

ü      In 2003 E.C. some 219 news articles that dealt with the activities of the Commission were published.

 

Coalition/Panel discussion

At the request of the Federal Police Commission, FEACC offered training to 323 assistant Ethics officers of the Federal Police Commission and covered the full cost of the training. At the request of the House of People’s Representatives, the Commission offered a three-day training on the Revised Federal Ethics and Anti-corruption Establishment Proclamation and on the concept of corruption. Concerning asset disclosure and registration, three live teleconferences were transmitted for about 30 minutes on Ethiopian Radio and two other private radio stations.

      2 Corruption Preventions 

In a bid to prevent corruption before it is committed, the FEACC examines the working procedures in public offices and public enterprises thereby plugging loopholes, which may be conducive to corrupt practices. 

Hence, the Corruption Prevention Directorate of the Commission examined the working procedures of some 49 activities in various public offices and public enterprises in the reported period. Some 38 of the studies have already been completed, while information gathering and relevant activities are being executed for the remaining 11 studies.

The Commission finalized the examination of the working procedures of 9 activities, whose reviewing was started in the previous budget year. The Commission also provided implementation support and advice to 10 public offices and enterprises in the period under review.

The FEACC provided recommendations to 58 public offices and enterprises on the design and implementation of ethics guidelines. It has also offered advice to 308 public offices and enterprises (including repetition).

It also prepared some 75 proposals that would enable to conduct working procedure studies on various institutions, which are believed to be susceptible to corruption based on the Commission’s focus areas.

In an effort launched to make the corruption prevention endeavor successful, the Commission started collaborating with eight institutions namely Public Procurement and Property Administration Agency, Ethiopian Human Rights Commission, Ministry of Finance and Economy Development, Office of the Federal Auditor General, Audit Service Corporation, Privatization and Public Enterprises Supervising Agency, Office of the Ombudsman and the General Auditor Office of the Addis Ababa City Administration.

The FEACC also provided support on the implementation of the recommendations put forward by the Commission to public offices and enterprises, whose 24 working procedures were reviewed in 2003 E.C. fiscal year.

The detail of major activities examined in some of the public offices and public enterprises in 2003 E.C. Budget year is presented hereunder:

v     The Ethiopian Revenues and Customs Authority:  The Commission conducted a study regarding the quality inspection on imported goods by the Authority and forwarded a report containing recommendations on the measures that should be taken to address the problem to the subject office.

The other area of concern in the Authority was Automated System for Customs Data (ASYCUDA). The Commission conducted a study on the system and forwarded recommendation to the Authority. 

v     The Ethiopian Airports Enterprise: After reviewing the procurement process conducted by the Enterprise, the FEACC forwarded recommendations aiming at addressing the problem. In addition, the Commission has been conducting a working procedure study to prevent unnecessary wastage occurred in connection with procurement related with construction and design works.

v     The Addis Ababa Roads Authority: The FEACC undertook working procedure study on property administration focusing on construction materials. Failure to inspect the quality of materials during procurement, absence of qualified professionals in the area and poor storage system were among the gaps identified by the study. A report containing recommendation was forwarded to the Authority.     

v     Universities: Serious problems were observed on the procurement processes executed by various Universities. The following are some of the Higher Learning Institutions with similar problems.

ü      Hawassa University:  The tender evaluation conducted in connection with the construction work being carried out by the University. The tender process lacks transparency. The Commission has recommended that the University can address the problem if it carries out its tender process based on the Federal Government’s Procurement and Property Administration Proclamation and Regulation. Construction design tender evaluation executed by the University indicated that it was subjected to corruption and impropriety. (The case is transferred to the Investigation and Prosecution Directorate of the Commission for further investigation)

ü      Mekelle University: The University’s tender process evaluation is found to be out of the government’s procurement regulation. The FEACC recommended that the University should properly apply the legal working procedure by filling the gap in the area.

v Muger Cement Enterprise: The Commission conducted working procedure study related to cement sell carried out by the enterprise. Lack of uniformity and failure to control illegal cement sell were among the major problems identified by the study. A report containing recommendation was forwarded to the enterprise.  

The other area of concern was the procurement process executed by the enterprise. After reviewing the procurement process of the enterprise the FEACC forwarded recommendation aiming at addressing the problems to the subject office. 

v Commercial Bank of Ethiopia: The FEACC forwarded a report after reviewing the working procedures and practices of customer accounts transaction and loan provision.

v Hospitals: The Commission reviewed the procurement process conducted by Zewditu Memorial Hospital for building renovation. Failure to conduct technical evaluation regarding the tender price submitted by bidders and failure to complete the work in accordance with the agreement were among the problems revealed by the study. The FEACC forwarded an examination report to the hospital.

In the period under review, the Commission also conducted system study on the working procedures and practices related to procurement in Saint Peter TB Hospital and forwarded the report to the subject office.                                                                                                                                                

In a like manner, the Commission reviewed the working procedures and practices in the following public offices and enterprises:-

ü      Ministry of Water and Energy , the Addis Ababa Water and Sewerage Authority, Ethiopian Electric Power Corporation, Construction and Design Share Company, the Addis Ababa Revenues Authority, Ethiopian Commodity Exchange, Adami Tulu Pesticide Processing Share Company, the Addis Ababa Roads Authority, the Ethiopian Mine Action Office, Adola Gold Mining Enterprise, Civil Aviation Authority, Central Statistical Authority, Ethiopian Electric Agency, Ethiopian Telecommunication Agency, Ethiopian Information Communication Agency, Bahir Dar Textiles Factory, Ethiopian Mapping Agency, the Addis Ababa City Administration, the Dire Dawa Administration, Ministry of Education, Commet Transport Share Company, Educational Materials Production and Distribution Agency and  Prefabricated Building Parts Production Enterprise.

The FEACC is conducting working procedure and practice studies in the following institutions:-

ü      Ethiopian Roads Authority, Government Housing Agency, Ethiopian Insurance Company, Adola Gold Enterprise, Ethiopian Electric Power Corporation, the Dire Dawa Administration Housing Development Project Office, National Bank of Ethiopia, Ethiopian revenues and Customs Authority and Ministry of Transport.                               

The Commission also executed emergency corruption prevention activities mainly on procurement and related matters in various public offices and enterprises.

3  Corruption Investigation and prosecutions 

The Commission focuses on ethics education expansion and corruption prevention as a major anti-corruption method, but if there are sound evidences about an alleged corruption offense it investigates and takes the case to court.

The FEACC launches investigation based on the working procedure studies it conducted in various public offices and public enterprises and the tip-offs received from whistleblowers in person and via telephone, mail, e-mail and fax.

Accordingly, in the reported period the Commission including its Dire Dawa Branch Office received 3251 tip-offs and complaints. Some 1708 of the tip-offs and complaints were out of the jurisdiction of the Commission. Out of the 1543 tip-offs that fall under the Commission’s jurisdiction, 331 of which were decided to be investigated by the FEACC, while some 322 of the tip-offs were transferred to pertinent bodies for further investigation.

Some 202 tip-offs were sent for investigation by proxy, while some 68 tip-offs that lack clarity were referred for further investigation by the Commission. Decision was passed on some 620 tip-offs. The Commission provided protection to 37 complainants in the period under review.  

In general, the Commission concluded the investigation of 550 files, including files whose investigation had started in the pervious budget year. Among the files some 400 of them were connected to land administration, tax and revenue administration, justice system and huge government procurement, which are the focus areas of the FEACC. The investigation of some 143 files is also well underway.

Some 1002 files were delivered to the prosecution section, while some 254 files were transferred for further investigation.  

Prosecutors of the Commission took 757 cases to Court in the period under review. Witnesses and defense witnesses gave their testimonials in 350 and 247 files respectively. The Commission presented responses to objection for 85 files. Some 526 cases were transferred to 2004 E.C fiscal year.

The Court passed verdict on some 182 cases out of which 158 cases were ruled in favor of the Commission.  Some 278 suspects were found to be guilty, while 71 suspects were acquitted. Hence, the FEACC’s conviction rate for the reported budget year stood at 86.8 percent.

Investigation on properties of corruption suspects were made on some 139 files. The properties of corruption suspects in some 95 of the files were made to be restrained, among which 419.5 million Birr worth 175,605 square meters of land, two residences and 827,000 Birr are worth mentioning.

In an effort launched to administer restrained properties and transfer properties in cases that have already got Court’s verdict, the Commission has succeeded to transfer some 8.7 million Birr, 166,552 square meters of land, 25,600 square meters of land ( worth 4.37 million Birr) and four different types of automobiles obtained through corruption to the government. The administration of Sheba Steel Mills Plc was also transferred to the Metal and Engineering Corporation, following the charge pressed against the Steel Mills by the FEACC for allegedly causing the government to lose 65,336,214 Birr in connection with an electric power consumption fraud.

In the period under review activities aiming at supporting the investigation and prosecution endeavor of the Commission were also executed.

4 Coordinating Ethics Infrastructure

Besides the wide-ranging anti-corruption activities executed by the FEACC, ethics infrastructures play significant role in the fight against the social evil. Ethics infrastructures include voluntarily established anti-corruption forums and clubs, Transparency Ethiopia and civic and professional associations, among others.

The Commission has been providing the necessary support to enable ethics infrastructures further strengthen their contribution in the ongoing fight against corruption and promote the establishment of similar infrastructures.

Regional States Ethics and Anti-Corruption Commissions, Ethics Liaison Units, Police, Courts, Office of the Ombudsman, Ethiopian Human Rights Commission, the House of People’s Representatives, Civic and Ethics Clubs, Civic Societies, Professional Associations, Media institutions and Religious institutions are some of the major stakeholders that participate in the anti-corruption endeavor.

In the period under review, the Commission organized experience sharing forums that brought together close to 1116 heads of various public offices and public enterprises, ethics officers, presidents of government owned universities and coordinators of civic and ethics clubs, among others.  

Training on the activities of ethics liaison units, establishment of anti-corruption clubs and on focus areas of the Commission was offered to some 917 people.

In an effort launched to strengthen ethics infrastructures, the Commission assigned 49 ethics officers, established anti-corruption clubs in 43 kebeles, 63 private higher learning institutions and 22 government owned higher learning institutions. The FEACC established a forum with the Ethiopian Human Rights Commission and Office of the Ombudsman. It also enabled nine professional and civic associations to be a member of cooperation and consultation forums.

In the period under review 86 forum members assigned ethics officers in their respective institutions. Some 290 ethics infrastructures also presented quarterly and annual performance reports to the FEACC.

The Commission also offered follow-up and support activities that would enable the Addis Ababa and the Dire Dawa City Administrations to establish ethics liaison units.

Awareness raising education focusing on ethics and anti-corruption was provided to some 224,087 people drawn from civic and professional associations, media institutions and forums created by chamber of commerce and sectoral associations. Various religious institutions transferred messages about the significance of ethics. Support was also provided to working procedure studies being conducted by ethics officers on 24 institutions.

In the period under review, some 41 meetings including the 1^st regular meeting of the National Anti-Corruption Coalition and regular meetings of some 15 forums were held in the time slated for them.

The Commission also provided various support to Regional States Ethics and Anti-Corruption Commissions, different institutions and clubs in the reported period.

Five regulations that are expected to enable fully implement the National Anti-Corruption Coalition’s Charter were prepared in the reported period. Some 15 ethics liaison units, seven civic and ethics clubs and 10 public offices and public enterprises that register encouraging results also shared their experience to others.

5 Asset declaration and registrationn 

The proclamation for the disclosure and registration of assets that was prepared by the FEACC and ratified by the House of People’s Representatives, became effective in the period under review.

The proclamation, which is aiming at strengthening the bond and creating mutual trust between the public and the government, is applicable to appointees, elected persons, and public servants. 

In the period under review the FEACC provided awareness raising orientations and training on asset declaration and registration. Accordingly, the Commission has offered similar training to some 11,864 people including appointees, elected persons, public servants and various segments of the society.

The proclamation became effective as of December 1, 2010 with the registration of the assets of Prime Minister, Meles Zenawi and other senior government officials. 

In the period under review, the FEACC also registered the assets of some 393 senior government officials including President, Girma Wolde Giorgis, Speakers of the House of People’s Representatives and House of Federation, Abadulla Gemeda and Kassa Teklebirhan respectively, President of the Federal Supreme Court, Tegene Getaneh and 498 Members of the House of People’s Representatives, 10,334 appointees and employees of various governmental institutions, 3,644 appointees,  heads and employees of public enterprises, 3,225 members of the Addis Ababa City Administration Council, appointees and employees of the administration have already registered their assets.

In the period under review, the Commission prepared a draft regulation aiming at installing effective and efficient asset declaration and registration system. Improvements were made on the asset declaration and registration form with a view to addressing problems encountered in this regard.

A technique committee that would follow up the activity was established in the reported period with a view to assisting the asset registration activity with Information Technology in collaboration with the Ministry of Communication and Information Technology.

6 Change Management

The Commission carried out various activities related with the implementation of Balanced Score Card (BSC) and capacity building.  The following are the major activities executed in this regard during the report under review.

ü      In 2003 E.C, the Directorate has conducted four quarterly surveys to find out if the face-to- face ethics and anti-corruption education produced the desired outcome. It also conducted additional survey for the same purpose.

ü      Two surveys were conducted to assess the level of public satisfaction with the Commission’s print and electronic messages. Final reports based on the findings are sent to concerned bodies.

ü       A survey is also conducted in a bid to identify media institutions that have more readers and audience. The final report of the survey is already sent to concerned bodies.

ü      As part of enhancing the awareness of the Commission’s employees about the changes made, the Directorate has posted fliers on various notice boards in the Commission and also distributed the fliers among the employees. 

ü      Review and evaluation of monthly performance reports and statistical data of each Directorate were also undertaken.

ü      Performance Reports regarding the first and second quarter Business Process Reengineering (BPR) implementation were prepared and discussed by the management and all the Directorates. Some revisions were made following the comments collected during the discussion.

ü      The Directorate has evaluated the strength and weakness of two working procedure studies conducted during the period under review.   

ü      In an effort launched to raise the level of staff member’s satisfaction questionnaires were distributed. The analysis of the questionnaires is well underway.

ü      Analysis of customer satisfaction is finalized based on the questionnaires filled by the Commission’s customers.

ü      Among the Commission’s employees, some 64 change agents were identified based on the document sent by the Ministry of Civil Service.

ü      Some 50 members of the Technical Committee including all Directors in the Commission have received a five-day training on relevant issues by professionals of the Ministry of Civil Service.

ü      Following the training members of the Technical Committee came up with a new BSC plan. Based on the plan discussions were held with staff members and Regional Anti-Corruption Commissions and valuable comments were gathered.

ü      Moreover, National Sector Plan was prepared by professionals of the Federal and Regional Anti-Corruption Commissions and endorsed by the Joint National Council.

ü       The BSC Plan has been cascaded to each Directorate. A relevant training was offered to cascading team of each Directorate.

ü      In a bid to strengthen interfacing between Directorates, assessment was conducted and incorporated with BPR evaluation report. The Management held discussion that is believed to solve various problems of interfacing among Directorates.

Study was conducted on structural adjustment of IT service provision of the Commission, which is believed to add impetus to the Commission’s performance. Some 85 percent of a study on new structural adjustment, based on a study conducted to install Local Area Network, is completed.

 

7 Legal Service

This section is responsible to defend the Commission from any Court case filed against the FEACC. It is also responsible to prepare Terms of Reference (ToR) for any procurement and offer legal advice to Directorates of the Commissions.

·        During the period under review, the Legal Service Directorate has offered legal advice on 43 issues. 

·        It defended the Commission in three civil code cases filed against it.

·        Following the signing of Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) between the Commission and Addis Ababa University for the later to survey and analyze the impact assessment of FEACC over the last decade, the Directorate has prepared and sent Terms of Reference (ToR) to Addis Ababa University.

·        In a bid to start cooperation with Consultants, Engineers and Architects Association, ToR and MoU have been drafted and sent to them.

·        MoU was signed following the discussions on the need to start cooperation with Management Professionals and Statisticians Associations.

·        Legal Service Professionals have offered their comments to the Legal, Justice and Administrative Affairs Standing Committee of the House of People’s Representatives (HPR) on the meeting it held to gather comments on the draft Witness Protection and Whistleblowers Proclamation.

·        The Commission offered valuable comments on the draft Code of Ethics for Government Employees that  the Ministry of Civil Service is drafting

·        Professionals of the Commission offered comments to the House of Peoples Representative(HPR) on the draft Justice System Reform Program and National Payment System

·        The House of People’s Representatives, the Council of Ministers and FEACC agreed that the later should give professional support that would enable to incorporate anti-corruption issues in every Codes and draft bills.

·        Witness Protection and Whistleblowers Proclamation was endorsed.

·        Revision of the Commission’s Draft Employees Code of Ethics is well underway.

·        National Anti-Corruption Policy was drafted and expected to be endorsed by the government soon.

·        Preliminary survey was conducted to draft Code of Private Sector Corruption.  

      Since Ethiopia is one of the first countries that endorsed United Nations Anti-Corruption Convention, it is actively engaged in the effort to strengthen the Convention. Hence, the country took part in various conferences held in Vienna, Austria to evaluate the Convention and suggested valuable comments. In the recent Vienna Conference, Ethiopia along with Mongolia has evaluated Sao Tome and Principe in the peer review mechanism. Next year Ethiopia and Sri Lanka will review Kuwait. In 2013 it will be Ethiopia’s turn to be reviewed.

   

   8 Construction Sector Transparency Initiative (CoST)

Ethiopia signed an agreement in December 2008 to be one of the pilot countries of Construction Sector Transparency Initiative (CoST), which is a program designed to prevent corruption in the construction sector. CoST, which is supported by the Department for International Development (DFID) and the World Bank, is expected to help increase transparency and accountability in the construction sector by focusing particularly on public disclosure of information.

As of the assignment of the Commission as Coordinator of CoST-Ethiopia and appointment of Commissioner of the FEACC, H.E. Ali Sulaiman, CoST Champion, the FEACC has been undertaking various activities to ensure transparency and accountability in the sector.

The following are some of the major accomplishments in the period under review

ü      CoST-Ethiopia Office conducted studies on some 25 construction projects in Ethiopian Roads Authority, Ministry of Water and Energy, Ministry of Education and Ministry of Health and forwarded report to the respective institutions.

ü      It also forwarded feedback by conducting assurance process on some 25 projects in the areas of road, building and water facilities construction.  

As the CoST pilot project is completed, a proposal containing ideas of expanding the Initiative to Regional State’s level was prepared and sent to DFID and World Bank.

9 Miscellaneous Activities 

 

ü      The FEACC signed an agreement with Kilimanjaro International, an international consultant to conduct the second national corruption survey with the fund secured from the World Bank. The survey was launched in the period under review.

ü      Following the agreement the FEACC and the Addis Ababa University signed in August 2010, the University conducted Impact Assessment study on the anti-corruption activities carried out by the Commission from 1994 to 2002 E.C. The Impact Assessment Study indicated that the Commission has carried out encouraging activities over the past nine years in fighting corruption and improprieties.

ü      A study aiming at sustaining the change being made in the Commission’s Communications Affairs section was conducted and entered into implementation in the reported period.

ü      It was possible to implement various capacity building activities in the FEACC with the finance secured from the United Nations development Program (UNDP).

ü      Awareness raising activities were executed in collaboration with the Ministry of Women, Children and Youth Affairs and the Addis Ababa HIV/AIDS Secretariat.

ü      Various activities were also carried out in the areas of gender and HIV/AIDS. The provision of a training entitled “Women Assertiveness and Decision Making” to some 35 female employees of the Commission and the celebration of March 8 (International Women’s Day) are among those efforts.

10 Budget Spending

The Commission utilized some 24,555,187 Birr of the 25,901,351 Birr allocated to it by the government for the budget year. The Commission also utilized 20,753,132 Birr of the 21,222,762 Birr budget it has secured from the United Nations Development Program (UNDP) under Democratic Institutions Program.

Type of spending	Annual budget	Annual spending	Spending in percentage
1.      From the government	25,901,351	24,555,187	95%
Salary & per diem	16,268,095	16,139,605	99%
Operating budget	9,633,256	8,415,582	87%
2.      From UNDP grant	21,222,762	20,753,132	98%
Total	47,124,113	45,308,319	96%

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

11 . Challenges Faced and Measures Taken to Address Them 

Although the Commission executed encouraging activities during the period under review, it experienced some challenges. The challenges and measures taken to address them are highlighted as follows:

·        The professionals assigned by Capacity Building Ministry to assist the technical committee established by the FEACC to conduct the Balanced Score Card (BSC) study could not provide what they were expected to. This slowed down the change process.

ü      To address the challenge, the FEACC sent a report about the problem to Civil Service Ministry and the Ministry assigned professionals for the same purpose.

·        Shortage of office for the increasing number of employees was one of the serious challenges faced in the period under review.

ü      Although the Commission didn’t get a lasting solution, attempts were made to address the challenge.

·        Low clearance rate due to shortage of Courts caused accumulation of charges. This made properties put to injunction out of economic use and increased complain related with the issue.

ü      In order to deal with the challenge, an additional Court that would handle corruption cases was opened after a continuous discussion with stakeholders.

·        Limited number of individuals and organizations that participate in bids for the purchase of outsourced long radio and television dramas.

ü      To address the problem tender announcements were made twice and the tender price was also improved in a bid to get better drama script.

·        Lack of swift response by the Ethiopian Radio and Television Agency for the activities jointly executed by the two institutions.

ü      Discussions were made with heads and professionals of the Agency to address the challenge. 

·        Reluctance on the part of some public offices and public enterprises to provide swift responses to requests of audit reports and other important evidences.

ü      Efforts were made to address the challenge by collecting information via telephone and through persistent follow-up.

·        Failure on the part of some public offices and public enterprises to assign new Ethics Liaison Officers to replace the ones who left the position.  

ü      To address the challenge the Commission reminded the institutions to promptly assign new Ethics Liaison Officers. It also provided advice on the issue.

·        Failure on the part of some institutions concerning provision of protection to whistleblowers and witnesses.

·        Poor preservation of exhibits and properties put to injunction.

The FEACC has been doing its level best to protect the properties from damage.

  12 . Conclusion 

In the budget year the FEACC has executed various anti-corruption activities by focusing on five strategic areas and 13 strategic goals. Accordingly, the Commission registered encouraging achievements in the areas of implementing Balanced Score Card (BSC), expanding ethics and anti-corruption education, preventing corruption, investigating and prosecuting corruption offences, strengthening relation with ethics infrastructures and registering the assets and financial interests of elected persons, political appointees and public servants in the period under review.

The Commission executed various activities in connection with the implementation of BSC. The efforts launched in this area are bearing fruits. 

In an effort launched to create an ethical society that doesn’t condone corruption, the Commission provided Training of Trainers (ToT) to some 2039 people drawn from various institutions. It also offered awareness raising education on ethics and corruption offenses to some 29,378 people drawn from various segments of the society.

With a view to controlling corruption offense before it is committed, the Commission reviewed and examined the working procedures and practices of specific activities, which were believed to be more susceptible to corruption, in various public offices and enterprises. The FEACC has also forwarded corrective measures and followed up the implementation of the recommendations.

The budget year also witnessed the successful investigation of numerous cases and the prosecution of several corruptors. The FEACC’s conviction rate for the reported period reached 86.8 percent.

The Proclamation for the Disclosure and Registration of Assets and Financial Interests is one of the laws ratified by our country to reinforce the fight against corruption. Realizing this fact the FEACC registered the assets and financial interests of some 18,094 appointees, elected persons, and public servants in the period under review.

In general, the Commission registered remarkable achievements in its fight against corruption by executing more than 80 percent of the activities according to plan.

The Commission has been doing its level best to contribute its share for the success of the national Growth and Transformation Plan by rooting out corruption by attaching special attention to land administration, huge infrastructure and construction, huge government procurement and sale, revenue and tax and justice system.

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