Ethiopia’s persistent struggle with corruption is casting a shadow on its path toward sustainable development, as revealed by the latest data from Transparency International. The country’s Corruption Perceptions Index (CPI) score for 2023 remained unchanged at 37 out of 100, with a ranking of 98 out of 180 countries. This score indicates a perceived level of public sector corruption, where 0 is highly corrupt and 100 is very clean.
While some Sub-Saharan African nations have demonstrated significant progress in combating corruption, Ethiopia’s stagnant score underscores the need for stronger anti-corruption measures to unlock its full potential. Transparency International’s report emphasizes that corruption is a major impediment to climate action, hindering efforts to reduce emissions and adapt to the effects of global warming.
A recent study by the Ethiopian Economic Association (EEA) reinforces these concerns, finding that public sector corruption in Ethiopia is increasingly high, with entrusted bodies systematically involved. The study also highlights that corruption in Ethiopia is an economy-wide problem, well-organized, and systematically operated.
Although Ethiopia’s forecasted trend is stationary, its level of Corruption Perception is 28.4 against a global average of 48.4. This demonstrates that it is essential to have accurate and up-to-date information on farmers and pastoralists. Despite efforts to promote transparency, Ethiopia faces challenges in areas such as press freedom, judicial independence and online services. The Ethiopian Media Council (EMC) is advocating for equitable distribution of commercial advertising (ad) revenue to ensure the financial independence of independent media institutions in the country, highlighting a significant imbalance in resource allocation.
To achieve sustainable progress and ensure effective climate action, Ethiopia must prioritize strengthening anti-corruption systems and promoting transparency and accountability across all sectors.
