Bolstering Ethiopian civil society by providing institutional support to the Agency in charge of civil society organizations

A new Proclamation on Civil Society Organizations was adopted in 2019, guaranteeing extended rights to Civil Society Organizations (CSOs) and creating an environment conducive to their development. It also concerned the sector’s governance, resulting in changes to the mandate and powers of the former ChSA (Charities and Societies Agency), now the Agency for Civil Society Organizations (ACSO). 

ACSO is no longer affiliated to the Ministry of Federal Affairs, which is responsible for security matters, but to the Attorney General's Office (AGO), which is in charge of overseeing the application of laws, including those relating to human rights.  

ACSO was institutionally born out of ChSA, whose problems were numerous; low human resource capacity, weak internal governance mechanisms, low quality of services provided, poor financial management, mutual distrust between the Agency and CSOs, negative image among CSOs and corruption.

The project will support the transformation of ACSO and its relations with the SCOs over a 3-year period. CSO's management, which enjoys a positive image with CSOs, has begun to restructure the institution, but most of the staff have not been renewed and need to be supported in the change of culture and practices that is expected of them.   

An initial phase that is decisive for the institution's credibility, involves the standardization and digitization of its processes, and the development of transparency, accountability and change.

This project will lead to:

• ACSO being accountable for its actions, contributing to the strengthening of CSOs: transparent procedures, publication of reports on the number of CSOs registered and on the reasons for refusal of registration, reflection on the establishment of a complaints mechanism for CSOs;
• Functional dialogue and consultation between ACSO and CSOs;
• ACSO staff developing their capacities to master the redefined processes, tools and approaches and to meet CSO expectations;
• Functional ACSO procedures and processes (CSO registration, monitoring, evaluation, archiving, reporting, database);
• Knowing and understanding of the new law by CSOs;
• Institutionalization of cooperation with sector administrators at regional level;
• Sector stakeholders are informed of ACSO's transformation.