MILLENNIUM DEVELOPMENT GOALS IN ETHIOPIA

1. MILLENNIUM DEVELOPMENT GOALS IN ETHIOPIA Briefing for the Millennium Task Force by Mr. Antonius Broek, UNDP Ethiopia New York, 19 January 2004

2. PRSP/MDGs Nexus in Ethiopia • The MDGs are adopted as the long-term vision for the three-year national poverty reduction strategy (SDPRP) (2002-2005) • The SDPRP is the Government’s comprehensive policy framework and development assistance would be aligned with the SDPRP and the MDGs therein • Principle of not duplicating structures: the SDPRP is the framework through which the MDGs would be implemented

3. Institutional Arrangements • Inter-Ministerial Steering Committee and Technical Committee on PRSP / MDGs • Focal and Coordinating Ministry: Ministry of Finance and Economic Development (MOFED), Economic Policy and Planning Dept. • MDG Task Force, chaired by Ato Getachew Adem, MOFED and with members from UNDP, UNICEF, WB and WHO, (and UN MDGs focal points having preparatory meetings) • NB. Membership should ideally be expanded to include civil society, but the situation in Ethiopia might not be ripe for this. Look at alternatives like a consultative mechanism etc. • At regional and woreda levels? Various relevant bureaus and particularly BOPEDs • NB: Possibly need to clarify to ensure implementation at local levels. Regionalisation of the PRSP is also recommended.

4. Reporting on the MDGs • The MDGs are incorporated in the policy matrix for the SDPRP with annualized actions, targets and indicators (also used as common set of indicators for direct budget support) • A holistic M&E system for the SDPRP/MDGs (aligned with the policy matrix) are under preparation by Central Statistical Authority and MOFED with coordinated donor support • Reporting on the MDGs will be synchronized with the APR on the SDPRP, to ensure that the MDG status would inform any adjustments in the SDPRP • The first Ethiopian MDGR contains sections on contextualization, baseline information and costing

5. Critical Policy Issues • Ethiopia is scoring low on all the MDGs. Poverty is multi-dimensional and the MDGs are highly interlinked. • There is an urgent need for work in all poverty areas. Should the Ethiopian Government still be encouraged to sequence and prioritize actions??? • Food security and rural development is a stated Government priority as seen from P.M. Meles statement on the occasion of the launch of the HDR 2003

6. Sensitization and Advocacy Work • Preparation of MDG Cards and Brochures in English and national languages (Amharic and Oromo) • MDG Seminars for UNCT and UN staff members • First MDG Action Forum in Africa, June 2002 with CEA-SURF • MDGs campaign during “The African Disabled Decade” • Sensitization for civil society • Launch of the HDR 2003 – big event with the PM and all stakeholder groups • MDGs in focus during the UN week 2003 • Sensitisation for parliamentarians resulted in recommendation to include MDGs in daily work of the 12 standing committees • Draft MDGR in conjunction with the APR for the SDPRP • Etc. etc. etc.

7. Some Challenges • Taking the sensitization and implementation beyond the federal level to the broadest constituency at regional and woreda levels • Sustaining the broad based participation of civil society, private sector and development partners in the national development process • Deepening the integration of MDGs in national programmes, plans and strategies at all federal, regional and local levels • Strengthening the collaboration within the UN system on working towards the MDGs, particularly through the MDG based CCA scheduled for early 2004 and a revision of the UNDAF