How is ethiopia developing

The other interesting thing that has happened is the resilience built around food insecurity. Because the network of food distribution and early warning systems built, even when there is drought, the number of people impacted is minimal. Where is Ethiopia getting the money to finance all these projects, like the Grand Renaissance Dam?

A portion of the money on infrastructure is coming from the government. There are a number of mechanisms that the people are using to contribute to this iconic dam, at least in the context of Ethiopia. People from all walks of life are contributing to the dam through the purchase of bonds.

The other projects are financed by the government and external resources, mostly concessional loans. A lot of the money has come from China as soft loans. Some economic experts are fascinated by the economic model that Ethiopia is following. What can other African countries learn from this model? But what is worth picking up here is the strong role that the state plays in charting the course of the economic model it needs, in consultations with its experts.

But each country should look at the economic model that best suits its dynamics. Do you think there are some parallels? My sense — and this is my own observation — is that the Chinese economic model of success resonates with the current Ethiopian economic situation, given that China has gone through this growth in recent history. The model under which they had high economic growth given the base where they started is very relevant to Ethiopia because it is where China was 25 years ago.

I am sure the Chinese have made their calculations about placing this kind of money in Ethiopia. The primary drivers of the economic models are the Ethiopians themselves and they have to decide what works best for them. Do you think there is a sacrifice between economic development and human rights?

I would look at them separately. Ethiopia can grow without having those things attached to economic progress. Without that, your survival cannot be ensured. It is an interesting view. You can grow without adequately providing these things, but the entire system and your entire survival over time could be questioned because you have to have a democratic society that aspires for a brighter future. Ethiopia is a very young democracy. Now, one can argue the pace in the last 20 years could have been faster.

And others would say this is actually good in just a year period. If the pace is not fast enough, maybe that needs to be accelerated. I spent most of my time in the US and it took Americans a long time to be able to establish that, and I think we have to create that space for African and developing countries to be able to do that.

But if that rate of progress is slow, I think everyone should push that to be accelerated. Ethiopia is surrounded by unstable neighbours. How does it manage to remain stable and develop in such a rough neighbourhood?

I think again Ethiopia deserves a lot of credit for its strength — it has very strong military capabilities that have served it well — but also for their diplomacy is strong. Perhaps with the exception of Eritrea, Ethiopia has managed to have a very good and respectful relationship with the other countries.

Even in the case of Sudan and South Sudan conflicts, Ethiopia has been the lead mediator trusted by all parties in this conflict. Ethiopia is also supporting peace efforts in Somalia. Ethiopia has done well in building its own military capability to protect itself but also playing a role in mediating these conflicts and finding lasting solutions to the challenges that the region faces.

So I think that has to be one of the successes of Ethiopia. The people think a larger flood means a larger harvest. By ending the annual flood, the planners set off a chain reaction, the effects of which are now plainly visible throughout the valley. For some, the consequences were existential from the outset. Many of those downstream, in the district of Dasenech, who are almost entirely reliant on flood-retreat farming and have little grazing land to fall back on, have been forced toward the delta, where the water is drying up.

Claudia Carr, an anthropologist at UC Berkeley who has worked for years with the district, told me food is scarce and conflict over resources is intensifying. Read: The Western erasure of African tragedy. In Nyangatom, which has more cattle and more grasslands, the impact has been less explosive, so far. But in a world where climate change means more frequent droughts, the loss of the flood increases precarity. Already herders are traveling ever-longer distances in search of pastures.

But there are no cattle now; even the goats and sheep are not here. Almost the entire indigenous population of Nyangatom now depends on food aid. Some young men might find jobs on the sugar plantations, but certainly not all; a large portion of employees are migrants from outside the valley.

The valley is already witnessing a growing alcoholism problem. On top of this, the chances of the KSDP eventually delivering on its promise of prosperity for all are slim. Since the spike in the mids, the global price of sugar has plummeted. He argues that the time has come for activists—not just the government—to think seriously about alternatives and mitigation. Possible solutions might include sharing the profits from crops grown on the plantations with local communities, or—a proposal made by Nyangatom elites—allowing communities to tax the Ethiopian Sugar Corporation for the water it takes from the river.

What's New. Latest Events. In Depth. Oct 06, Stay Connected Subscribe to Our Newsletters. Additional Resources. Country Office Contacts. Main Office Contact. For media requests and general inquiries.