Late last year, I helped a Western-based non-profit organization prepare a grant for an international development project in Ethiopia. At that time, there was mention that the Ethiopian government would soon be passing a law that restricts international agencies from working on certain interventions within the country – including human rights, equality, conflict resolution and the rights of children. From recent headlines, it seems as this has come to pass. Change.org, Chronicle of Philanthropy, and Human Rights Watch summarize the situation well.
Is there merit to the Ethopian's parliament's statement that the new law is aimed at preventing foreign interference in Ethiopian issues? Or is this a humanitarian disaster in the making?
We continued writing the grant despite the looming restrictions – and is difficult to know whether Western governments will restrict their aid in response. Most disheartening is that Ethiopians will suffer regardless of which side gets the final say – and international development suffers another set back.
