Officials from the Ethiopian Disaster Risk Management Commission (EDRMC) and the Authority for Civil Society Organizations (ACSO) have downplayed the alarming findings of a national survey on civil society organizations (CSOs) published this week.
Jointly conducted by People in Need (PIN) and the Consortium of Christian Relief and Development Association (CCRDA), the survey found that financial constraints and a shrinking civic space constitute a serious threat to the operations of the more than 160 participating CSOs.
The report, which was presented in Addis Ababa this week, stated that limited access to funding remains the single greatest constraint especially for emerging and small-scale CSOs who struggle to compete for resources or meet stringent donor compliance requirements.
Chronic underfunding has made it difficult for many CSOs to meet reporting requirements or manage essential administrative tasks, according to the report. This instability was exacerbated by USAID funding cuts in early 2025, while inflation and rising operational costs continue to pose major threats to sustainability.
The report also highlights a worsening regulatory environment: over 1,500 CSOs were shut down in 2024 for failing to submit annual reports to the Authority.
Other problems cited in the report include low digitalization, insufficient staff capacity, low visibility, high staff turnover, and difficulty meeting donor compliance. Externally, CSOs face rising inflation, conflict and insecurity, declining donor funding, political instability, and fragmented coordination.
With increasing needs, dwindling resources, and shrinking civic space, Ethiopian CSOs require more flexible, timely, targeted, and sustained support from donors, international partners, and policymakers, its authors urge.
Responding to the report, ACSO Deputy Director Fasikaw Molla acknowledged the financial, sustainability, and capacity issues but emphasized that government reforms have led to an increase in CSO registrations.
He dismissed the report’s conclusions as “general,” stating: “It is a fallacy, not a sound argument as the agency has worked tirelessly to improve the environment.”
Fasikaw urged the organizations behind the report to collaborate with ACSO rather than critique its efforts. He also rejected the claim that license cancellations of 1,500 CSOs were unwarranted, asserting the process followed proper procedures.
“I beg you to examine your report critically. We all have to understand this,” he added.
The 69-page report also cited a growing demand for humanitarian assistance in Ethiopia, stating that 21 million people—including over 4.5 million internally displaced—require aid in 2025.
However, EDRMC chief Shiferaw Teklemariam downplayed these figures, emphasizing Ethiopia’s commitment to humanitarian sovereignty.
“For us, dependency is a dignity-related issue. It undermines our people and our country,” he said.
The Commissioner argued that the figures cited in the report do not reflect official positions and must come from a jointly verified source.
“We don’t want to throw out numbers from left and right and confuse the public and stakeholders. These figures do not represent us and must be corrected,” he insisted.
Bharat Shrestha, program director at People in Need, clarified that the data in question came from published sources, including UNICEF and Addis Standard, and not from the organization’s own estimates.
A recent UN report confirms that 21.4 million people in Ethiopia require humanitarian assistance in 2025, including 16.7 million children and women, and nearly 4.5 million displaced individuals.
Following the revocation of at least CSO licenses in July 2024, many right groups have been calling for international and regional partners to engage in direct diplomatic communication with the Ethiopian authorities to repeal the decision and ensure a free civic space.
