409 At the social level, GoE has taken measures to develop and implement social mechanisms to fight corruption. Illustrative here is the civic education programme aimed at raising awareness among students, introduced in 2005. However, the CRM could not obtain information on how effectively this programme was being implemented. Also, the extent to which the programme has succeeded in achieving its main objectives is not clear. At the time of this review, there was no independent evaluation of the programme. Box 5: The Need to Improve the Public Image of FEACC Despite the increased public profiling of the FEACC, some stakeholders told the CRM that the institution is not truly independent. The State’s drive to fight corruption remains largely without credibility. According to the CSAR, the FEACC is considered by some observers to produce nothing but propaganda, and despite the considerable amount of pending cases, the fight against corruption is perceived as an instrument employed by the ruling party to prosecute and weaken its political opponents. The CSAR further notes that, in the eyes of many people, government’s anti-corruption struggle was targeted more towards fighting petty corruption. This suggests that corruption on a grand scale was often overlooked or was not given adequate attention. These groups also questioned government’s commitment to the fight against corruption except when it comes to suppressing opposition to the government and the ruling party. They pointed out that lack of transparency and accountability within the government bureaucracy often encouraged corrupt practices. 410 Other challenges in the fight against corruption, however, cannot be adequately addressed through the above measures as they require a political solution. Among these challenges, as identified by the CSAR, are those caused by family and ethnic loyalties. Strengthening and deepening legal and institutional reforms will also be critical to the fight against corruption, especially those that do not directly fall within the mandate of FEACC, including money laundering. 411 The CRM is, however, impressed with the strong political will that exists in Ethiopia to fight corruption. This political will should also be extended to fighting corruption in the private sector where the phenomenon is said to be growing. It was, however, difficult for the Review Mission to estimate the extent of corruption in the private sector due to either lack of data or unwillingness of government and private sector officials to discuss the matter. 412 Further, the prevailing political will in the country should be used to fight the emerging problem of money laundering. According to the CSAR, money laundering is not yet a serious problem in Ethiopia. However, it proved difficult to verify this claim in interactions with stakeholders in selected regions of the country. Nonetheless, money laundering - a practice of disguising illegally obtained funds so that they seem legal - is a crime in many countries, with varying definitions. It is the practice of engaging in financial transactions to conceal the identity, source, or destination of illegally gained money. - 168 -