CHAPTER ONE INTRODUCTION 1.1 Implementation of the APRM Process in Ethiopia 1. Ethiopia was one of the pioneer countries that acceded to the APRM in March 2003 and, shortly thereafter, it set about the task of operationalising and institutionalising the APRM process. The Prime Minister designated the Prime Minister’s Office as the Focal Point for NEPAD/APRM activities. Mr. Newaykirstos Gebreab, Special Adviser to the Prime Minister, was thereafter appointed as the APRM National Focal Point for Ethiopia. 2. The APRM Support Mission was fielded from 10-14 June 2008 to kick-start and officially launch the Ethiopian APRM Review Process. The 8-member delegation comprised representatives from two Strategic Partner Institutions of the APRM: the Economic Commission for Africa and the African Development Bank as well as officials from the APRM Continental Secretariat. 3. By the time the APRM Support Mission arrived in Ethiopia, the Council of Ministers Regulation No. 142/2008 had been put in place to guide the implementation of the APRM in the country. In addition to designating the Prime Minister’s Office as the Focal Point, Ethiopia has established a multi-stakeholder National Governing Council to drive the national process. The 23-member National Governing Council led by H.E. Tefera Waluwa, Minister of Capacity Building, comprised representatives of Government, the opposition, the private sector and civil society (settable 1.1). Regional Governing Councils mirroring the national structure were also established in all the eleven consultative regions of the Federal Republic to coordinate the APRM process at the Region State levels. 4. A National Secretariat has also been created to support the day-to-day operations while a technical research institution had been identified to undertake the selfassessment exercise. Significantly too, the Government of Ethiopia had made adequate budgetary provisions for the national process. These developments fully demonstrate the commitment of the Federal Democratic Republic of Ethiopia to the process. 5. In the course of the Support Mission, the CRM interacted with members of the National Governing Council, State and Non-State Actors and the proposed technical research body to undertake the self-assessment... The Team also visited Bahar-Dar, Capital of Amhara Regional State where it met with diverse stakeholders. The APRM Memorandum of Understanding on the Technical - 41 -