Overview of Environmental Impact Assessment in Ethiopia

Gaps and Challenges

Mellese Damtie
and
Mesfin Bayou

Environmental impact assessment (EIA for short) is a recent phenomenon in Ethiopia. It became a legally required procedure toward the end of year 2002, though emerged de facto before 2002 when a few land developers, including state-owned agencies, approached the Environmental Protection Authority (EPA) to have their environmental impact studies reviewed.

Since the Environmental Impact Assessment Proclamation № 299 of 2002 was adopted by the House of Peoples’ Representatives, some efforts have been made to implement the law by the EPA and the relevant regional environmental organs, which were themselves established by Proclamation № 295 of 2002.  In spite of these efforts, EIA in Ethiopia has until now remained weak.

Though five years have elapsed since the adoption of the EIA law in Ethiopia, the practice is still in its infantile stage, owing to a number of interacting factors that have slowed progress. As EIA is a complex process involving a large number of actors, there are many variables that can affect its proper implementation.

This short study tries to identify the problems preventing the full realization of the EIA Proclamation in Ethiopia and to recommend some solutions. The study is based on key informant interviews and an extensive review of academic and grey literature and official documents, especially those available at the Federal EPA’s office.

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