The Protest at the World Bank What were they thinking?

Eskinder Belachew
May 04, 2008

After reading a series of recent World Bank reports and evaluations on Ethiopia, one could not resist from saying I told you so or got you. I hated seeing Ethiopians protest in front of the World Bank (WB) demanding the Bank stop its assistance to Ethiopia. Reading the recent press releases and evaluations of successful life saving projects by the World Bank and WHO, I am further agitated imagining what would have happened if these protesters had succeeded. I am not necessarily upset by those who got emotional or misled, but with those so called educated who were standing outside the World Bank dressed with their $500 suites in contempt. They were ready to sacrifice Ethiopian children who were dieing of malaria and other diseases.

Despite their cruel attempt, the WB went ahead and funded several projects. I will highlight a few of the these very successful projects that were targeted by these Diaspora groups, which I would not even dare call opposition groups, because they were not, they were simply amorphous groups.

According to the World Bank reports of April 24, 2008, Malaria was a leading cause of death in children and adults. In 2000 alone it killed over 29,000 children, equivalent to almost 80 children per day.  The malaria project was paid for by the World Bank, the Ethiopian taxpayers and other donors.

A recent WHO rapid impact assessment (November/December 2007) in four main regions in Ethiopia recorded the following findings for 2001-7 for children of all ages.

· There has been a 67 percent decrease in confirmed malaria outpatient cases

· a 54 percent decline in malaria admissions

· A 55 percent decrease in malaria related deaths.

For further details on this please read “From donkeys to Dollars: Unity in Combating Malaria in Ethiopia Leads to Success”.  Again, according to the World Bank forecasts this success may also mean that in the near future there may be a shift in Ethiopia’s malaria transmission status from moderate-low to very low. Moreover, achieving control over malaria epidemics will free up resources for improving healthcare service delivery elsewhere in Ethiopia, helping the country to meet its other health-related Millennium Development Goals.

Another aspect of Ethiopia’s impressive development that is commendable, for a country with very limited resources like Ethiopia, is the level of official development assistance that Ethiopia currently receives (at US$14 per capita).  It is substantially lower than that of other low-income countries, including many with higher average per capita incomes. Despite that, Ethiopia has done much better than these other countries. Primary school enrollments have tripled, child mortality has almost been cut in half, and the number of people with access to clean water has more than doubled. Over the last four years, GDP growth has averaged over 11 percent per year. The percentage of Ethiopians living in poverty, which stood at 46 percent in 1996 and 44 percent in 2001, fell to 39 percent in 2006.

While this is something to be proud of, why are the Al Mariams of our country and the NES Scholars (Dinkem Scholar) infuriated? They are even jealous of the well being and health of Ethiopian children continuing to be gung ho to the enactment of HR 2003 adamant to curtail the assistance going to the people. Why is it that our so-called learned chose to protest and continue to persist with their unsuccessful attempt to deny these children the precious benefit of life we all enjoy?

I have wondered then, and still do wonder now, what they were or are thinking when they protest and demand the World Bank and other donors not to assist these children of Ethiopia. I have asked a few of these people their rational for this self centered attitude. The response I got from some is that “these fara Woyanes would not know what to do with the money.” However, the World Bank’s own assessment on how Ethiopia achieved such success says it all in the following:

How has Ethiopia achieved such success?

“Leadership. Meeting ambitious targets demands commitment and effective management. The success of the malaria initiatives can be attributed to the exceptional leadership of the Government. In the face of political, logistical, and financial difficulties, enormous strides in progress

“Pragmatism. The Government has undertaken a realistic assessment of the country’s capacity for health service delivery. To fulfill its pledge to combat malaria, the MOH has temporarily outsourced some delivery of malaria-prevention services to those with an increased ability to handle it, while national capacity for service-delivery is built.”

The above signifies that progress is occurring and will continue to do so considering the visionary leadership demonstrated by the current government.  The “Aradas” meaning the obnoxiously conceited were not as smart as they pretend to be after all. Therefore, it is imperative and important for the rest of us to be diligent and proceed to stand on the side of Ethiopia and its people.  We ought to expose those that are creating havoc with a malicious intent to deter our country’s development.  For now, one can only say Gud eko neew, ye Zendiro Scholar! What were they thinking