Ethiopia

Screening process
Screening is based on a list of projects provided under the draft EIA directive issued in 2008 under article 5 of the EIA proclamation No 229 of 2002. This list contains both projects that require ESIA and those that do not require ESIA. Additionally based on the ESIA procedural guidelines (non-legally binding), the proponent is responsible for undertaking an initial environmental evaluation (IEE) to determine whether or not a given project requires a full ESIA. The IEE report should have details that include location, size of the proposed project, likely impacts and proposed mitigation measures. On the basis of the IEE, the regulator will approve the project (with conditions of approval necessary), request a full ESIA study, or reject the project outright.

In the updated ESIA proclamation of 2025, article 6 indicates that a Directive pursuant to the proclamation shall determine categories of projects that do and don’t require ESIA. Without authorization from the EPA or the relevant Regional Environmental Agency, implementation of any project that requires an ESIA is not allowed. Any licensing agency shall, prior to issuing and renewing of an investment permit or a trade or an operating license for any project, ensure having the environmental and social clearance from the EPA or the relevant regional environmental agency.

Sensitive areas
All projects located in environmentally sensitive areas are considered to cause significant impact and require a full ESIA process irrespective of their nature. It is now suggested that a minimum of 300 m distance is kept from any sensitive areas.

Contents of the starting document
The starting document is the IEE. It should contains the title of the proposed activity:

• The name of the proponent and the consultant(s) representing the proponent;
• The address of the proponent and the consultant(s) representing the proponent (including telephone numbers, fax numbers and e-mail address);
• Location of the proposed development and characteristics of the location (sensitivity of the area); size (small, medium and large scale);
• The description and extent of the proposed activities; and any potential environmental issues identified by the proponent to be affected as potential impacts);
• Public concerns;
• Institutional requirements, environmental mitigation measures and monitoring considerations.

Scoping process
The ESIA guidelines suggest that the proponent (consultant) is supposed to prepare a detailed plan of study for scoping, identify and consult with the interested and affected parties. The competent authority is suggested to ensure that all potentially significant impacts have been included in the study.

Amhara state
The guidelines explicitly include scoping as a step in the ESIA process. The same elements as at the federal level are included.

Contents of the scoping document
It is suggested in guidance provided that the scoping report should contain:

• A brief description of the activity to be undertaken;
• A description of all tasks to be performed during scoping;
• A schedule setting out when the tasks contemplated will be completed;
• An indication of the stages at which the relevant authority will be consulted; and
• A description of significant effects and factors to be considered and the proposed methods of identifying the environmental issues and alternatives.

A ToR is produced during scoping for use in the impact study.

Amhara state
The guidelines give quite detailed information on the contents of the scoping report. In general, it should contain:

• Description of the project
• Biophysical and socio-economic description of the affected area
• Major positive as well as negative impacts
• A description of the public consultation
• The TOR for the consultant, including the above, as well as potential alternatives.

Assessment process
There are no specified steps. Nevertheless, the proponent is required to submit an EIA report to the EPA or the relevant regional authority alongside other required documents as determined by the relevant authority.

Contents of the ESIA report
The ESIA report should contain a description of:

• The nature of the project, including the technology and processes to be used;
• The content and amount of pollutant that will be released during implementation as well as during operation;
• Source and amount of energy required for operation;
• Information on likely trans-regional impacts;
• Characteristics and duration of all the estimated direct or indirect, positive or negative impacts;
• Measures proposed to eliminate, minimize, or mitigate negative impacts;
• Plans prepared to mitigate environmental and social problems and contingency plan in case of accident; and
• Procedures of self auditing and monitoring during implementation and operation.
• Additionally, the EIA report should be accompanied by a non-technical summary.

The EPA shall issue technical guidelines that determine the elements necessary to prepare as well as evaluate an ESIA.

Amhara state
The 2018 guidelines contain a detailed description of the contents of the ESIA report. In general lines the contents match those of the federal level, as described above.

Accreditation of consultants
An independent consultant or the firm requires registration and licence issued by EPA to practice. There is, however, no accreditation system for consultants.

Article 8/2 of the 2025 proclamation states that a proponent shall ensure that the ESIA of his project is conducted and prepared by experts that meet the requirements specified under any Directive issued by the EPA.

Amhara state
The Amhara state guidelines (2018) state that ESIAs must be prepared by a licensed firm. It details how consultants or firms can be officially accredited.

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Review process
The ESIA proclamation does not give a specific review process. However, it states that evaluation is done by taking into account any public comments and expert opinions. It is also not specified whether the review results are opened to public and if the public has the possibility to respond.

Amhara state
The guidelines include a list of criteria which are to be used in reviewing ESIAs. Some significant criteria include:

• Correspondence of ESIA to ToR;
• A brief non-technical summary that everybody can understand;
• Accurate, unbiased and credible pieces of information described in the main report;
• The stakeholders included in the process.

Timeline Review
Within 45 working days but may be extended based on the nature and extent of the project.

Integration of ESIA into decision-making
The EPA or regional environmental authorities may:
a) approve the project without conditions and issue authorization if it is convinced that the project will not cause negative impacts;
b) approve the project and issues authorization with conditions that must be fulfilled in order to eliminate or reduce adverse impacts or reduce adverse impacts to insignificant level if it is convinced that the negative impacts can be effectively countered; or
c) refuse implementation of the project if it is convinced that the negative impact cannot be satisfactorily avoided.

Approval of the ESIA report means that an environmental clearance (ESIA license) will be issued. The project approval decision is taken by a separate (licensing) authority , but in consideration of the results of the ESIA.

Any project proponent shall annually review the project that has received a clearance certificate and must update its environmental and social management plan every three years and submit this to the EPA or relevant Regional Environmental Protection Agency.

Decision justification
Not specified under the EIA proclamation. The EIA guidelines advise that the Record of Decision should be made available to the public upon request.

Timeline decision-making
Not specified, but is likely linked to the review period.

Possibilities for appeal
Any person dissatisfied with the authorization or monitoring or any decision of the EPA or the relevant regional environmental agency regarding the project may submit a grievance notice to the head of the EPA or the relevant Regional Environmental Agency. be issued within 30 days following the receipt of the grievance.

Compliance monitoring
EPA or the relevant regional environmental authority is required to evaluate compliance with approval conditions and where applicable may order the proponent to take corrective measures. EPA is responsible for monitoring of project implementation when the project is subject to licensing, execution or supervision by a Federal government or when it is likely to produce trans-regional impact. The Regional Environmental Agency is responsible for the monitoring of other projects.

Any other authorizing or licensing agency shall, in tandem with the EPAs or the relevant regional environmental agency’s decision to suspend or cancel any authorization to implement a project, suspend or cancel the license it may have issued in favor of the project.

As part of the ESIA report, the proponent is required to submit procedures for self auditing and monitoring to be used during implementation and operation.

Public participation requirements for ESIA process stages
Article 16/2 of the 2025 ESIA proclamation determines that the responsible authority shall ensure that the comments made by the public are incorporated into the EIA report and its evaluation. How these comments should be used for decision-making processes is not specified.

Article 16/3 states that Representatives of the relevant Regional Environmental Agency shall participate in project area public consultation and ensure that the comments of the communities have been well recorded as per the Directive issued pursuant to this Proclamation.

In 2018, a guideline for public consultations in the ESIA process became available.

Timeline for public comments
According to article 16/3, the EPA or the Regional Environmental Agency shall disseminate the ESIA through public notice and accept comments for 15 working days.

Access to information
There are provisions in the ESIA proclamation (1371/2025, article 16/1) for the relevant environmental agency to make any ESIA study report accessible to the public and solicit comments on it. Access to other documents and/ or decision is not specified.

Not specified in the EIA proclamation but the EIA guidelines (not legally binding) advises to have on-site advertisement, media advertisement using radio and TV in the local language. It also advises placing an advert in local language in an appropriate newspaper (within the locality of the project). The advertisement should be placed in a official government gazette that provides service for public notice.

The detailed implementation of public participation in ESIA shall be determined by the Directive issued pursuant to this Proclamation.