Assessing Political Priority for Reproductive Health in Ethiopia

Ndola Prata, University of California, Berkeley
Caitlin Gerdts, University of California, Berkeley

This study seeks to assess the generation and institutionalization of political priority for reproductive health within the political systems of Ethiopia. Between July 2010 and January 2011 interviews were conducted with key policy makers, government ministers, academics, and leaders of prominent non-governmental organizations in Ethiopia. We employ the “Shiffman Framework” for the generation of political priority to categorize the key actors and ideas behind the shift towards prioritization of reproductive health in Ethiopia, as well as the political context and primary characteristics of the issues that propelled progressive action in reproductive health in that country.