Developing Policy in Contested Space: Khat in Ethiopia

This chapter reviews the trends in khat production, trade and consumption and explores the potential options for khat regulation as a package of options crossing sectors and departments. In offering recommendations for policy and areas for intervention, we are cognizant of the need for more research. Policymaking, however, is often made with imperfect information, and we recognize that there are costs of inaction. Before proposing the areas, this chapter contextualizes the policy making process, and particularly the challenges of developing policy in highly complex and contested areas, of which khat is one. We do not offer new research. Rather, this contribution aims to bridge research and practice, offering specific, actionable recommendations based upon the available evidence of khat and the experience of regulating other commodities, which are contextualized within the Ethiopian policymaking environment. This paper argues for regulation that limits harm while maximizing benefits, following positions taken by researchers such as Klien, Beckerleg and Hailu (2009) and Cochrane and and O’Regan (2016). This chapter is based upon existing research as well as the key ideas that emerged at a national workshop on khat in February, 2016, organized by the Forum for Social Studies. The ideas presented here are our own, and do not speak for the organizers, presenters or participants. At the same time, we wish to acknowledge the important role the conference played in formulating the recommendations presented in this chapter.