Mekonen Mekasha, Belay Simane, Engdawork Assefa
Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) is an essential tool for promoting sustainable road development in Ethiopia; however, empirical assessments of the effectiveness of the tool remain limited. This study examines the effectiveness of the EIA and the major constraints in the context of the Modjo-Moyale Interregional Road Project, which is a flagship project within the road infrastructure sector in Ethiopia. A concurrent parallel mixed research design was employed, which combines the quantitative data collected from 103 experts with the qualitative data gathered from 16 senior-level officials within federal and regional governmental agencies. The findings show that while procedural effectiveness is relatively strong, substantive, normative, and transactive effectiveness remains weak. On the other hand, poor governance characterized by a lack of accountability, institutional misalignment, and weak enforcement undermined the performance of the EIA system. This study concludes that the key barriers to the effective implementation of EIAs in Ethiopia's road sector arise from governance deficiencies. Therefore, enhancing transparency, institutionalizing substantive public involvement, and creating reliable independent monitoring systems are necessary for elevating the EIA from procedural formalities to a robust environmental management tool. These targeted interventions enable EIA to transform into a cornerstone of sustainable development.