Ethiopia is embarking on an ambitious overhaul of its public service sector, aiming to modernise service delivery, combat systemic challenges to good governance, and establish a more accountable and efficient system, according to Civil Service Commission Commissioner Mekuria Haile (PhD).
The reforms are being rolled out as Ethiopia concurrently hosts the 10th African Union Member States Conference on Public Service and Governance and the United Nations Africa Regional Forum, spotlighting the nation’s commitment to improved governance.
Commissioner Mekuria Haile, speaking ahead of the three-day conference commencing June 14th at the African Union Assembly Hall, emphasised the critical need for evolving public institutions to address rapidly changing demands. The African Public Service and Governance Conference, a bi-annual continental event, serves as a platform for member states to share best practices and strategies for improving governance across the continent.
"This conference aims to address the challenges of changing public institutions and to address them quickly. It will create institutions that address the challenges of service delivery in Africa and that will bring inclusive, sustainable development, enhance accountability, respect human rights, and strengthen people-to-people cooperation,” said Commissioner Mekuria Haile.
The concurrent UN African Regional Forum, themed "Public Service and Innovation," will focus on leveraging innovative approaches to deliver citizen-centric services. The forum seeks to build robust institutions capable of achieving the United Nations' 17 Sustainable Development Goals by 2030 and the African Union's Agenda 2063, which outlines 20 strategic goals for the continent's development.
To achieve these goals, Ethiopia has developed a comprehensive policy and legal framework for public service and administration reform. The Civil Service Commission Commissioner explained that the reform will be implemented in three distinct phases, initially focusing on eight key institutions, followed by nine, and concluding with seven. Each phase comprises preparation, implementation, and consolidation stages, with the nation currently entering the pilot implementation of the initial phase.
The overarching objective of the public service and administration reform is to fundamentally modernise service delivery, making it more responsive and efficient. The reforms aim to address long-standing issues related to bureaucratic inefficiencies and citizen dissatisfaction.
“The public service and administration reform focuses on modernising service delivery,” stated Commissioner Mekuria Haile.
The Commissioner also stated that the goal is to provide services that are up to international standards and to resolve service delivery concerns.
The anticipated outcome of the comprehensive reform is a government apparatus that operates with enhanced transparency, efficiency, and responsiveness, ultimately leading to a significant reduction in administrative complaints and greater citizen satisfaction. The reforms represent a substantial investment in building a more effective and accountable government, fostering sustainable development and improved governance across Ethiopia.
The successful implementation of these reforms could serve as a model for other African nations striving to improve their public service delivery and strengthen their governance structures, it was noted.