Ethiopia Gives Its Government a Strategic Reorganisation

Ethiopia is reorganising several key ministries as the new administration begins its five-year term, recasting portfolios responsible for national planning, logistics, youth and culture while keeping the number of ministry-level executive institutions at 22.

The changes are set out in a draft proclamation before the House of Peoples’ Representatives that defines the names, structures, powers and functions of federal executive bodies. The government says the restructuring is intended to make the institutions more effective and bring their mandates closer to their responsibilities.

At the centre of the changes is the Ministry of Planning and Development, which would become the Ministry of National Strategy. The shift gives one of the government’s principal policy institutions a new identity at a time when Ethiopia is pursuing wide-ranging economic reforms while trying to improve the implementation of its development agenda.

The Ministry of Transport and Logistics would also be recast as the Ministry of Logistics, putting a narrower institutional focus on the movement of goods and logistics services. The change comes as trade connectivity and logistics costs remain important constraints for a landlocked economy seeking to expand exports and deepen regional commerce.

The government is also reorganising the cultural and tourism portfolios. The Ministry of Culture and Sports would become the Ministry of Youth and Sport, while the Ministry of Tourism would become the Ministry of Culture and Tourism.

The changes do not increase the number of ministries. Fikadu Tesema, a member of parliament and government representative, said the 22 ministry-level executive institutions would remain in place, with the restructuring instead aimed at improving their effectiveness and aligning their mandates with their missions.

The reorganisation comes as Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed (PhD) begins a new term, with his government facing the task of sustaining economic reforms while dealing with renewed security pressures and difficult regional relations.

Source: FSX Business News