Minister Cites Wide-Ranging Progress in Building Effective State Systems and Public Services

Addis Ababa, April 22, 2026 (FMC) – Ethiopia’s Minister of Planning and Development, Fitsum Assefa (PhD), said wide-ranging progress has been recorded in strengthening government systems and improving public service delivery, following sustained reform efforts undertaken in recent years.

The remarks were made in connection with the Council of Ministers’ third 100-day performance review of the current fiscal year and an assessment of the past nine-month national performance. Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed convened the meeting as part of the government’s institutionalized performance evaluation framework, which has been in place for the past eight years to monitor federal delivery.

Presenting her report, the Minister said that the main constraint in previous years was not planning, target setting, or resource mobilization, but weaknesses in institutional systems. She noted that system building has therefore been placed at the center of the ongoing reform agenda.

She explained that these reforms are being implemented alongside broader development efforts, particularly in response to increasingly complex political and economic conditions. According to the Minister, some challenges are being addressed through short-term policy measures, while others require sustained and long-term solutions supported by inclusive national consultations.

In the justice sector, she reported progress in expanding access to justice and addressing corruption, with both federal and regional institutions making improvements. Efforts have also been undertaken to strengthen democratic institutions, including the National Election Board and the media sector.

The Minister further noted that civil service reform has been widely implemented as part of the broader system-building process, contributing to improved institutional capacity across government structures.

Turning to the Digital Ethiopia strategy, the Minister said significant progress has been achieved in transforming public service delivery. This includes the expansion of one-stop service centers, which have improved efficiency, reduced corruption, and lowered both time and cost burdens on citizens.

She also highlighted the rollout of digital identification systems, which she said have strengthened fairness in service delivery, improved legal compliance, and expanded access to public services.

In addition, the Minister pointed to the training of five million coders as a key human capital development initiative in the digital sector, alongside the establishment of training centers across multiple institutions.

The report also noted that the expansion of online government services has significantly advanced, with digital payment systems now exceeding traditional bank-to-bank transactions in usage.