PM Abiy Outlines Plan for Integrated National Information Database Under Digital Ethiopia 2030

Addis Ababa, May 9, 2026 (FMC) – Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed has emphasized that Ethiopia’s media institutions should align their work with the country’s broader development trajectory, noting that effective journalism must be grounded in national realities and contribute to development priorities.

Addressing the national consultative forum titled “Media Progress for Narrative Building” in Addis Ababa, the Prime Minister underscored that media practice in a developing country must be structured in line with national priorities and evolving development needs as part of Ethiopia’s wider transformation process.

He stressed that one of the key gaps being addressed is the challenge of accessing organized and reliable information across sectors, noting that improved information systems are essential for both media institutions and national planning processes.

In this regard, the Prime Minister highlighted ongoing efforts to establish a large-scale, integrated national information database designed to bring together data from multiple sectors, including media, agriculture, business, and other areas of national activity under a unified system.

The initiative, which forms part of the Digital Ethiopia 2030 Strategy, is intended to transform fragmented data environments into a coordinated national information infrastructure that supports planning, reporting, and development execution.

Prime Minister Abiy explained that the system is expected to serve as a central reference point for media institutions and other stakeholders by improving access to structured, reliable, and cross-sector information.

He noted that the scope of the project is extensive and will require up to one and a half to two years for full development, given its cross-sector nature and institutional scale.

Once operational, the database is expected to significantly strengthen information coordination, support evidence-based reporting, and enhance the role of media in development communication, problem-solving, and long-term national planning.