Rather than engaging in short-term discourses, stakeholders need to give emphasis to the long-term goal of building strong and efficient institutions that stand the test of time to enable the country achieve successful transformation.
Experts in different fields of studies stress that setting up the necessary conditions and legal framework to build the capacity of the country’s key institutions is imperative to make sure that Ethiopia continues as a functioning state.
Wossenseged Assefa, private consultant, and economist tells The Ethiopian Herald building strong and sustainable institutions is an arduous process that needs the strong attention and commitment of stakeholders.
“The secret behind the most successful nations in the world is that they have managed to build strong institutions over a long period of time,” he says. “Whereas in Ethiopia, as stakeholders’ political ambition is to assume power by organizing under ethnic line, little attention has been given to what matters the most, the long-term goal of building strong and functioning institutions.”
There is minimum level of shared understanding in this regard among centrists, nationalists, and secessionists who are reluctant to jointly work for such a common agenda, he adds.
Wosenseged further says the reform that flourished in the country a year or so ago has shown a signs of hope. “But we anticipated a lot of institutional reform and besides the power transition, the process is not progressing as per the expectations.”
One of the major challenges in this regard is the imported educational system which does not properly incorporate indigenous values and local contexts into consideration, he adds. With this, the goal of building strong institutions will remain to be a figment of imagination.
In this regard, the government has to give due emphasis to the education sector which plays a critical role in the effort to building strong institutions by producing capable manpower to run the institutions.
In addition, failure to involve opposition political parties, as well as civic societies and professional associations in the process is by itself a hurdle. Hence, the process has to be participatory, he says.
Sisay Assemre, Assistance Professor of Political Philosophy at Gonder University for his part says while Ethiopia has taken bold initiative to build institutions, there are still limitations in forming efficient institutions which adhered to the law and act independently.
There is an encouraging move since Prime Minister assumed power. Substantial institutional advancement has been witnessed in the justice system, protection of human and democratic right.
“Other than that, it is too early to tell the effectiveness of other institution as the new administration is in its early years,” he says.
He also adds that the culture of the Ethiopian society is a challenge in the effort to build strong institutions.
“It has been repeatedly witnessed that people try to establish personal relations or networks with executives or leaders than opting to rely on formal institutions.”
He also seconds the view that political parties and civil societies need to have an uplifted role in the institution-building process.
According to documents, scholars said cultural change is needed in Ethiopia to properly implement reforms and build strong public institutions.
Prof. Daniel Kitaw, Lecturer and Researcher at Addis Ababa University, argued that institutional building has been influenced by cultural blocks for centuries.
Kitaw, who took part in a panel discussion on institution building organized by the Office of the Prime Minister this year, said it is imperative to address the root cause of institutional inefficiency in order to build a strong public organization.
Daniel said that culture and attitude have critically influenced efforts towards system and institution building in the country.
There is psychological resistance against reform and new ideas among the public. According Daniel, Ethiopia needs to undergo cultural alteration in order to appropriately address challenges associated with institutional capacity building.
The Ethiopian Herald September 5/2019
BY LAKACHEW ATINAFU
