Today’s executive column guest is Baca Kebede (PhD). He is the president of Ethiopian Public Administration Association (EPAA). He is instructor and researcher at Ambo University. He is a seasoned expert in the field of public administration.
Baca earned his PhD from KU Leuven University, Belgium. Currently, he is Assistant Professor at Department of Public Administration and Development Management, Ambo University.
The Ethiopian Herald had a while with Baca Kebede (PhD). Excerpts…
The Ethiopian Herald: Could you tell us about EPAA?
Baca (PhD): Before 2012, it was simply an aspiration. Among the Addis Ababa University scholars of Public Administration (PA), there was an intention to establish EPAA. But the intention could not actualize as it was easier said than done.
Luckily, Ambo University became forthcoming in supporting our project. In addition, we started to seek international supports for our projects. After several international and national conferences, we managed to establish EPAA.
Whenever you establish such an organization you need to be financially strong because you are on duty bound to conduct some researches and give training. By financing what we could we were able to establish EPAA in 2016 and it was registered by Charities and Societies Agency in 2017.
Now, EPAA is an independent and non -profit organization dedicated to professionalizing Ethiopian public administration for sustainable development. Pertaining to international commitment, we use EPAA to push national agendas. In addition, we have been inviting international scholars to discuss on ways of fructifying the Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) by strengthening Ethiopian Public Administration.
Currently, EPAA has more than two hundred registered members but when you look at the potential the number is minimal. Now, we are trying to take on board more members by expanding our networks.
Herald: What are the objectives of EPAA?
Baca (PhD): It has more than three objectives. The first is to improve the art of science in public administration. In Ethiopia we have been teaching public administration for over fifty years now. But if we look at the impacts over the last five decades, it is not really sufficient.
EPAA has a platform for practitioners and researchers to work together. I hope we will improve the science side because it is handled by the university people. The art part will be completed by practitioners. That way we hope to take public administration in Ethiopia to new heights breathing life into it.
The second objective is to do research and to give policy briefs to policy makers. The third one is to introduce performance award to the quality public service sectors. The other one is to organize a dialogue and streamlining ideas and views. These are among the main objectives of EPAA.
Herald: What problem solving researches have you done so far?
Baca (PhD): As an association, EPAA is just at infantile stage. Organizing different conference and using financial supports from donors, we are trying to see to what EPAA members could do. Of course there are papers submitted by some members but we cannot say we did much. But down the road, we have solid plan to do researches and come up with EPAA’s publication. Then, publications will be recorded as researchers conducted by EPPAA and its members.
Personally, as a PhD holder it is a place where I could conduct researches. I’m coaching my students to focus on carrying out more problem-solving researches. Currently, I am working with Professor G e e r t Bouckaert. It is a g r e a t h o n o r for me to work with him because he is an international scholar and the author of many books. I’m trying to publish book chapters and articles with him but I cannot say I am researching well.
Personally, I like research than teaching. I am advising my students to focus on researches.
Herald: What hurdles have you faced in realizing your goal?
Baca (PhD): Many things. When you are an Ethiopian, lots of logjams crops up on your footpath. Family issues are there, cliques pose hurdles, bureaucracy is another bottleneck, and personal challenges are sure to create friction. Perhaps, some are attached with competence and perception based challenges.
My success pales the challenges I have encountered in my career. Success attends the unstinting exertion of surmounting challenges in life. Even I had been doing a lot of things to organize this meeting. Sometimes you may experience frustration. Happily, thinking of the rosy future fuels you passion with hope. This emboldens you not to give up.
Herald: What should be done to strengthen public administration in the country?
Baca (PhD): Commitment is what should come first. Professional cases presuppose iron discipline than finance. Professionals must be engaged in researches. If you want to be good at swimming you have to continuously go to a swimming pool.
If you go to Europe, professors publish at least four articles annually. Generally speaking, if you come to Ethiopia the so called doctors including myself do not have any publications in our names. As the president of the association I am pushing the agenda forward by inviting influential and key scholars from Europe to share their own experiences.
Second, quality of education in Ethiopia is what needs more focus. Currently, we have more than forty universities but the quality of education given in these universities is underwhelming. We are not teaching to the expected standard. In addition, the material we are using is also not to the standard. We are using western theories than indigenous knowledge. We are not engaging in research-based education.
Research-based education and professional practices are very limited in the country. At the same time, our partners are limited. Public administration by itself is much and broad. The sector and discipline are very weak in Ethiopia. That is why we have established the Ethiopian Public Association with the aim of goals and professionalizing Ethiopian public administration for sustainable development in the country and with the objective of improving the science and art of public administration. That was how EPAA came into life.
Herald: How do you assess the role of a strong public administration for a country’s development?
Baca (PhD): As a science, public administration entails knowledge generation. As an art, it promotes creativity, imagination, and innovation in the sectors. When the science and art of public administration improves, public sectors will also advance, when public sectors advance, public service delivery will become efficient, accountable, inclusive and transparent.
Public administration is not only for the sector’s graduates. It includes different fields of studies. What we teach in class is quite different from the practice. The agenda is quite a lot. What we are missing is our curriculum and commitments are not to the point. In addition, we are not exposed to other world. We use to confine ourselves in our own compartments.
Whenever you come up with new ideas like our project, people look at it skeptically. There is a need to break this dysfunctional distrust. If we started working and coproducing together, we can open space for all of us. Biologists, engineers, doctors, economists, and others can contribute their own share which will bring sustainable development in the country.
There is a possibility, what matters under Ethiopian context is breaking the silence and discussing. There is a call for bringing people to the table and encouraging them to discuss as well as promoting dialogue than debate because nobody will win and lose in a dialogue. Every part of the society should participate in such a dialogue.
Herald: How do you assess the role of universities in producing PA practitioners?
Baca (PhD): There is a disconnection between universities and practitioners. Now, we are trying to connect. The practitioners are blaming the universities, while universities are blaming the practitioners. There has to be co-production. We have to exercise the spirit of working together.
In addition, universities should finance the researches and jointly work with the practitioners.
Finally, I would like to invite all to share our dream and work with us for the better public administration in the country.
The Ethiopian Herald Sunday February 2/2020
BY AMBO MEKASA
