Ethiopia launched the Digital Ethiopia 2025 strategy in 2020. Since then, during the past three years, Ethiopia is striving to accelerate the digitalization journey by increasing the investments in expanding the infrastructural development. To evaluate the midterm performance of the implementation of the strategy, Ministry of Innovation and Technology (MInT) jointly with other government stakeholders has prepared a midterm performance evaluation discussion last week. Launched three years ago, the Digital Ethiopia 2025 strategy, which comprises implementation of Digital ID, digital payments, e-governance, e-commerce and cyber-security, aims to accelerate the digital journey of Ethiopia.
As a country with fast growing economy, among the top foreign direct investment (FDI) attraction countries and ever -growing investments, Ethiopia is working in easing doing business and providing services using online platforms. Especially, following the launching of the “Home Grown Economic Reform Agenda” strategy in 2019, Ethiopia placed due focus on the development of digitalization and technology so as to support the economic development.
As part of these efforts, the Digital Ethiopia 2025 strategy was launched to accelerate the digitalization efforts and the strategy in to action immediately. By giving due attention to infrastructural development in the Information Communication Technology (ICT) and promoting online services both in private and government sectors, the strategy strives to develop the role of digital technology in Ethiopia and to make the economic development inclusive.
The midterm evaluation of the Digital Ethiopia 2025 strategy aims at identifying the achievements, the gaps and the existing challenges during the implementation of the strategy so far. By doing so, the objective is to use inputs from the discussion to accelerate the next implementation period and to realize the strategy by 2025.
During the discussion, it was learnt that the strategy has registered promising achievements. The strategy helps in developing e-commerce, digital payment, digital ID and in enacting supportive proclamations and policies which help to create conducive environment for digital development. Attended by over 50 different government sectors, the midterm evaluation discussion is believed to find concrete solutions to the problems identified during the midterm implementation phase. And, by thwarting the major bottlenecks and developing the cooperation of all stakeholders, it would accelerate the next implementation phase.
During the discussion, Minister for Ministry of Innovation and Technology (MInT), Belete Molla (PhD) said that an evaluation committee was set to collect data about the midterm performance of the Digital Ethiopia 2025 and the discussion aims to discuss on the major findings. The major objective of the evaluation is verifying the feasibility of the data collected by the evaluation committee and bringing about sound solutions to the identified gaps during the three years implementation period of the strategy.
Belete stated that Digital Ethiopia 2025 strategy focuses on the development of digital infrastructure. As to him, building digital infrastructure can only be achieved through concerted effort of all stakeholders. “Thus, MInT, apart from exerting efforts to realize the goal, it has been facilitating and coordinating the development activities,” he stated.
Belete further stated that Digital Ethiopia 2025 strategy has given due emphasis on sectors that can create more job opportunities and generate forex earnings. With this in mind, agriculture, tourism, manufacturing industries and information technology enabled services were identified as pathways for inclusive national prosperity. As the strategy aspires to create prosperous Ethiopia and build all inclusive society, he underlined that concerted and holistic efforts are expected from all concerned institutions.
According to Belete, the strategy gives due focus to change the livelihoods of the people and to the sectors which have the potential to create more job opportunities. Agricultural development, tourism, manufacturing industries and the ICT sector are among the top priorities of the strategy. As to him, the progress so far is promising and to increase the momentum, there is a strong coordination of all stakeholders in the field.
For his part, Abiyot Bayu, Advisor at MInT said that the discussion indicated that the evaluation committee that was organized three months earlier, has organized relevant information on the best performance, obstacles as well as the major gaps witnessed during the three years implementation of the strategy.
Presenting the draft midterm evaluation document, Abiyot highlighted that promising result has been registered in digital payment, e-commerce during the implementation of the strategy so far. However, he stressed that due focus should be given in making the developments to serve the rural population to make the changes inclusive. Moreover, final document would be launched once the draft evaluation is discussed, outdated information are omitted and updated by the stakeholders, as to him.
For her part, State Minister of Ministry of Innovation and Technology, Huria Ali during the conclusion of the midterm evaluation said that infrastructural development, creating conducive environment for digital development, promoting digital applications and digital activities are the pillars of the strategy. As to her, efforts continue to accelerate the implementation of the strategy so as to realize the vision.
But, as to her, to realize the Digital Ethiopia by 2025, there is a need for a strong collaboration and engagement of all government sectors and the private sectors’ active participation in supporting the implementation of the strategy. In this regard, the role of government sectors strong engagement and collaboration on the implementation of the strategy is very crucial. Huria called on the institutions to team up towards the materialization of the strategy.
As stated during the occasion, agriculture, tourism, manufacturing industries entering the Global Value Chain and services to be implemented through information and communication technology are the priority sectors in the Digital Ethiopia 2025 strategy. Building infrastructure, creating enabling conditions, digital applications and creating a digital ecosystem are also said to be the pillars of the strategy.
Realizing the development of digital infrastructure, enhancement of digital financial services and digital ID systems, the strengthening of e-government services and e-commerce and electronic payments needs all actors’ strong participation and collaboration. On the government side, efforts are continuing to create conducive ecosystem for the development of digitalization and digital transactions are expanding with government interventions.
Similarly, government is promoting digital transformation in the education, agriculture, health and tourism sectors. As part of promoting the digital transformation, the government is endorsing new regulatory frameworks and policies in the sector. Similarly, government gives due attention to building capacity of digital technology professionals and supporting digital entrepreneurs.
BY DARGIE KAHSAY
THE ETHIOPIAN HERALD FRIDAY 8 SEPTEMBER 2023
