Ethiopia Needs Long-Term National Development Plan (Part Seventeen, Pillars and Objectives)

Tsegaye Tegenu, PhD
2024-07-09

In part sixteen we discussed the six goals of “Creating a Post-Scarcity Economy, Thriving Middle Class, and Self-Reliant Society”. Goals are broad, overarching targets that outline what the country aims to achieve. Each goal has its respective key components or essential attributes which vary depending on the scope of their purpose and level of significance (see part sixteen). I assume these key components as fundamental pillars of the goals. They act as the main components or essential elements required to reach the goals.

Think of these pillars as the foundational supports of a structure; they hold up and stabilize the overarching vision goal, ensuring that progress can be made in a coherent and organized manner. Each pillar represents an essential part of what needs to be achieved to reach the goal. Without addressing these pillars, the goal cannot be fully realized. The pillars often interact and depend on each other. Progress in one pillar can positively or negatively affect others. Each pillar is specific enough to allow for detailed planning and implementation of strategies and policies.

Objectives refer to the navigation points along the main routes, fundamental pillars of the goal. They serve as navigation points (latitude/longitude coordinate) along the pillars and help you track whether you are on the right path to your checkpoints (goals).

Objectives are specific, measurable targets or outcomes that support the achievement of goals. They provide concrete steps and milestones that must be accomplished to make progress towards broader goals. It is important to underline that objectives are formulated within the context of fundamental pillars. They are tailored to address the specific needs and challenges identified within each pillar. Objectives translate the broad aspirations of goals and fundamental pillars into actionable steps and measurable outcomes. They provide a clear roadmap for implementing strategies and allocating resources effectively across different sectors and areas of development.

Goal 1: Transforming and Building the Economic Structure

Goal 1: Transforming and Building the Economic Structure

Pillar 1: Industrial Development and Diversification

• Objective 1: Increase the contribution of manufacturing and high-value industries to GDP.
• Objective 2: Promote the development of small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) in diverse sectors.
• Objective 3: Enhance technology adoption and innovation in industrial processes.

Pillar 2: Agricultural Modernization

• Objective 1: Improve agricultural productivity through the adoption of modern farming techniques.
• Objective 2: Enhance value chains and market access for agricultural products.
• Objective 3: Increase investment in agricultural research and development.

Pillar 3: Infrastructure Development

• Objective 1: Expand and upgrade transportation networks, including roads, railways, ports, and airports.
• Objective 2: Improve access to reliable and affordable energy and water supply.
• Objective 3: Develop digital infrastructure to support a knowledge-based economy.

Pillar 4: Human Capital Development

• Objective 1: Increase access to quality education and vocational training.
• Objective 2: Improve health outcomes through better healthcare services and facilities.
• Objective 3: Enhance workforce skills to meet the demands of a transforming economy.

Pillar 5: Financial System Reform

• Objective 1: Strengthen financial institutions and regulatory frameworks.
• Objective 2: Increase access to credit and financial services for businesses and individuals.
• Objective 3: Promote financial literacy among the population.

Pillar 6: Trade and Investment Promotion

• Objective 1: Enhance the country’s integration into the global economy through trade agreements and partnerships.
• Objective 2: Attract foreign direct investment (FDI) by improving the investment climate.
• Objective 3: Support export-oriented industries and services.

Pillar 7: Fostering Sector-Specific Innovation and Productivity

• Objective 1: Establish and support 10 innovation hubs and technology parks within three years.
• Objective 2: Provide tax incentives and grants for R&D activities. Increase R&D expenditure to 2% of GDP within five years.
• Objective 3: Foster partnerships between academia and industry for research a

Goal 2: Entrepreneurship Building and Business Growth

Pillar 8: Increase the Number of Startups

• Objective 1: Establish 200 new startups within the next five years.
• Objective 2: Create 50 startup incubators and accelerators in key regions within three years.
• Objective 3: Achieve a 20% year-on-year growth rate in startup creation over the next five years.

Pillar 9: Enhance Access to Capital

• Objective 1: Increase the availability of microloans by 30% within three years.
• Objective 2: Establish 10 new venture capital funds within three years.
• Objective 3: Provide seed funding to 1,000 startups within the next five years.

Pillar 10: Expand Entrepreneurial Education and Training

• Objective 1: Implement entrepreneurship programs in 80% of high schools and universities within five years.
• Objective 2: Train 50,000 aspiring entrepreneurs through workshops and online courses within five years.
• Objective 3: Develop partnerships with 200 local businesses to offer internship opportunities within three years.

Pillar 11: Reduce Regulatory Barriers

• Objective 1: Simplify the business registration process to reduce the time required from 30 days to 5 days within two years.
• Objective 2: Review and eliminate 50 outdated regulations that hinder business growth within two years.
• Objective 3: Establish a one-stop online portal for business compliance and licensing within three years.

Pillar 12: Increase Market Access

• Objective 1: Facilitate access to international markets for 30% of local businesses within five years.
• Objective 2: Organize 20 trade missions and expos to connect local businesses with international buyers within three years.
• Objective 3: Secure trade agreements with five new international partners within four years.

Pillar 13: Strengthen Business Support Services

• Objective 1: Develop a network of 100 business incubators and accelerators across the country within five years.
• Objective 2: Provide mentorship programs to 10,000 entrepreneurs within five years.
• Objective 3: Establish 50 business resource centers offering legal, financial, and marketing advice within three years.

Pillar 14: Foster a Culture of Entrepreneurship

• Objective 1: Increase public awareness and positive perception of entrepreneurship through nationwide campaigns, reaching at least 70% of the population within three years.
• Objective 2: Increase the number of women and minority-owned businesses by 30% over the next five years through targeted funding and support programs.
• Objective 3: Launch an annual national entrepreneurship award to recognize and celebrate entrepreneurial achievements within two years.

Pillar 15: Improve Infrastructure for Businesses

• Objective 1: Develop and improve infrastructure such as reliable internet, transportation, and energy supply in 80% of industrial zones within five years.
• Objective 2: Ensure 90% of rural areas have access to high-speed internet within five years.
• Objective 3: Upgrade transportation networks to reduce logistics costs by 20% within four years.

Formulärets överkant

Formulärets nederkant

Goal 3: Fostering a System of Economic Abundance

Goal 3: Fostering a System of Economic Abundance

Pillar 16: Promoting Specialization

• Objective 1: Increase the number of industry-specific training programs by 50% within three years to develop specialized skills.
• Objective 2: Encourage the formation of 100 sector-specific business clusters within five years.
• Objective 3: Achieve a 30% increase in productivity in specialized sectors within five years.

Pillar 17: Promoting Diversification

• Objective 1: Develop 50 new product lines or services in key industries within three years.
• Objective 2: Provide financial incentives to 1,000 businesses to diversify their operations within four years.
• Objective 3: Increase the contribution of non-traditional sectors to GDP by 20% within five years.

Pillar 18: Promoting Economic Linkages

• Objective 1: Establish 200 new supplier-buyer relationships between local businesses and multinational companies within three years.
• Objective 2: Develop 10 regional economic corridors to facilitate trade and investment within five years.
• Objective 3: Increase the percentage of locally sourced materials in manufacturing by 25% within four years.

Pillar 19: Promoting Value Chains

• Objective 1: Create 50 new value chain development programs targeting key sectors within three years.
• Objective 2: Increase the number of value-added products exported by 30% within five years.
• Objective 3: Establish 20 value chain financing mechanisms to support SMEs within four years.

Pillar 20: Promoting Clustering

• Objective 1: Develop 15 new industrial clusters across various regions within five years.
• Objective 2: Achieve a 40% increase in inter-firm collaboration within established clusters within three years.
• Objective 3: Provide cluster-specific infrastructure and services to 80% of clusters within four years.

Goa 4: Spatial Transformation and Integration

Pillar 21: Balanced Regional Development

• Objective 1: Reduce regional income disparities by 25% within five years through targeted investment and development programs.
• Objective 2: Establish 10 regional economic development agencies to promote local industries and employment within three years.
• Objective 3: Establish 10 rural industrial parks across each region.

Pillar 22: Urban Planning and Development

• Objective 1: Develop and implement comprehensive urban master plans for 20 major cities within three years.
• Objective 2: Increase the availability of green spaces in urban areas by 30% within five years to improve living conditions.
• Objective 3: Achieve a 20% reduction in urban traffic congestion through improved public transportation systems and infrastructure within four years.

Pillar 23: Rural Development

• Objective 1: Improve access to basic services (healthcare, education, clean water) in rural areas, reaching 90% coverage within five years.
• Objective 2: Increase rural employment opportunities by 30% through the promotion of agro-industries and rural enterprises within four years.
• Objective 3: Enhance rural infrastructure (roads, electricity, internet) to connect 80% of rural communities to urban centers within five years.

Pillar 24: Infrastructure Connectivity

• Objective 1: Expand the national road network by 25% within five years to improve connectivity between regions.
• Objective 2: Develop and modernize 15 major transportation hubs (airports, seaports, rail stations) within four years.
• Objective 3: Increase the percentage of the population with access to high-speed internet to 85% within five years.

Pillar 25: Sustainable Land Use

• Objective 1: Implement sustainable land management practices on 50% of agricultural land within five years to prevent soil degradation and deforestation.
• Objective 2: Establish 20 new protected areas for conservation and biodiversity within three years.
• Objective 3: Increase urban density in designated areas by 15% within five years to reduce urban sprawl and preserve natural habitats.

Pillar 26: Inclusive Housing and Community Development

• Objective 1: Construct 200,000 affordable housing units within five years to reduce housing shortages and improve living conditions.
• Objective 2: Upgrade infrastructure and services in 100 informal settlements to meet urban standards within four years.
• Objective 3: Foster community development programs in 80% of neighborhoods to enhance social cohesion and civic engagement within three years.

Goal 5: Creating Strong Institutional Frameworks

Pillar 27: Governance and Transparency

• Objective 1: Implement open data initiatives in 80% of government departments within three years to enhance transparency.
• Objective 2: Increase public participation in policymaking processes by 50% within four years through the establishment of citizen advisory councils.
• Objective 3: Publish annual governance and performance reports for all major government agencies starting within two years.

Pillar 28: Legal and Regulatory Systems

• Objective 1: Review and update 100 outdated laws and regulations within three years to align with current economic and social needs.
• Objective 2: Reduce the time required to resolve commercial disputes by 30% within four years through the establishment of specialized commercial courts.
• Objective 3: Increase compliance with international legal standards in 90% of regulatory frameworks within five years.

Pillar 29: Capacity Building and Human Resources

• Objective 1: Train 50,000 public sector employees in modern governance practices within five years.
• Objective 2: Establish partnerships with 20 international institutions for knowledge exchange and professional development within three years.
• Objective 3: Create career development plans for all government employees, achieving 90% participation within four years.

Pillar 30: Public Sector Efficiency

• Objective 1: Implement performance-based budgeting in all government departments within three years.
• Objective 2: Reduce administrative costs by 25% through process optimization and digital transformation within four years.
• Objective 3: Achieve 80% citizen satisfaction with public services by implementing service quality improvement programs within five years.

Pillar 31: Accountability and Anti-Corruption

• Objective 1: Establish independent anti-corruption bodies in all regions within three years.
• Objective 2: Increase the number of corruption cases prosecuted annually by 50% within five years.
• Objective 3: Implement whistleblower protection laws and policies within two years to encourage reporting of corrupt activities.

Pillar 32: Technology and Innovation

• Objective 1: Digitize 90% of government services within five years to improve accessibility and efficiency.
• Objective 2: Establish 10 government innovation labs to drive policy experimentation and technological advancements within three years.
• Objective 3: Increase public sector R&D investment by 40% within four years to foster innovation in governance practices.

Goal 6: Ensuring Adequate Standard of Living

Pillar 33: Economic Security

• Objective 1: Reduce the national unemployment rate by 25% within five years through job creation programs and skill development initiatives.
• Objective 2: Increase the minimum wage to meet the living wage threshold for 90% of workers within three years.
• Objective 3: Establish microfinance and small business support programs to assist 100,000 low-income families in achieving financial stability within four years.

Pillar 34: Access to Quality Education

• Objective 1: Achieve a 95% primary school enrollment rate within three years by addressing barriers to education such as cost and accessibility.
• Objective 2: Improve student-teacher ratios to 20:1 in all schools within four years to enhance learning outcomes.
• Objective 3: Provide scholarships and financial aid to 50,000 underprivileged students to ensure equitable access to secondary and higher education within five years.

Pillar 35: Health and Well-being

• Objective 1: Increase healthcare coverage to 100% of the population within five years through universal health insurance programs.
• Objective 2: Reduce maternal and child mortality rates by 30% within four years by improving access to quality prenatal and postnatal care.
• Objective 3: Implement nationwide mental health awareness and support programs, reaching 70% of the population within three years.

Pillar 36: Housing and Urban Development

• Objective 1: Construct 200,000 affordable housing units within five years to address housing shortages and improve living conditions.
• Objective 2: Upgrade infrastructure in 100 informal settlements to meet urban standards within four years.
• Objective 3: Ensure access to clean water and sanitation for 95% of urban households within three years.

Pillar 37: Social Protection and Inclusion

• Objective 1: Expand social safety net programs to cover 100% of vulnerable populations (elderly, disabled, low-income) within five years.
• Objective 2: Increase the accessibility of public services for people with disabilities by 80% within three years.
• Objective 3: Implement community-based programs to reduce social exclusion and discrimination, reaching 70% of marginalized communities within four years.

Pillar 38: Environmental Sustainability

• Objective 1: Increase the share of renewable energy in the national energy mix to 40% within five years to reduce reliance on fossil fuels.
• Objective 2: Implement reforestation and afforestation programs to restore 1 million hectares of degraded land within four years.
• Objective 3: Achieve a 50% reduction in waste generation through recycling and waste management initiatives within five years.