Article

In his keynote address, Dr. Mekuria Haile, Commissioner of the Federal Civil Service Commission, noted that the conference reflects the collective commitment of the Ethiopian Civil Service University and the Federal civil Service Commission to strengthen the public service and governance through research, dialogue and innovation.

He added that governance is not a matter of policy and procedures, it is a dynamic process that must adapt to changing societal needs, technological advancements, and emerging global realities.

Thematic research in public service and governance is crucial for tackling the pressing challenges within the public service system. These researches need to addresses the increasing demands for transparency, efficiency, responsiveness, empathy, and accountability. To meet these challenges, research must be more than academic and must be actionable, problem solving, transformative and pragmatic. It should go beyond analysis of theories and find solutions for real challenges of the institutions and societies. Hence it is important to identify bottlenecks in service delivery, analyze inefficiencies in institutional operations, explore how digital technologies can enhance accountability and access, and evaluate the impact of governance reforms on citizens’ daily lives, Dr. Mekuria underscored.

He also emphasized the importance of digital services and governance. With the rapid growth of digital infrastructure, we have the tools to redesign government services for the public. However, the success of digital transformation relies not just on technology but also on human-centered design, institutional readiness, and effective policy frameworks. Research can help this by examining what works, what doesn’t, and the reasons behind these outcomes, he noted.

The future direction of Ethiopian Civil Service University's academic inquiry should align with practical needs. Good governance is an ongoing journey, and research acts as a guiding compass. ECSU, with its legacy and potential, plays a vital role in this journey, and encourage the interdisciplinary collaboration between technologists, social scientists, policy makers and civil servants, Dr. Mekuria stressed.

Finally, He also requested the presenters and participants of the conference, to think boldly, to change assumptions and to stay grounded in the real problems facing the people and assured them that the knowledge generated doesn’t remain on the shelves of the academia but moves to the corridor of the public institutions.

In his opening speech, Dr. Nigus Tadesse, ECSU President, on his part, welcomed the participants and said that ECSU and Federal Civil Service Commission are bonded by a shared mission to strengthen and modernize public service. The presence of the commissioner signifies a renewed partnership, emphasizing the commitment to collaboratively advance their common vision of a free, modern, and effective civil service, Dr. Nigus said. He also mentioned that ECSU continues to work closely with the commission and is dedicated to the implementation of the new Civil Service Reform Policy currently under implementation at selected federal ministries and public sector organizations.

He also highlighted the participants of the conference the overall achievements and contributions of the University in the last three decades in building the capacity of the public sector of the country in specialized education programs, need-based short term trainings. In addition, driven by one of the university’s mission plan, ECSU has undertaken more than 500 research projects and have communicated their finding to public sector institutions, policy makers, including in the form of policy briefs, Dr. Nigus said.

ECSU aims to become an African training hub for public service by implementing essential structural and organizational reforms to offer certified training and educational programs for public servants and leaders in Ethiopia, Africa, and beyond, Dr. Nigus underlined.

Finally, he requested all participants to engage actively in the conference and expressed his gratitude to the organizers of the conference for their efforts in making the conference successful.

On the conference a total of 33 research papers which underwent a rigorous review process, were presented. The thematic area distribution of these researches included Economic and development, Urban Governance, Leadership and Development, Diplomacy, International Relations and Cross-cutting issues, HRM, Environment and Development.

Participants on their part, expressed their appreciation for the university and the conference organizers, offering suggestions for future events. Notably, they emphasized the importance of including government officials, practitioners, policymakers, and stakeholders in future to attend the conferences.

In his closing remarks, Dr. Alemayehu Debebe, Vice President for Research and Partnership, sincerely thanked the participants for their participation and expressed his firm hope that the relationships and solidarity established at the conference would continue to further strengthened both individual and institutional levels. He also extended his gratitude to the paper presenters and the organizers for their contributions to the conference's success.