The Government of Ethiopia has invited independent professionals to be part of the national economic advisors council the country is set to launch.
“…To ensure successful implementation and continuity of the ongoing economic reforms and to promote inclusive economic development, the Government of Ethiopia believes it is important to establish an independent national council of economic advisors, ” the Government said in its call for application twitted by the Office of the Prime Minister.
The call of the government came a week after some self-initiated professionals hosted an international conference, Ethiopia 2050, which aims to produce a comprehensive policy advice document on Ethiopian economy bringing scholars from across the world.
The government call for application stated that the council set to be established will offer independent, objective and evidence based economic policy advice to the Ethiopian government. “This will further improve the quality, and transparency of economic policy making process, which in turn leads to designing and implementing participatory informed and effective economic policies,” the call for application explains.
The Council is expected to have 15 high caliber members who are independent and provide evidence-based economic policy advice to the government on regular basis. The members of the council are also expected extremely knowledgeable of Ethiopian economy, socio-political context as well as well-respected and established in their respective areas of expertise.
For one to be considered as a member of the council he or she has to be Ethiopian national or Ethiopian origin, according to the announcement, which requested interested individuals to apply in 15 days using the email address of the Office of the Prime minister.
Many especially in the business community has been complaining about policy unpredictability in Ethiopia, which has been affecting their investments negatively over the past years. Some people attribute such unpredictability of policies to the fatal collide of politics with business in Ethiopia as major businesses have been run by the ruling political parties, as endowments, and businesses run by individuals affiliated with the ruling the party and corrupt officials.
It is expected that the formation of such independent economic advisory council and the willingness of the government to accept such professional independent advices is expected to make policies of the government of Ethiopia predictable at least for investors.