During the opening of the fiscal year performance report on September 1, 2023, at Arba Minch Town, H.E. Prof. Beyene Petros, Director General of the Policy Studies Institute(PSI), expressed his appreciation for the junior and senior researchers working in the institute. He attributed the successful achievements of the year to their dedication and hard work.
Staff at Arba Minch
Prof. Beyene went on to mention that the institute had effectively utilized 98% of its allocated budget during the year. Besides, he highlighted that the institute had made significant progress in staff placement, following the guidelines provided by the Civil Service Commission.
H.E.Prof.Beyene Petros
Prof. Beyene stated that, after extensive and thoughtful discussions, the institute had developed its own program and subprograms. This decision was made after an attempt that had left the institute without a defined program. The establishment of these programs is expected to provide a clear direction and focus for the institute's activities.
In order to enhance the effectiveness of the institute in achieving its vision and mission, Prof. Beyene mentioned that various documents and manuals are prepared. These materials aim to streamline the workflow within the institute and ensure that its objectives are met efficiently.
During the presentation of the annual performance report for the fiscal year, Mr. Molla Abrha, the Planning and Budget Chief of PSI, provided an overview of the institute's main activities and presented a 12-month chart illustrating the performance of major goals.
Mr. Molla Abrha
Mr. Molla highlighted the completion of various research projects, which were published in the form of books and distributed to users. He also mentioned the challenges encountered during the implementation process of the fiscal year's annual plan and the solutions implemented throughout the fiscal year.
Mr. Molla outlined the four strategic goals of the institute. The first goal focused on enhancing the institute's institutional implementation capacity, resource utilization, and services. The second goal emphasized conducting advanced research and policy research. The third goal aimed at facilitating communication and access to research results. The fourth goal aimed to establish strong strategic partnerships and develop research resources.
Mr. Molla stated the achievements made in each goal during the fiscal year. He also mentioned the challenges faced, such as the inability to use the government budget as required for research work and difficulties in procuring equipment through the government's electronic procurement system. Insufficient research in specific fields and the high maintenance costs of aging vehicles also posed challenges. He added that the lack of budget allocation for charity activities hindered their implementation of the plan. Mr. Molla highlighted the remedial measures taken to address these challenges during the fiscal year.
Furthermore, Mr. Molla also raised critical issues of the institute that require action. He urged the government to resolve the issue of inappropriate ownership claims by another party on the PSI’s office building. He also encouraged the researchers of the institute to prepare the plan for the 2016 fiscal year and work towards enhancing the visibility of the institute.
During the presentation of PSI's 10-year strategic plan, Dr. Tadesse Kuma, a lead researcher at PSI, provided an overview of the national conditions and the context of the Policy Studies Institute. He also presented the SWOT and stakeholder analysis as part of the strategic plan preparation.
Dr. Tadesse Kuma
Dr. Tadesse elaborated on the vision, mission, and core values of the institute, providing a clear understanding of its overarching goals and principles. He then delved into the strategic pillars and potential focus areas of the strategic plan, highlighting the key areas of emphasis and strategic direction for the institute over the next decade.
Furthermore, Dr. Tadesse presented the implementation plan for the strategic plan, outlining the steps and actions required to achieve the set goals and objectives. He also discussed the monitoring and evaluation framework that would be put in place to assess the progress and effectiveness of the plan. He said Key Performance targets (KPIs) were established to measure and track the institute's achievements and ensure accountability.
His presentation provided a comprehensive overview of the strategic plan, covering various aspects such as the analysis of internal and external factors, stakeholder engagement, vision, mission, core values, strategic pillars, focus areas, implementation plan, and monitoring and evaluation. This strategic plan is expected to guide PSI's activities and initiatives over the course of the next ten years, enabling the institute to effectively contribute to policy research and development in alignment with its vision and mission.
During the discussion session, H.E. Mr. Alebel Dessie, Deputy Director General of PSI provided an overview of the current situation in the Amhara region of Ethiopia. He acknowledged that violence had been escalating in the region, leading to the government's declaration of a state of emergency. He mentioned that there had been various clashes in recent weeks, with the violence spreading throughout the region. H.E. Mr. Alebel highlighted that these armed clashes have resulted in significant human loss and property damage, posing a threat not only to the region but also to the overall stability of Ethiopia.
H.E. Mr. Alebel Dessie
Following the presentations, the staff of the institute engaged in extensive discussions, reflecting on the presentation. The day's program concluded effectively, allowing for a thorough examination of the topics discussed and providing an opportunity for the staff to share their ideas and perspectives on how to address the current problems in the Amhara region.
The discussions and exchange of ideas among the staff members are crucial for fostering a collaborative and informed approach to addressing the challenges faced in the region. By leveraging their expertise and insights, the staff can contribute to the development of potential solutions and strategies to mitigate the violence and insecurity in the Amhara region.
Overall, the day's program was successful in facilitating a meaningful discussion and encouraging staff members to actively participate in finding ways to address the institute’s missions and the current security situations in the country.