• Measure and understand the extent and magnitude of poverty and inequality in Ethiopia
• Identify the challenges facing the poor to access opportunities and benefit from economic growth and/or poverty-oriented programs/interventions;
• Identify vulnerable groups of the society, the nature and causes of vulnerability;
• Identify policies, strategies and/or interventions to reduce the magnitude and extent of poverty and inequality and sustainably build the resilience of vulnerable groups of society;

• Conduct research and policy analysis
• Conduct impact evaluation on poverty oriented programs
• Generate/mobilize research fund
• Create forum for dialogues
• Collaborate and work with partners of similar national and international institutions
• Contribute to national capacity building in the area of policy - formulation and - making
• Produce policy briefs, research reports, working papers and journal articles
• Communicate and disseminate outputs through round table meetings, workshops, seminars and conferences.

Good Governance Policy Study and Research Center

The Good Governance Policy Study and Research Center is one of the three Policy Study and Research Centers under the Social and Good Governance Policy Study and Research Cluster of the Policy Studies Institute (PSI). The Center's goal is to conduct rigorous research and policy studies on good governance issues that are relevant to policy-making. It also aims to undertake scientific and comprehensive policy research to assess the status and challenges in policy implementation, and to propose policy options for consideration by stakeholders. Additionally, the Center provides capacity-building activities to various stakeholders in the field of good governance. These activities are carried out with the support and collaboration of different governmental and non-governmental organizations under the auspices of the federal government of Ethiopia.

To efficiently and effectively achieve the aforementioned goals, the Center is composed of two departments: Institutional Development and Governance Policy Study and Research Department, and the Federalism, Diversity Management, and Rule of Law Policy Study and Research Department

1. The Federalism, Diversity Management, and Rule of Law Policy Study and Research Department

The Department conducts empirical policy research and provides training and consultancy work in the areas of federalism, diversity management, the rule of law, and democratization.

The following are the thematic areas of the department:

• Criminal and Civil Justice: The justice system of Ethiopia operates in the presence of various challenges. Therefore, it should be studied holistically from various vantage points. This thematic area addresses policy issues, including criminal justice in general, the challenges in enforcing criminal and civil laws, access to justice and obstacles, enforcement of court orders, and other related legal issues that merit systematic inquiry to facilitate evidence-based intervention by policymakers. Research, training, and consultancy on this thematic area will be conducted in collaboration with many stakeholders, including courts and security sector institutions at various levels of government.
• Constitution and Constitutionalism: The constitutional governance system of Ethiopia has been a subject of controversy. There is still ongoing debate regarding the implementation and substantive provisions of the current constitution. This calls for a comprehensive approach to conducting policy studies and research including investigating the practice and documenting lessons on these issues in order to make well-informed decisions. These also require positive collaboration with various relevant institutions, such as the House of Federation, the House of Peoples' Representatives, the Constitutional Interpretation Commissions of regional governments, and the Council of Constitutional Inquiry of both the federal and regional governments and other stakeholders involved in this subject matter. Under this thematic area, topics related to constitutional reform, human rights, and protection mechanisms, constraints on government powers, and constitutional adjudication (norms, methods, and institutions of constitutional interpretation) will be examined through scientific inquiry.
• Institutions of Democracy and Democratization: Democracy and the institutions of democracy have not yet flourished in Ethiopia. They are still in the infant stage. The institutions and the process of democratization need to be supported by scientific research. Hence, within the scope of institutions, issues such as judicial independence and accountability, the role of CSOs and other independent rights institutions (such as the National Electoral Board of Ethiopia, Ethiopian Human Rights Commission, and Institutions of Ombudsman) as well as Media in building, promoting, and safeguarding democracy and the rule of law, as well as issues related to the democratization process, will be examined in scientific studies.
• State Building: Even today, there is no consensus on the state-building process of Ethiopia. There are controversies surrounding the paths taken in the past, and there is still no agreement or the agreement is not at the necessary level regarding the way forward. Institutional consolidation, stabilization, and sustainable development are still in the early stages. Therefore, it is necessary to address this issue as one thematic area of the department and provide the necessary input for policymakers.
• Peace Building: A major problem in Ethiopia is injustice and violent conflicts across ethnic and religious lines. It is important to resolve such problems through research-based policies that address structural issues. Ethiopia is culturally and religiously diverse, and effective management of this diversity needs to be addressed. This justifies the significance of this thematic area.
• Diversity Management: Ethiopia has always been home to various diversities. Similarly, the management of diversity has been one of the main factors in political mobilization in Ethiopia. Therefore, the Department will carry out several research projects under this thematic area and disseminate research findings to end users.

Research Staffs of the Department

The department has four researchers with second and third degrees. The brief profiles of the researchers are presented below.

1. Tilahun Tefera (BA., MA., Ph.D.), Lead Researcher and Center Coordinator:

Dr. Tilahun has extensive experience in teaching, research, and consultancy. He is interested in researching various issues, including culture, livelihoods, pastoralism, disaster prevention, conflict management, conflict resolution, peacebuilding, good governance, social development, human rights, environment, land use, land tenure, and other development-related matters.

1. Mulugeta Getu (LL.B., LL.M., Ph.D.), Lead Researcher and Department Head

Dr. Mulugeta has 18 years of teaching, research, and project management experience with Haramaya University (Ethiopia), Cardiff University (UK), UNHabitat (Ethiopia), and Ethiopia Policy Study Institute in the areas of climate change, environmental governance, social justice, land rights, rule of law and democracy. He and He has also widely published in these areas both in academic journals and news outlets and provided consultancy services to national and international organizations.

1. Chali Etefa (BA, B.Sc. MA, Ph.D. Candidate), Researcher I

Mr. Chali holds a Master of Arts degree in Governance and Development Studies, a Bachelor of Arts in Civics and Ethics, and a Bachelor of Science in Public Health Officer. His research combines areas such as governance and development, Horn of African politics and diplomacy, globalization and public policy, disaster, vulnerability, food security and resilience; climate change and migration; peace and security, conflict resolution and change management, public sector transformation and e-governance, human capital and indigenous knowledge management, public healthcare transformation and livelihoods, urbanization and livelihood capital assets, gender and development.

Chali has acquired knowledge in political economy, peace and security, conflict management, international relations, foreign policy, ethics, constitution and constitutionalism, public administration, development, democracy, disaster analysis, project planning, management, and impact assessment, public policy analysis, and institutional development. Besides, he has expertise in public health, including healthcare system governance, disease prevention, and control, measurement, evaluation, and learning.

Chali has worked as a lecturer, researcher, and higher diploma program (HDP) tutor, coordinator of the HIV/AIDS prevention and control office, directorate of basic students' service (dean), and several haddock committees at University level. He has received various certificates in research participation, reforms, seminars, research methods, and qualitative and quantitative research software applications.

1. Markos Debebe (LL.B. LL.M., LL.M.), Researcher II

Mr. Markos has over 14 years of teaching, research, and practical experience with the former Ethiopian Revenues and Customs Authority, Jimma University, and the Policy Study Institute. His areas of interest include criminal law, constitutional law, human rights, international criminal justice, federalism, the rule of law, and democracy. He has published articles in academic journals, books, and news outlets, and has provided consultancy services to both national and international organizations.

1. Institutional Development and Governance Department (IDGD)

IDGD conducts research with the overarching goal of addressing a priority national problem. The work is intended to tackle broader issues that range from knowledge to actionable policy measures. It is a multidisciplinary effort that involves multiple disciplines, departments, and research groups. IDGD focuses on three thematic areas of policy research. Below is a brief description of each thematic area.

• Public Service and Good Governance: The primary objective of public service is to satisfy the needs of the public through delivering services efficiently and effectively. This calls for a deliberate change to the structures and processes of the public sector to make them run better. This thematic area of the Department focuses on;
  • Public Administration
  • Good governance
  • Strategic Leadership Development
  • Public service reform management
  • Institutional effectiveness and development
  • Resource availability and decisions
  • Organizational arrangements

• Institutional Capacity Building: Institutional capacity building is about creating efficient and effective institutions. This requires integrating tangibles and intangible capacities. This thematic area of the Department focuses on;

• Skill upgrading,
• Procedural improvements, and
• Organizational strengthening

• Economic Governance: Economic governance is about coordinating economic policies to promote economic and social progress for the country and its citizens. It is also concerned with the processes or organizational mechanisms necessary to produce and distribute services and goods. To properly address financial, fiscal, and economic problems of a country, an effective model of economic governance is required. This may include reinforced coordination and surveillance of both fiscal and macroeconomic policies and the establishment of a framework for managing economic problems. Economic governance is important because markets and economic activity and transactions, more generally, cannot function well without it. This thematic area of the Department focuses on;

• Enabling closer coordination of economic development policies,
• Promoting convergence in regional states’ economic performance,
• Ensuring sustainable development financing and economic growth,
• Correction of macroeconomic imbalances,
• Reduction of vulnerabilities to shocks and
• Correction of excessive deficits

Staffs

After restructuring, the Department has four researchers. The brief profile of the researcher is presented below

1. Daniel Amente (BA,MA); Researcher II and Department Head

Daniel has over 12 years of extensive experience in teaching, research, and community service in various national public and private institutions. He is a founding member of the Ethiopian Public Administration Association (EPAA) and has conducted and published numerous research studies on policy issues related to institutional development, capacity challenges facing public institutions, and service delivery. Currently, Daniel holds the position of Head of the Institutional Development and Governance Department. His research interests encompass topics such as good governance, institutional capacity and development, service delivery, new product development, economic governance, and reform implementation.

1. Lalise Kumera (BA, MBA), Researcher I

Mrs Lalise Kumera Mechi is Assistant Professor and researcher with ten years of experience in teaching, community services, research and training in both governmental and non-governmental institution. Now working in Policy Studies Institute at Institutional Development and Governance Department as Researcher I. She is specialized in the area of Business management and taught several courses in Department of Management both at BSc and Masters level. She also conducted researches on the area of entrepreneurship, gender and leadership which is disseminated in the form of publication on international journals. Lalise is interested in entrepreneurship, gender, leadership and human resources development research area.

1. Yohannes Abreham(BA, MA), Assistant Researcher II

Yohannes is an active member of Ethiopian Public Administration Association (EPAA), served as a secretary of the association`s General Assembly 2019-2022. He has joined a research stream in 2021, afterwards 14+ years’ work experience in Teaching, Local Administration Executive, Public Relation, Protocol, Team Leader posts. Yohannes has been obtained his MSc in 2019 from Ethiopian Civil Service University in Public Policy Studies. His thesis project is entitled “Assessment of the Role of Think-tanks in Policy Making Process in Ethiopia: The case of Selected Institutions”. His research interest includes National/Citizen Service, Resource and Public Mobilization Challenges and other policy pertinent issues.

1. Getahun Eshete(BA,MA), Assistant Researcher II

Getahun Eshetu Abebe is an Assistant Researcher II at Policy Studies Institute, with more than 15 years of experience in various administrative, human resource, procurement, logistics and research roles across public, non-governmental international organization and Bank sectors in Ethiopia. He is ambitious, detail-oriented and flexible Research Assistant with aspiration to significant contribution in new research environment.

• Conducting research and policy relevant studies on issues of women, children and youth;
• Conducting impact evaluation of programs and interventions pertinent to women, children and youth;
• Conducting review and evaluation of national policies and strategies;
• Generating and mobilizing research funds;
• Creating forum for dialogues;
• Collaborating with national and international research and academic institutions;
• Forging a strong partnership with government ministries and agencies as well as like-minded non-governmental organizations;
• Contributing to national capacity building in the area of policy formulation, implementation and evaluation;
• Communicating and disseminating outputs through roundtable meetings, workshops, conferences, seminars and publications.