Ethiopia Geographic and Demographic nature

1. Introduction

Ethiopia with origin of humankind and coffee is one of the most ancient nations, characterized by diverse mix of ethnic and linguistic backgrounds, as well never colonized in Africa (Behru, 2002). Due to its long lasting feudal system and military dictatorial regime, the people has been suffered with poverty and backwardness (MoC, 2000). To averse the situation and in place sustainable peace, good governance, and socio-economic development, political progress and to realize prosperity Ethiopian people have been struggled for many years (Behru, 2002).

After regime change in 1991, establishing a transitional government and endorsing a new constitution a democratically elected government and leadership has introduced a developmental democratic state and bicameral parliamentary system with federal arrangements and devolution of power. Since then, the country has achieved fast economic growth and social and political progress with strong commitment, clear vision and mission, policies and strategy to become a country of middle-income whereby democratic rule and social justice reigns.

Since mid-1990's, the practices and development of leadership in Ethiopia can be characterized by inclusiveness, participatory and serving the people selflessness, emphasizing on team building, and collective decision making as the principal character and value of its leadership.

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The leadership has successfully achieved outstanding economic growth, securing peace and stability, enhancing rural and urban socioeconomic growth and built grand infrastructure to ensure socio-economic transformation (NPC, 2016). Nevertheless, Ethiopian leadership and its success are challenged by many external and internal factors such as corruption, nepotism and patronage network, tribalism and geopolitical conditions. Agricultural productivity and transformation are not enhanced as to the expectations in satisfying public demand.

This leads to high unemployment rate and public discontent.

This term paper attempts to critically examine leadership effectiveness in performing its mission in fostering socio-economic development and wellbeing. It also tries to evaluate factors that critically affect the execution and effectiveness in key leadership achievements.

The paper is organized as follows: Part one of the paper presents some facts about Ethiopia, such as geographic, historical, demographic and political nature. It also discusses the governing structure and decision making systems with its strength and weakness. Part two presents critical evaluation of leadership practices and effectiveness based on the vision, mission, core values and characters of the current leadership. It also discusses about the overall economic performance, employment, poverty, corruption and its implications. Part three of the paper critically analyses the strength and weakness of Ethiopian leadership and major factors affecting its execution and effectiveness. Part four draws lessons to be learnt from the Chinese leadership practices and development. Finally, it summarizes concluding remarks.

2. Some facts about Ethiopia

2.1. Geographic and Historical back ground

Ethiopia, officially named as Federal Democratic Republic of Ethiopia, is a country located in east Africa. It is the ancient country in Africa and where a human ancestor ever found called "LUCY" a 3.2 million years old fossil skeleton. After archeological discovery of "LUCY" in the East Africa's Great Rift Valley called Awash Valley in Ethiopia, the country is accredited as being the origin of mankind. The powerful Kingdom of Axum emerging in the fourth century BC to control its height an area that covers present northern Ethiopia, Eritrea, and Yemen and stretches into parts of northern Sudan and Southern Saudi Arabia. Ethiopia's location gives it strategic dominance as a jumping off point in the Horn of Africa, close to the Middle East and its markets (Behru, 2002).

After 1998 border conflict with Eritrea, Ethiopia has been using neighboring Djibouti's main sea port for the last two decades. However, with the recent peace deal with Eritrea, Ethiopia set to resume accessing the Eritrean ports of Assab and Massawa for its import and export of goods for the international trade. Ethiopia has a total area of 1.1 million square kilometers out of which 1 million sq. km is land and 104,300 sq. km is Addis Ababa is the capital city and is the seat of African Union, many international organizations and diplomatic communities. Ethiopia has its own calendar system which is 7 years (from September 11 to December 31) and 8 years (from January 1 to September 10) behind the Gregorian calendar . It has 13 months; a month is 30 days and the 13th month with 5 or 6 days is leap year. September 11 is celebrated as the new year day as of the Ethiopian calendar . Ethiopia has a diverse mix of ethnic and linguistic backgrounds which comprises pictures of old manuscripts and various ethnic groups traditional costume. It is a country with more than 80 different ethnic groups each with its own language, culture, custom , tradition and religion . Ethiopia is also a country with a multi ethnic state with a variety of language spoken. Amharic is the working language of the federal government .

2.2. Demographic nature

Ethiopia is the second most populous country in Africa (after Nigeria). It is also characterized by a very high rate of population growth: about 2.6% between 1994 and 2007, which is lower than the 2.8% annual growth registered between the 1984 and 1994 censuses (CSA, 2008). Population growth has recently decelerated from an average of about 3 percent per year in the early 1990s to nearly 2.5 percent in the 2000s (Tadele and Shiferaw, 2015). Over the past 20 years, the Ethiopian population has grown by nearly 80%, from 57 million people in 1995 to 102 million in 2016. Between 2015 and 2016 alone, Ethiopia added an estimated 2.7 million people to its population. The Ethiopian population is largely young population in both rural and urban areas, with close to 71% below 30 years of age in 2013. In addition, the proportion of the population in the 10-64 age group has increased from 62% in 2005 to 66% in 2013, which led to a falling dependency ratio.

The large youth population (between the age of 10 and 29) in urban areas and broad-based rural population pyramid indicates a challenge for the country in terms of employment and job (Broussard et.al, 2013). The sharp increase in the annual growth rate of population from 0.2% at the beginning of the century to 3% in the 1980s and subsequently lower growth rates in recent years was mainly due to an increase in fertility rate and a decline in mortality. Both figures are slightly lower than the low-income and Sub-Saharan Africa averages. Similarly, infant, maternal and under-five mortality rates declined in 2012/13. For instance, infant and under-five mortality rates (per 1,000 live births) declined from 77 and 123 in 2005/06 to 59 and 88 in 2012/13, respectively (MoFED, 2014). Ethiopia is among few countries that achieved most of Millennium Development Goals except two (UNDP, 2015).