Implication of Ethiopian Civil Service Reforms on Performance Management

Abstract

Ethiopian civil service is characterized by uninterrupted organizational reforms intended to improve performance through experiment with different management models. This paper analyzes changes occur in performance management system of the public sector in Ethiopia as a result of adoption of public sector reform programs. The research draws on government policy documents, legislations, reform studies, BSCbased plans, performance reports and study reports to assess the improvements achieved in transforming performance management to result oriented approach. The findings show a systematic organizational performance management with clear target, acceptable measurement and accountability for performance had never appeared in Ethiopia. Before the third phase reform in 2003, Government had given little attention to performance management; despite its key role for achieving the capacity building and enhancing performance. Since 2003 the adoption of BPR, BSC, Citizen Charter and change army have brought in to public sector principles that focus on results, but due to failure of implementation of such management tools, result oriented performance management approach that comprises goal setting, measurement and use of performance information for learning, reward and accountability was not realized in the civil service system of Ethiopia.