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Mayors of Ethiopia's largest state visit LOGODI


Wednesday, June 14, 2017


WANJU – A delegation of mayors from a dozen cities across Oromia, Regional State in Ethiopia, has completed a one-day site visit to LOGODI.

The group, headed by the state's Vice Governor, Mr. Shimelis Abdisa, and accompanied by the country's Ambassador to the Republic of Korea, H.E. Shiferaw Jarso, was introduced to the Korean civil service system and LOGODI, with special focus on the latter's programs, process for content development, and criteria for completion.

The Vice President of the Korea Institute for Development Strategy (KDS), Mr. Park Kyung-bae, was also present to speak on Korea's strategies for HRD and HRM, emphasizing the importance of cultivating creative and innovative minds through an open, competitive, and incentivized system.

Delegates shared in comparative discussions on their own national system of training in the public sector, seeking insight into the advancements achieved in Korea and by LOGODI. Questions delved into intragovernmental relationships and the ability of courses to respond to present challenges; the role of central government in enabling local governments to find and appropriately assign expertise; theoretical vs. practical problem solving; the selection process for trainees; and obstacles as well as aims toward the increased recruitment of women.

LOGODI's reception of the delegation is its broadest engagement with Ethiopian officials since informal ties were established between the institute and the Ethiopian government in 2002, with a visit by the then Head of the Inspection Department at Oromia's Public Service Bureau. A total of seven other officials from the country have since taken part in the Local Administration Program for Developing Countries, in 2013, 2015, and 2016.

Mr. Bae Jin-hwan, President of LOGODI, lauded Ethiopia's success as the fastest growing nation in Africa, and expressed his confidence in its capability to become a mid-income country by 2025.

Mr. Abdisa in response credited Korea as the model for Ethiopia's policy development, and stressed his country's need for an institute like LOGODI. On behalf of his delegation, he extended an invitation to his country to assist in the establishment of an institute that will build the capacity of "vibrant and knowledgeable leaders" for the transformation of Ethiopia.