Ethiopia: PM Abiy Stresses for Stronger Indigenous Capacity to Drive National Development

What the report says

Ethiopian Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed used the inauguration of the Megech Irrigation and Water Supply Project in Gondar to call for stronger domestic institutional and human capacity, better coordination across government, and fewer administrative bottlenecks to speed up national development. The remarks were reported by the Ethiopian News Agency and distributed by AllAfrica. Abiy said Ethiopia’s progress should rely more on local expertise and less on outside support, framing the project as an example of why delivery systems need to be strengthened.

The project is located on the Megech River in the North Gondar Zone of the Amhara Region, near Lake Tana. According to the report, the dam has a storage capacity of 185 million cubic meters and is expected to irrigate more than 17,000 hectares of farmland. It is also meant to improve drinking water access for Gondar and nearby towns, which could support agricultural production and broader economic activity in the area.

Abiy pointed to a 19-year delay in completing the project as evidence of structural weaknesses in implementation. He said the government had to change the contractor and reorganize the process to finish it. He also urged stronger cooperation between federal and regional authorities and asked residents to help protect the infrastructure. More broadly, the comments reflect Ethiopia’s ongoing focus on infrastructure delivery, local capacity-building and the link between stability and development.