Ethiopia launches pioneering e-consultation portal to transform lawmaking process

Ethiopia has taken a significant step toward inclusive governance with the official launch of a national e-consultation portal, designed to facilitate public participation in the legislative process. The innovative platform, developed by the Ministry of Innovation and Technology in collaboration with the Ministry of Justice and Germany's GIZ development agency, represents the country's first digital system enabling citizens to directly contribute to draft laws. 

During the launch event, House of Peoples Representatives Speaker Tagesse Chafo emphasized how the platform demonstrates the government's commitment to constitutional principles of transparency and accountability. "Public participation in lawmaking ensures both the quality of legislation and citizen ownership of implemented laws," stated Speaker Chafo, highlighting how digital consultation addresses traditional barriers to inclusive governance. 

Justice Minister of State Hanna Arayalasse outlined the portal's transformative potential, noting its special design to accommodate diverse users including persons with disabilities, civil society organizations, and regional stakeholders. "This system creates unprecedented accessibility, saves time, and enriches legislation through broader public input," she explained, revealing plans to extend the platform's use to regional governments as part of Ethiopia's comprehensive digital transformation agenda. 

The German Development Organization's representative, Dr. Alberto Gómez, praised the initiative as a milestone for participatory democracy, noting its potential to strengthen Ethiopia's justice system through enhanced civic engagement. The portal enables real-time feedback on draft legislation from citizens across all regions, marking a departure from previous centralized lawmaking approaches. 

This groundbreaking e-governance tool positions Ethiopia among African pioneers in digital democracy, creating new avenues for citizen-state dialogue while setting a precedent for technology-enabled transparency in legislative processes.

By:  Kanto Kai Okanta