Proclamation No. 1231/2021 establishes and outlines the functions of various inter-governmental relations forums, including a key body known as The National Executives Relations’ Forum. This forum serves as a crucial platform for discussions and decision-making between the federal and regional executive bodies in Ethiopia.
1. Membership Composition of The National Executives Relations’ Forum
The forum is composed of key executive figures from both the federal and regional levels.
Standing Members include:
- The Prime Minister of the Federal Democratic Republic of Ethiopia.
- Heads of Governments of all Nine Regional States.
- Mayors of the Addis Ababa City and the Dire Dawa Administrations.
- The Minister of Finance.
- The Minister of Peace.
- The National Planning Commission.
- Attorney General.
Additional Participants: The forum also has the discretion to invite heads of other federal and regional institutions to participate in its sessions, either as members or experts, if deemed vital for specific discussions.
2. Duties and Responsibilities of The National Executives Relations’ Forum
The forum acts as the highest organ overseeing overall relations between the Federal State and the Regional Executive bodies. Its responsibilities are extensive and multifaceted:
- Oversight and Coordination: It serves as the highest body for discussions and consultations on issues relevant to both levels of government, including policy proposals of national significance and general matters affecting inter-governmental relations.
- Policy and Strategy Harmonization: It is responsible for facilitating discussions and consultations on nation-wide policies, strategies, programs, and plans, aiming to create common understanding on vital issues. It also monitors, evaluates, and manages the implementation of memoranda of agreements reached between the federal and regional governments.
- Addressing Cross-National Issues: The forum deliberates on issues with cross-national implications such as sustainable peace, democracy, good governance, and rapid and fair socio-economic development. It generates recommendations to address encountered difficulties in these areas.
- Concurrent Powers and Responsibilities: It formulates a joint implementation strategy to facilitate the materialization of concurrent powers and responsibilities vested in both the Federal State and Regional States by the constitution, and subsequently evaluates and directs this strategy.
- Consultation on Federal Powers: The forum consults with Regional States and listens to their views regarding the enforcement of Federal Government powers and responsibilities that might affect regional competence.
- Resolution of Cross-Sectoral Issues: It carries out consultations on cross-sectoral issues that have not been resolved at the sectoral executive forums, providing follow-up and support to ensure their resolution.
- Service Delivery and Cost-Sharing: Discussions are held on the performance of institutions rendering services across the nation, and on cost-sharing for federal government functions delegated to regional states, providing instructions accordingly.
- Decision-Making: The forum discusses, consults, reaches consensus, and passes crucial decisions on policy implementation and strategic issues related to inter-governmental relations.
- Gender Mainstreaming: It is mandated to follow up on gender mainstreaming in all inter-governmental relations, ensuring that gender considerations are integrated into all discussions and decisions.
- Dispute Resolution: Where an agenda item for discussion is not resolved by consensus or negotiation, it will obtain its final determination by a three-fourth vote of the members present at the meeting.