Ethiopia’s Innovation Minister Directs SSGI to Reset Strategy Around National Development Priorities

Ethiopia’s Minister of Innovation and Technology, Frehiwot Tamru, has directed the Space Science and Geospatial Institute (SSGI) to realign its mandate, vision and next five-year strategic plan with the country’s national development priorities, following an assessment visit to the institute. Among the specific directives, the Minister instructed SSGI to expand its digital addressing system nationwide, build an integrated national geospatial information infrastructure, and coordinate a comprehensive study on a national communications satellite.

The Minister was accompanied by the heads of institutions accountable to the Ministry of Innovation and Technology (MInT). The visit assessed SSGI’s current status, capacity and performance against its national mandate, with the stated purpose of building an evidence-based foundation for the institute’s next five-year strategic plan.

In addition, the visit follows the Minister’s directive to the six institutions under the Ministry to assess their operational status, and her commitment to visit each of them. Frehiwot, who led Ethio Telecom as Chief Executive Officer from 2018, was appointed Minister of Innovation and Technology in October 2026 as part of a cabinet reshuffle for Ethiopia’s new five-year government term. She also continues to serve as Chairperson of the Ethio Telecom board.

SSGI Presents Five-Year Progress and Challenges

At a meeting with the institute’s management and staff, SSGI Director General Dr Abdisa Yilma presented an overview of the institute’s current position. The presentation covered SSGI’s organisational structure, human resources and professional capabilities, assets and infrastructure, ongoing projects, progress over the past five years, and the challenges it has encountered.

The heads of MinT’s affiliated institutions commented on the presentation and expressed willingness to support the assessment, so that the gaps it identifies are addressed in the strategic plan.

Furthermore, the Minister commended SSGI’s management for improving the working environment, organising offices and infrastructure, and preparing for the institute’s next phase. She noted, however, that most of these initiatives are still ongoing and must translate into tangible, measurable outcomes that contribute to national development and improve citizens’ lives.

Mandate, Vision and Strategic Alignment

The Minister directed SSGI to clearly define the powers and responsibilities assigned to it under its establishing regulation, and to assess its current performance against them. She also instructed the institute to review whether its vision, mission and values align with Ethiopia’s national vision and values, particularly the Grand Strategy, and to adjust them where necessary.

She added that SSGI’s vision should be revised to state clearly the position Ethiopia aims to attain in the space science and geospatial sector and its wider ecosystem.

The institute was also directed to identify and prioritise major strategic projects that address national challenges, accelerate digital transformation and contribute measurably to national development.

National Geospatial Infrastructure and Digital Addressing

The Minister highlighted the need for an integrated national geospatial information infrastructure that allows federal and regional institutions to make evidence-based decisions. She said the infrastructure should deliver tangible benefits in agriculture, urban development, infrastructure planning and smart city development.

She also directed that the digital addressing system, currently introduced in selected cities, be expanded nationwide through coordinated engagement with relevant stakeholders. The Minister described the system as an essential foundation for e-commerce and other digital services, and called for stronger institutional and legal frameworks to enable its nationwide adoption.

Participants at the meeting also raised institutional and legal implementation gaps in jointly developing, sharing and using national geospatial information. The Minister instructed SSGI to review existing policies, proclamations, regulations and directives to determine how far they support its mandate, and to identify necessary amendments. The Ministry committed to supporting and facilitating the processes involved.

Communications Satellite Study

The meeting noted that, despite Ethiopia’s interest in developing its own communications satellite, it has not yet prepared a comprehensive study. SSGI was directed to identify and coordinate the relevant stakeholders and conduct that study, with its findings feeding into the next five-year strategic plan.

Requirements for the Next Strategic Plan

The Minister set four requirements for SSGI’s next strategic plan. It should:

• Align with the Grand Strategy and national development directions;
• Be supported by the necessary legal frameworks;
• Establish clear responsibilities and coordinated implementation arrangements; and
• Focus on measurable national outcomes that directly benefit the public.

The Minister and the visiting delegation also toured SSGI’s ongoing activities, projects and working environment.