Ethiopia’s long-awaited national database, designed to centralize fragmented data management systems across key sectors, is expected to become operational within the next two years, Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed (PhD) announced during a national consultation with media leaders and professionals.
The project, referred to as the National Cloud, will integrate information from agriculture, trade and investment, media, and other sectors into a single digital hub. According to Abiy, the initiative aims to resolve persistent challenges caused by disorganized data systems, which have historically hindered access to structured information and slowed sectoral growth.
“Since the role of a data management system in a country’s growth is significant, the government is viewing this sector with great focus,” Abiy said. ” We are making a high level of effort to ensure the database under construction is completed and begins service soon.”
The National Cloud is being developed under the framework of Ethiopia’s Digital 2030 Strategy. It will store information from both government institutions and the private sector, enabling coordinated data handling and supporting evidence-based economic management.
Ethiopia has historically lacked a unified digital identity and data infrastructure, relying on disparate paper-based and siloed electronic records across government ministries, regional administrations, and private enterprises.
This fragmentation has led to inefficiencies in service delivery, policy planning, and resource allocation. Previous efforts to create a centralized population registry and civil registration system have faced technical and administrative hurdles.
Officials note that the absence of a centralized data system has increasingly become a pressing issue as demand for reliable information rises at the national level. The new database is expected to address these gaps by linking disparate records and improving access for policymakers, businesses, and citizens.
During the consultation, Abiy reaffirmed his commitment to completing the project on schedule, viewing organized data infrastructure as essential to accelerating national development.
The National Cloud project emerges as part of a broader push to modernize public services, align with continental digital transformation goals under the African Union’s Agenda 2063, and support economic reforms requiring reliable, real-time data.
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