The Role of Developmental State in the Provision of Basic Social Services in Ethiopia

Abstract

Agriculture is the backbone of the Ethiopian economy; it employs over 80% of the population, contributes high rate for the GDP and export sector in the economy of a country. Accordingly, the Agricultural Development-Led Industrialization (ADLI) is the main long-term development strategy adopted by government to transform smallholder agriculture (rural economy) and embark on a process of industrialization. The objective of this paper is to analyse the role of a developmental state paradigm in Ethiopia in providing basic social services such as health, education and agricultural extension services based on secondary data. After the nation adopted a developmental state paradigm, the state is able to design and articulate its long-term socioeconomic development strategies and programmes. The development policies and strategies have geared towards the priority agenda of reducing multidimensional poverty via strengthen the provision of basic social services. As a result, the developmental state in Ethiopia played a crucial role in the economy via providing basic social services, investing in pro-poor and pro-growth economic sectors, promoting equal resource distribution and improves the well-being of the nation.

Key words: Basic social services, Development, Developmental state, Ethiopia, Extension service