Federal Monitoring and Evaluation Team Reviews Ethiopian Food and Drug Authority’s Progress
On April 22, 2024, a monitoring and evaluation team from various federal institutions visited the Ethiopian Food and Drug Authority (EFDA) to assess its on-going activities. The visit was led by Dr. Kassahun Tesfaye, who outlined the primary objective of the evaluation: to determine the extent to which directives issued by Prime Minister Dr. Abiy Ahmed have been implemented.
Dr. Kasahun emphasized that, beyond regular assessments, the team sought to incorporate insights from independent federal institutions to identify best practices and evaluate their scalability. The goal was also to uncover challenges and explore strategic solutions. He highlighted the importance of ensuring that reports are accurate and verifiable, as discrepancies—whether intentional or accidental—can impact the integrity of the data. The mission of the monitoring and evaluation team was to validate these reports with appropriate documentation.
Heran Gerba, the Director General of EFDA, expressed gratitude to the monitoring and evaluation team for their visit, describing it as a significant opportunity for the institution. Heran provided a detailed presentation on the authority’s five-year transformation plan and its achievements, including enhancements to the legal framework that have elevated EFDA to an internationally recognized supervisory body.
Heran also underscored the essential support needed from the government to bolster the institution with manpower, materials, and training. This support is crucial for realizing the vision of transforming EFDA into a center of excellence for health products control in Africa within the next decade. The team was briefed on the integrated electronic control system and toured various laboratories at the headquarters that have received international recognition.
