Competency Certification For ICT Professionals, ICT Service Providers and ICT Trainers

Ethiopian Information and Communication Technology Development Agency
Competency Certification for ICT Professionals, ICT Service

Providers and ICT Trainers
Main Report
March 2007
and
Partners Consultancy and
Information Services CUSTOR Computing
PLC
Contents
Acronyms
Acknowledgement
1 Introduction 1
2 Objective and Method of Study 3
3 Purpose and Intent of the ICT Certification Program 4
4 Study Background 5
5 ICT Industry in Ethiopia 9
6 Review of International Experience in Classification of ICT Occupations 14
7 Classification of ICT Occupations in Ethiopia 21
8 Competency Certification Experiences 23
9 Proposed Certificate Designations and Requirements 30
10 Programme Implementation and Sustainability 44
List of Figures, Tables and Annexes
Figures
Figure 1 Components of the ICT4D Action Plan 8

Figure 2 Proposed Organization of the Competency Certification Team 45
Figure 3 Schedule of Activities 49
Tables
Table 1 Selected ICT Indicators, 2004 10

Table 2 ICT Firms Business Operations 11
Table 3 ICT human resource base by occupational level in ICT firms contacted 12
Table 4 Number of People trained by firms engaged in short-term ICT education/training 12
(1998/99 - 2000/01)
Table 5 Institutions issuing of licenses and permits to ICT firms 13
Table 6 ISCO-88 major groups and skill level and ISCED Categories 15
Table 7 ICSO-88 ICT Occupational Classifications, Qualifications and Tasks Performed 16
Table 8 European ICT Work Areas and Fields of Activity 18
Table 9 Competency Certificates Issued by ESTC 23
Table 10 Minimum Educational Qualification and Experience Requirements for 31
Certification of ICT Professionals, Associate Professionals and Technicians
Table 11 Criteria for Competency Certification of ICT professionals, associate 34
professionals and technicians
Table 12 Criteria for Certificate Grading 35
Table 13 ICT Service Profiles and Requirements for Competency Certification 36
Table 14 ICT Training Providers‟ Profiles and Requirements for Competency Certification 41
Table 15 Proposed Staffing of the Competency Certification Team 44
Table 16 16Estimates of Thee Year Budget for ICT Competency Certification Office 46
Annexes
Annex 1 Guideline for Competency Certification of ICT Professionals, Associate Professionals

and Technicians
Annex 2 Guideline for Competency Certification of ICT Service Providers
Annex 3 Guideline for Competency Certification of ICT Trainers
Acronyms
ADLI Agricultural development Led Industrialization

ANZSCO Australia and New Zealand Standard Classicisation of Occupations
CC Competency Certification
EEA Ethiopian Electric Agency
EICTDA Ethiopian Information and Communication technology Development Agency
EITPA Ethiopian Information Technology Professional Association
ESTC Ethiopian Science and Technology Commission
ETC Ethiopian Telecommunications Corporation
EMI Ethiopian Management Institute
FCSA Federal Civil Service Agency
GoE Government of Ethiopia
ICT Information and Communication technology
ICT4D Information and Communication technology for Development
ILO International Labour Organization
ISCED International Standard Classicisation of Education
ISCO International Standard Classification of Occupations
MOFED Ministry of Finance and Economic Development
MOJ Ministry of Justice
MOWUD Ministry of Works and Urban development
PSCAP Public Sector Capacity Building Programme
SOC/USA Standard Occupational Classification/United States of America
SSA Sub Saharan African
TVET Technical and Vocational Education and Training
UNDP United Nations Development Programme
Acknowledgement
These sets of ICT Competency Certification Guidelines and reports are the product of a series of
consultations with a number of experts from different organizations. We are grateful to all those
who participated in the expert meetings and workshop. We appreciate the efforts made by all the
expert meetings and workshop participants in improving the guidelines and reports.
Our special thanks to the following:
To Mr. Debretsion G.Michael, Director General, Ethiopian Information and Communication

Technology Development Agency for critical and encouraging comments and suggestions.
To Mr. Teshome Worku, Project Manager and Standardization and Regulatory Department Head,
EICTDA, and Mr. Minda Feleke, Mr. Sultan Dula and Mr. Yigezu Gemechu in the same
department for useful comments, organizing expert consultation meetings, availing relevant
documents, and their friendly working relations.
1 Introduction
Information and Communication Technology (ICT) has emerged as the main driver of
development. ICT encompasses the broad fields of data/information processing and
communications by means of computer and telecommunication techniques.
Cognizant of ICT as enablers of broad-based social and economic development, the

Government of Ethiopia (GoE) is taking measures to address major ICT challenges in the
Country, which include poor infrastructure, inadequate skilled workforce and high
telecommunication costs, and to enhance its growth, among other things, by encouraging
investment in the sector with focus on infrastructure and human resources development.
The priority areas of the National ICT Policy are building up of telecommunications
infrastructure; establishment of reliable, secure and affordable national information network;
provision of leased line for value added service network and public information gateways;
sectoral and institutional in-house network capacity building; development of ICT human
resource; contents applications development; diffusion and dissemination of ICT services and
products; ensuring data security; setting of standards; and promotion of research and
development in ICT.
The measures taken by the GoE include formulation of the national ICT4D policy as a
framework for the facilitating the Country‟s ICT-led socio-economic development
programme. The objectives of the ICT4D policy framework are to:
 promote human resource development;

 facilitate public administration and service delivery, including the introduction of
electronic government (e-government) and governance;
 promote ICT in educational development at all levels of the educational system;
 use ICT for the development of sectors such as agriculture, health, industry and
trade;
 develop infrastructure including telecommunications and physical infrastructure;
 facilitate private sector development including electronic commerce (e-
commerce), electronic trade (e-trade) and foreign direct investment;
 promote research and development in ICT; and
 establish enabling legal and regulatory framework for smooth development of the
ICT sector.
In order to achieve these policy objectives, the GoE, with the assistance of the United Nations
Development Programme (UNDP), has formulated a well-articulated, comprehensive and
detailed ICT4D action plan for the period 2006 to 20101.
The Government recognizes that an enabling policy and regulatory environment is a necessary
condition for a well-functioning, competitive growth of the ICT markets. Any gaps in
regulatory framework are likely to seriously constrain the efficiency and development of the
ICT industry. It is on this background that the Ethiopian Information and Communication
Development Agency (EICTDA), in line with the powers vested to it by Proclamation No.
1 The Federal Republic of Ethiopia, Ministry of Capacity Building, The National ICT for Development
(ICT4D) Five Years, Action Plan for Ethiopia [2006 – 2010], Draft (Version 4.02), May 2006.
Competency Certification for ICT Professionals, ICT Service Providers and ICT Trainers – EICTDA- Main Report 1
360/20032, has initiated a National ICT Competency Certification Programme. The
Programme aims to lay the basis for a well-functioning ICT market and is expected to enhance
the efficient and effective development and utilizations of ICT in the Country. The study
was undertaken under a consultancy service agreement entered into between the Ethiopian
Information and Communication Technologies Development Agency and Partners
Consultancy and Information Services in association with CUSTOR Computing PLC.
Structure of the Report
The final Study reports are organized into two volumes. This Volume I, Main Report,
summarizes the main findings and recommendations and is structured as follows. The
objective and method of the study are outlined in section 2.The purpose and intents of the
certification programme are outlined in section 3. Then Section 4 briefly discusses the study
background, including country context, national policies and strategies, a review of the ICT
sector in Ethiopia and national ICT policies, strategies and programs and action plans. This is
followed a review of international experiences in classification of ICT occupations in Section
5. Section 6 describes classification of ICT occupations in Ethiopia. This is followed by a
review of previous ICT competency certification experiences by the Ethiopian Science and
Technology Agency as well as the experiences of other organizations in Ethiopia in Section 7.
Section 8 outlined the proposed certification designations for ICT Professionals, ICT Service
Providers and ICT Trainers and the requirements for certification thereof. Finally section 9,
outlines the proposed implementation arrangement and human and financial resources
requirements. The Competency Certification guidelines are presented in annexes 1 to 3.
The Second Volume, Working Document, details the study methodologies, data and
information collected.
2
The EICTDA is mandated by Proclamation No. 360/2003 to formulate ICT policy and strategy, initiate
laws, formulate codes and directives, issue standards, facilitate the building of national ICT and design
ICT education and training programmes, coordinate and support ICT Research and Development.
2 Objective and Method of Study
2.1 Objective of the Study
The overall objective of this study is to develop guidelines for competency certification of
ICT professionals, service providers and trainers.
2.2 Study Approach and Methodology
The Study utilized a number of methodologies. These included extensive review of

international experiences in competency certification for ICT professional, service
providers, and trainers; classification of ICT career clusters and occupations, services and
training areas; relevant ICT policy and regulatory documents; review of previous work on
ICT competency certification by the Ethiopian Science and Technology Agency as well as
experiences of other organizations; and expert consultation meetings and discussions in a
workshop.
3 Purpose and Intent of the Certification Programme
According to the Computing Technology Industry Association (CompTIA), “certification is
used within the Information Communications Technology (ICT) industry to state that an
individual has reached the required level of knowledge or skill to be competent in managing
the implementation of a product, service or system.”
There are three categories of ICT certifications: (i) vendor-developed certifications, (ii)
vendor-neutral certifications, and (iii) country-developed certifications. The envisaged
national ICT competency certification programme falls on the latter category of certifications.
An enabling policy and legal and regulatory environment is critical for rapid, healthy growth
of the ICT industry. Conducive regulatory framework is a necessary condition for a well-
functioning, competitive ICT market and any gaps thereof are likely to seriously undermine
the efficiency and development of the ICT industry.
The National ICT Competency Certification Programme aims to fill the gap in ICT legal and
regulatory framework and is expected to enhance the efficient and effective development and
utilizations of ICT in the Country. More specifically, the Programme is intended, among other
things, to:
a) provide some assurance to the general public that a holder of an ICT competency
certificate is appropriately qualified to provide ICT services, and ICT training;
b) assist the public by providing a means by which to identify those who have met the
national certification standards;
c) provide job seekers identifiable career paths, skill sets and credentials that are
nationally recognized;
d) encourage private sector investment in ICT Service provision and ICT Training;
e) create appropriate employment and self-employment opportunities for certified
ICT workers;
f) promote higher level of ICT services and ICT Training services and ensure that
ICT services and training programmes meet national ICT standards;
g) ensure that ICT workers receive appropriate and up-to-date training;
h) contribute to the refinement of the ICT educational system;
i) facilitate cost-effective attainment of competent ICT workers in a shorter period of
time; and
j) maximize efficiency in recruiting and hiring of ICT workers; ICT service
providers, and ICT trainers.
The envisaged ICT competency certification programme shall be applicable to ICT

Professionals, Associate Professionals, and Technicians, ICT Service providers, and ICT
Training providers that are outside the regulation and supervision of the Ministry education
and the Regional and City Administration Education Bureaus.
4 Study Background
4.1 Country Context
With a total area of 1.14 million square kilometers and a population of 71.1 million in 20043,
Ethiopia stands as the ninth largest in size and the third most populous country in Africa.
Overall population density is 62 persons per square kilometer. Approximately 16 percent of the
Country's population resides in urban areas.
Ethiopia, with a per capita income of US$ 97 in 20034, is among the poorest countries in the
world. This is reflected in low per capita income, very poor social indicators, poor conditions of
the productive sectors, poorly developed infrastructure, and degraded environment. The
Country‟s economy is based predominantly on rain-fed subsistence agriculture. The Gross
Domestic Product (GDP) at market prices in 2003 was close to US$6.7 billion ETB5. The
agricultural sector contributed 43 percent; the manufacturing industry, including small-scale and
handicrafts, 12 percent and service sector about and 45 percent to GDP.
The Government‟s Sustainable Development and Poverty Reduction Programme (SDPRP)

describe poverty in Ethiopia as “widespread and multi-faceted”. Malnutrition and under
nourishment are immense both in rural and urban areas. A survey on household income,
consumption and expenditure indicated that in 1999/2000 about 45 percent of the population
was below the poverty line measured in terms of food consumption set at a minimum nutrition
requirement of 2,200 calories per adult per day. With a national population of around 71
million, these proportions imply that 32 million are below poverty line. The household income,
consumption and expenditure survey of the 1999/2000 also found that the per capita income
was US$167, and that it was US$217 for the urban areas and $159 for the rural areas. It was
found that about 60 percent of household income was spent on food, and that the average daily
intake per adult was equivalent to 1,954 calories.
National Policies and Priorities
Overall Long-term Development Strategy
Ethiopia has adopted a long-term development strategy of Agricultural Development-Led

Industrialization (ADLI). The Strategy envisions a rapid transformation of the previously
centrally planned economy into a market-based and private sector-driven. More specifically, the
Strategy hinges on the smallholder agriculture as the primary stimulus to generate employment
and income, reduce poverty, promote industrialization and ensure a dynamic and self-sustaining
growth. The rationale for the ADLI strategy lies on the agrarian nature of the economy and for
its high potential for growth with abundant unemployed factor endowments of land and labour.
Poverty Reduction
Poverty reduction is at the top of Government‟s development agenda. The strategies to reduce
poverty, as outlined in the Sustainable Development and Poverty Reduction Programme
(SDPRP), are ensuring macro-economic stability, promoting market liberalization, and
increasing social sector spending. Specific strategies include development programmes in
3
Central Statistical Agency, Statistical Abstract, 2005.
4
UNDP, Human Development Report, 2005.
5
ibid
agriculture, education, health and infrastructure.
Stimulating Economic Growth
The Government recognizes that substantial and sustained progress in poverty alleviation can
only come about with faster and sustained economic growth. Ethiopia‟s overall economic
growth performance has been relatively robust during the period 2003/04-2004/05growing at a
rate of about 11 percent per year. However, the country needs faster and sustained growth in
per capita income for rapid poverty reduction and significant improvement in the quality of life.
Private Sector Development
The private sector is expected to play a leading role in the economic and social development of
the Country. However, the Country is yet to attract significant private investment. Private sector
investment, particularly foreign capital, is critically dependent on the Government‟s ability to
address social and economic infrastructure constraints, create a stable macroeconomic
environment, develop efficient sources of capital for investment, and hasten the pace of sector
reforms and privatization of public enterprises.
Human Development
In recent years, there have been improvements in human development in several areas,
including raising school enrolment and improving health and sanitation and water supply
services. Despite these positive developments, Ethiopia‟s human development index continues
to be lower than that of most Sub Saharan African countries. The United Nations Development
Program‟s Human Development Report of 2005 ranks Ethiopia 170th out of 175 countries in
Human Development Index (HDI)6. Progress in human development needs to be accelerated for
rapid and sustained poverty reduction.
Strengthening Governance
It is now widely recognized that strengthening governance is a pre-requisite for creating an

enabling environment for economic and social development. While progress has been made in
some areas, the Government realizes that further improvement is needed in several aspects of
governance and in recognition of serious capacity gaps in the Country; the Government has
issued a National Capacity Building Policy and Strategy in 1998. The capacity building policies
and strategies are streamlined into the Government‟s overall development strategy of
Agricultural Development-Led Industrialization (ADLI).
The Government is implementing a Public Sector Capacity Building Programme (PSCAP) to

operationalize the Capacity Building Policies in the public sector. The PSCAP covers the
following six sub-programmes:
a) Civil Service Reform Programme;

b) District-level Decentralized Service Delivery;
c) Information and Communications Technologies;
d) Justice System Reform;
e) Tax Reform; and
f) Urban Management.
6
ibid
The Civil Service Reform Programme (CSRP), a component of the PSCAP, aims at creating an
„enabling environment which will allow the civil service to function effectively and efficiently.‟
It focuses on the development and implementation of appropriate legal and regulatory
frameworks, and institutional and human resources as well as the introduction of improved
management systems and best practices.
4.2 ICT Policies and Programmes
Recognizing the key role of the information and communication technologies in the
socioeconomic development of the country, the Government is taking measures to address
major ICT challenges, which include poor infrastructure, inadequate skilled workforce and
high telecommunication costs, and to enhance its growth, among other things, by encouraging
investment in the sector with focus on infrastructure and human resources development.
The Government is already implementing a number of programmes and recently, with the
assistance of the UNDP had developed ICT4D policy as a framework for the facilitating
Ethiopia‟s ICT-led socio-economic development. The objectives of the policy are to:
a) promote human resource development;

b) facilitate public administration and service delivery, including the introduction of
electronic government (e-government) and governance;
c) promote ICT in educational development at all levels of the educational system;
d) use ICT for the development of sectors such as agriculture, health, industry and
trade;
e) develop infrastructure including telecommunications and physical infrastructure;
f) facilitate private sector development including electronic commerce (e-
commerce), electronic trade (e-trade) and foreign direct investment;
g) promote research and development in ICT; and
h) establish enabling legal and regulatory framework for smooth development of the
ICT sector.
In order to achieve these policy objectives, the Government has formulated a well-
articulated, comprehensive and ambitious ICT4D action plan for the period 2006 to 2010.
The Plan consolidates the under implementation as well as new programmes and is
organized in terms of a number of broad policy focus areas or pillars, namely:
a) facilitating government administration and service delivery, including the

promotion of electronic government and governance initiatives;
b) promoting human resource development including the implementation of the
initiatives identified under the public sector capacity development programme
(PSCAP);
c) promoting ICTs in education targeting all levels of the educational system from
primary to university level;
d) supporting the development of the private sector including promoting the
development of electronic commerce;
e) promoting the use of ICTs to support sectoral development, including sectors like:
agriculture, health,
f) and access provision;
g) promoting infrastructure development including physical and the
telecommunications and communications infrastructure;
h) promoting research and development (R&D)
i) facilitating foreign direct investment (FDI) drive in ICTs;
j) creating the necessary legal and regulatory environment to support the
development, deployment and exploitation of ICTs within the economy and
society; and
k) addressing national security and law and order issues to support and promote ICTs
exploitation in the country.
As shown in Figure 1, the Plan is made up of five broad implementation strategies (e-
government, e-commerce and ICT-in-Education e-agriculture and e-health) and their
corresponding action plans; two Sectoral development sub-plans (services and industry, and
ICT-in-Community sub- plans); three capacity and resource development sub plans
(infrastructure, human resources and R&D) and three sub-plans aimed at facilitating the
enabling environment; --- this includes: FDI drive in ICTs sub plan, legal, regulatory and
institutional development sub-plan and national security and law and order sub-plan.
Figure 1- Components of the ICT4D Action Plan
5 ICT Industry in Ethiopia
5.1 The ICT Sector in Ethiopia
The ICT sector in Ethiopia is at an embryonic stage. As can be observed from Table 1, the ICT
sector performance in Ethiopia in 2004 in terms of access, quality, affordability, institutional
efficiency and sustainability was significantly lower than the average for Sub Saharan African
countries. For example, the number of telephone main lines per 1,000 people in Ethiopia was 7
against 17 in SSA. Similarly, in Ethiopia merely one person per 1,000 people used internet in
contrast to 15 internet users in SSA. The same holds true in terms of the availability of personal
computers. In Ethiopia there were only 2 personal computers for 1,000 people compared to 12
in SSA.
An ICT penetration and usage baseline study conducted in 20027 indicated that the industry is
dominated by the parastatal Ethiopian Telecommunications Corporation (ETC). The rest of the
ICT industry comprises small private firms that are engaged in the acquisition, production and
distribution of ICTs (computer hardware and software, communications hardware and
software, etc), training and consultancy services, and other ICT-based services).
The baseline Study also found that the majority (79 percent) of firms were engaged in ICT
education and training. A total of 55 percent were engaged in ICT consultancies, while 60 and
66 percent offered computer networking, and ICT hardware maintenance and support services,
respectively. ICT hardware and software sales were found to be the firm‟s major areas of
operations. Among Internet services, browsing, web design and email services were provided
by 24 to 34 percent of the firms.
7
Mulat Demeke and Tadesse Biru (2002), ICT Penetration and Usage in Ethiopia: Baseline Study, The
Scan-ICT Project, October 2002.
Table 1
Selected ICT Indicators, 2004
Ethiopia SSA Region
Economic and social context
Population, total (millions) 70 719
Urban population (% of total population) 16 37
Poverty (% of total population below US$1 per day) _ 46.4
GNI per capita, Atlas method (current US$) 110 600
GDP growth, 1995-2000 and 2000-4 (%) 3.7 3.9
Adult literacy rate (% ages 15 and over 42 59
Primary, secondary, tertiary school enrollment (% gross) 38 52
ICT sector structure

Separate telecommunications regulator Yes
Status of main fixed-line operator public
Level of competition: international long distance M
Level of competition: Mobile M
Level of competition: Internet service provider M
Government prioritization of ICT (scale 1-7) 3.7 4.4
ICT sector performance

Access
Telephone main lines (per 1,000 people) 7 17
International voice traffic (minutes per persons) _ _
Mobile subscribers (per 1,000 people) 3 86
Population covered by mobile telephony (%) _ _
Internet users (per 1,000 people) 1 15
Personal computers (per 1,000 people) 2 12
Households with television (%) 2 15
Quality
Telephone faults (per 100 main lines per year) 100 _
Broadband subscribers (per 1,000 people) 0 0.1
International Internet bandwidth (bits per season) 0 4
Affordability
Price basket for fixed line (US$ per month, residential) 2.9 8.5
Price basket for mobile (US$ per month) 3.4 13.5
Price basket for Internet (US$ per month) 27.4 54.8
Price of call to United States (US$ per 3 minutes) 7.05 2.43
Institutional efficiency and sustainability

Total telecommunications revenue (% of GDP) 1.7 5
Total telephone subscribers per employee 65 144
Total telecommunications investment (% of revenue) 27.8 27.8
ICT applications
ICT expenditure (% of GDP) _ _
E-government readiness index (scale 0-1) 0.03 0.11
Secure Internet servers (per 1 million people) 0 1.9
Schools connected to the internet (%) 1 _
Table 2
ICT Firms Business Operations (Multiple responses)
Addis Ababa Regional Towns Total
Firms Responding Firms Responding Responding
ICT Sub-sectors Number Percent Number Percent Percent
1) Telecommunications 7 15.9 0 0 11.3
2) ICT education/training 34 77.3 15 83.3 79.0
3) ICT Services
a) Information collection 6 13.3 2 11.1 12.9
b) Information processing 9 20.5 4 22.2
20.9
and dissemination services
c) ICT professional services 28 63.6 6 33.3
54.8
(consultancy)
d) Computer networking 29 65.9 8 44.4 59.7
e) ICT hardware maintenance 30 68.2 11 61.1
66.1
& support services
4) Hardware assembly 21 47.7 5 27.8 41.9
5) Internet Services
a) Web Hosting 6 13.6 1 5.6 11.3
b) Web Design 14 31.8 1 5.6 24.2
c) e-mail 13 29.5 8 44.4 33.9
d) Telephony 3 6.8 0 0 4.8
e) e-fax 3 6.8 3 16.7 9.7
f) Browsing 10 22.7 5 27.8 24.2
6) e-commerce
a) Business to business 10 22.7 1 5.6 17.7
b) Business to consumers 7 15.9 0 0 11.3
7) Sales
a) ICT software 28 63.6 12 66.7 64.5
b) ICT hardware 26 59.1 12 66.7 61.3
c) Telecommunication 15 34.1 0 0
24.2
equipment
d) Other accessories 22 50.0 7 38.9 46.8
8) ICT software development 19 43.2 7 38.9 41.9
9) Manufacturing
a) Semiconductors 1 2.3 1 5.6 3.2
b) EDP (computer hardware)
and data communication 0 0 1 5.6 1.6
equipment
c) Computer software 10 22.7 3 16.7
21.0
(Packaged Software)
d) Office equipment
(electronic typewriters,
cash registers, calculators, 4 9.1 1 5.6 8.1
accounting machines and
photocopiers)
e) Telecommunication
1 2.3 0 0 1.6
equipment
f) Other components (colour
TV tubes, other display
tubes, capacitors, resistors,
connectors, plugs and 2 5.1 2 11.1 6.5
sockets, electrical circuits,
switches, transformers,
coils, etc)
Source: Mulat Demeke and Tadesse Biru
About 80 percent of employees at the firms were ICT professionals. ICT trainers/lecturers,
system or hardware engineers and ICT project managers account for just over half of the ICT
professionals, followed by software engineers, programmers, computer operators and technical
analysts as shown the table below.
Table 3
ICT human resource base by occupational level in ICT firms contacted
Total Number of employees
Occupation Addis Ababa Regional Towns
Project Manager/IT Manager 40 9
IT Consultant/IT Advisor 17 -
Software Engineer 42 7
Database Administrator 6 1
Systems Engineer/Hardware Engineer 68 5
Systems Analyst/Business Analyst 8 1
Technical Analyst/Network Technician 35 3
IT Trainer/Lecturer 137 27
Programmer 38 3
Technician/Lab Assistant 24 4
Webmaster/WebPages Designer 23 1
Graphic Designer 8 2
Multimedia developer 5 -
Computer Operator/Data entry clerk 37 6
Administrative support staff (non-ICT
127 10
staff)
Total 615 79
ICT firms engaged in short-term ICT education have trained 16,715 persons. As shown in
Table 4, as is expected the dominant areas of trainings were introduction to computers and
common application packages, computer maintenance and troubleshooting (75%),
followed by networking (3.2%).
Table 4
Number of People trained by firms engaged in short-term ICT education/training (1998/99 - 2000/01
Addis Regional Total
Training areas Ababa Towns Number Percent
1. Introduction to computer and common
application packages (Word, Excel, Access, etc) 11,867 2,397 14,264 85.3
2. Microsoft certified courses 188 - 188 1.1
3. Computer maintenance and trouble shooting 1,129 119 1248 7.5
4. Networking 519 15 534 3.2
5. Web Publishing 157 - 157 0.9
6. Computerized accounting 26 - 26 0.2
7. Cisco certification training 49 - 49 0.3
8. Solaris 65 - 65 0.4
9. Database management system 58 - 58 0.3
10. Programming 80 - 80 0.5
11. Visual basic 28 18 46 0.3
Total 14,166 2,549 16,715 100
5.2 Licensing and Permits for ICT Firms
A number of institutions are involved in licensing and issuing permits for ICT firms. The
Ethiopian Telecommunications Agency (ETA) was established in 1996 to ensure that
telecommunications services are operated in a manner that contributes to the country's
economic and social development. Its tasks included creating conducive atmosphere for
private investment in the telecom sector as well as setting standards for services and types of
communications equipment. A license from the Agency is required. The ETA also is
responsible for managing and authorising the use of broadcast frequencies allocated to
Ethiopia. With no private-sector participation, the Agency is primarily engaged in regulating
the Ethiopian Telecommunications Corporation. Similarly, established in 1999, the Ethiopian
Broadcasting Agency is entrusted with the task of controlling prohibited and illegal
transmissions.
The baseline survey found that three major institutions were involved in issuing licenses and
permits for ICT firms ICT firms. These are the Ministry of Trade and Industry, Regional
Trade and Industry Bureaus, and Regional Education Bureaus.
The amount of registered capital and type of activities performed also determine the institution
from which the license or permit is obtained, but some permits may be routinely ignored.
Investors with relatively large amounts of capital investment (about US$29,000 for local
investors and US$500,000 for foreign investors) need to secure investment permits from the
Investment Authority (EIA) or regional investment bureaus. An investment permit from EIA
enables the holder to benefit from investment incentives – e.g., income tax relief and duty
relief – if the area of operation is in a priority sector or a relatively remote or inaccessible
place. Nonetheless, ICT has not been among priority sectors with the exception of duty
exemptions for spare parts of telecommunications equipment.
Table 5
Institutions issuing of licenses and permits to ICT firms
% Reporting issuing institutions
Issuing institutions Addis Ababa Regional Towns Total
Ministry of Trade & Industry 86.4 22.2 67.7
Ministry of Education 15.9 22.2 17.7
Regional Trade & Industry Bureau 36.4 77.8 48.4
Ethiopian Investment Authority 6.8 16.7 9.7
Other local government offices 4.5 11.1 6.5
Ethiopian Telecommunication Agency 6.8 5.6 6.5
Regional Education Bureau 20.5 33.3 24.2
Science and Technology Commission 15.9 16.7 16.2
Source: Mulat Demeke and Tadesse Biru, ICT Penetration and Usage in Ethiopia: Baseline Study, The Scan-
ICT Project, October 2002.
6 Review of International Experiences in Classification of ICT
Occupations
6.1 ILO- International Standard Classification of Occupations
One of ILO‟s tasks is to develop international standards and guidelines to help countries
improve their labour administration as well as the quality, reliability and comparability of their
labour statistics. To these ends, the ILO publishes international standard classification of
occupations (ISCO). In 1952, it published International Classification for Migration and
Employment Placement, with detailed descriptions of 1,727 occupations based on the national
classifications of eight industrialized countries. Later in 1958, an expanded version, ISCO-58,
was published. ISCO-58 contained detailed group definitions (major, minor and unit groups)
and descriptions of 1,345 occupational categories within each unit group. A revised version of
ISCO-58 was published in 1968 (as ISCO-68) with a revised structure and expanded number
of described occupational categories (1,506). The third and most recent version, ISCO-88, was
adopted in November 1987 and approved by the ILO‟s Governing Body in February 1988.
In ISCO-88 occupations are organised in a hierarchical framework. At the lowest level is the
unit of classification - a job - which is defined as “a set of tasks and duties which are (or can
assigned to be) carried out by one person”. Jobs are grouped into occupations according to the
degree of similarity in their constituent tasks and duties. The decisive factor for determining
how an occupation should be classified is the nature of the skills that are required to carry out
the tasks and duties of the corresponding jobs. Two dimensions of the skill concept are used in
the definition of ISCO-88 groups: Skill level, and skill-specialization.
Skill level is defined as a function of the range and complexity of tasks performed in an
occupation and is measured by:
a) the level or amount of formal education and training;

b) the amount of previous experience in a relevant occupation; and
c) the amount of on-the-job training required to confidently perform the set of
tasks required for that occupation.
Skill specialization is defined as a function of the following four factors:
a) Field of knowledge required;

b) Tools and equipment used;
c) Materials worked on; and
d) Goods and services produced or provided.
Skill level references are not made in the definitions of two major groups: Legislators, senior
officials and managers, and Armed forces, because other aspects of the type of work were
considered more important as similarity criteria, i.e. policy making and management
functions, and military duties, respectively. The other eight ISCO-88 major groups are
delineated with reference to four broad skill levels. These four ISCO skill levels have been
defined in terms of the educational levels and categories of the International Standard
Classification of Education (ISCED).
At the highest level (level 4) are professional occupations, middle and senior managerial
occupations and specialist managerial jobs. These are occupations which require a degree or
equivalent or a corresponding amount of work experience. At level 3 are jobs requiring high-
level vocational education and training, but not equivalent to a degree. Level 2 encompasses a
wide range of occupations, all of which require a good standard of general education. Most
occupations classified at this level will also provide further work-based training to new
entrants. Level 1 Occupations do not usually require formal educational qualifications but may
have an associated short period of formal experience-related training. Table 6 lists ISCO-88
major groups by skill levels and the corresponding ISCED categories.
Table 6
ISCO-88 major groups and skill level and ISCED Categories
ISCO skill
Major group level ISCED Categories
1 Legislators, senior - -
officials and managers
2 Professionals 4th ISCED categories 6 and 7, comprising education which
begins at the age of 17 or 18, lasts about three, four or
more year, and lead to a university or postgraduate
university degree or the equivalent.
3 Technicians and associate 3rd ISCED category 5 comprising education which begins at
professionals the age of 17 or 18, last about four year, and leads to an
award not equivalent to a first university degree.
4 Clerks 2nd ISCED categories 2 and 3, comprising the first and
5 Service workers and shop second stages of secondary education. The first stage
and market sales workers begins at the age of 11 or 12 and lasts about three years,
6 Skill agricultural and while the second stage begins at the age of 14 of 15 and
fishery workers also lasts about three years. A period of on-the-job
7 Craft and related workers training or experience may be necessary, sometimes
8 Plant and machine formalized in apprenticeships. This period may
operators and assemblers supplement the formal training or may replace it partly
or, in some cases, wholly.
9 Elementary occupations 1st ISCED category 1, comprising primary education which
generally begins at ages 5-7 years and lasts about 5 years.
0 Armed forces - -
The major tasks and qualification required for each of the occupational areas are also
summarized in Table 7
Table 7
ICSO-88 ICT Occupational Classifications, Qualifications and Tasks Performed
Major/Minor
No. Group Occupations/Related occupations Qualifications/ Tasks Preformed
1. Computing 1. Department Manager, Computing Computing Services Department Managers plan,
Services Services direct and co-ordinate the computing services of the
Department enterprise or organization, under the broad guidance
Managers of the directors and chief executives, and in
(1236) consultation with managers of other departments or
sections.
2. Computing 1. Computer systems designers and Computing professionals conduct research, plan,
Professionals analysts (2131) develop and improve computer- based information
(213) 2. Computer programmers (2132) systems, software and related concepts, develop
and principles and operational methods as well as
3. Other computing professionals maintain data dictionary and management systems of
(2139) databases to ensure integrity and security of data.
2.1 Computer Systems 1. Analyst Computer systems designers and analysts conduct
Designers and communications/computers research, improve or develop computing concepts and
Analysts 2. Analyst database/computers operational methods, and advise on or engage in their
(2131) 3. Analyst systems/computers practical application.
4. Database administrator
5. Designer, systems/computers
6. Engineer, computer systems
2.2 Computer 1. Programmer Computer programmers write, test and maintain
Programmers 2. Programmer, communications computer programs to meet the: needs of users of
(2132) 3. Programmer, database computer systems.
2.3 Other Computing 1. Engineer, computer applications This group consists of computing professionals which
Professionals are not usually classified as computing professionals.
(2139) For instance, here should be classified those who have
a general knowledge of both computer hardware and
software.
3. Computer 1. Computer assistants (3121) Computer associate professionals provide assistance
Associate to users of micro-computers and standard software
Professionals 2. Computer equipment operators packages, control and operate computers and
(312) (3122) peripheral equipment and carry out limited
programming tasks connected with the installation
and maintenance of computer hardware and software.
3.1 Computer 1. Assistant, Computer assistants provide assistance to users of
Assistants computer/programming micro-computers and standard software systems at
(3121) 2. Assistant, computer/systems installation and when problems occur, install new
analysis computer programs on particular hardware and
3. Assistant, computer/users' operating systems configurations, install new
services peripheral units and maintain and update existing
programs by making minor changes and adjustments
to them under the guidance of Computing
professionals.
6.2 Occupational Classification System in the USA
The Standard Occupational Classification system used in the United States of America (SOC,
2000) classified occupations based upon work performed, skills, education, training, and
credentials.
The SOC classifies occupations/worker at four levels of aggregation. These are: 1) major
group; 2) minor group; 3) broad occupation; and 4) detailed occupation. The SOC 2000
classifies Computer specialists into the following groups:
 Computer Specialists,
 Computer and Information Scientists, Research,
 Computer Programmers,
 Computer Software Engineers,
 Computer Support Specialists,
 Computer Systems Analysts,
 Database Administrators,
 Network and Computer Systems Administrators,
 Network Systems and Data Communications Analysts, and
 Miscellaneous Computer Specialists.
6.3 European Union ICT Skills and Qualifications Frameworks
The European Union variant of the International Standard Classification of Occupations

(ISCO-88), referred to as ISCO 88 (COM), was developed for harmonization of national
occupational classifications across the European Union. ISCO 88 (COM) represents the most
detailed level of ISCO-88. However, unlike ISCO-88, the European ICT Skills and
qualification frameworks define the following skill levels for ICT occupations:
 ICT Skill Level 6 in correspondence to qualification level 5M (second cycle degree or

Masters);
 ICT Skill Level 5 in correspondence to qualification level 5B (first cycle degree or
Bachelors);
 ICT Skill Level 4 in correspondence to qualification level 4 (advanced or specialist);
 ICT Skill Level 3 in correspondence to qualification level 3 (core or technician); and
 ICT Skill Level 2 in correspondence to qualification level 2 (basic or assistant).
The ISCO-88 (COM) defines a number of ICT areas. These are outlined in Table 8 Computing
Professionals could have ICT Skill level 6 (second cycle degree or Masters) or Skill level 5
(first cycle degree or Bachelors). ICT Technicians and associate professionals are grouped
under skill levels 4 (advanced or specialist) and Skill level 3 (core or technician). Finally,
Craft and related trades workers have skill levels 3 and 2 (basic or assistant).
The European ICT skills frameworks define a number of ICT work areas. These include ICT
Marketing, Consulting and Sales; ICT Business and Project Management; ICT Systems and
Application Development; ICT Integration and Administration; ICT Infrastructure and
installation; and ICT Support and Systems Service. Table 4 provides details of the fields of
activities under each of the ICT work areas.
Table 8
European ICT Work Areas and Fields of Activity
ICT Work Areas Field of Activity
ICT Marketing,  Market analysis and benchmarks
Consulting and Sales  Advertising and Consumer promotion
 Customer Consulting and Acquisition
 Requirement, Product and System Analysis
 Conception and Documentation of ICT solutions
 Quotation processing and contracting
ICT Business and Project  Project Resource Planning
Management  Selection and purchasing
 Order Coordination and Project Support
 Project Monitoring and Quality Assurance
 Customer Support and Training
 Project Finalizing and billing
ICT Systems and  Analysis and Consulting
Application Development  System and Work Planning
 Design and Conception
 Programming and Implementation
 Adaptation, Testing and Release
 Configuration Management and Documentation
ICT Integration and  Planning and Administration
Administration  System Integration and Configuration
 Integration and System Testing and Release
 Documentation and Delivery
 Presentation, Training and Instruction
 System Administration and Support
ICT Infrastructure and  Analysis and Consulting
installation  System and Work Planning
 Assembly and Installation
 Set-up, Integration and Configuration
 Check, Test and Documentation
 Delivery and Instruction
ICT Support and Systems  Source Management and System Adoption
Service  System Upgrading and Optimization
 System Administration and Control
 System Support Helpdesk and Training
 System Maintenance and Documentation
 Error Diagnosis and Troubleshooting
6.4 ICT Classification Structure for Australia and New Zealand
As is the case with ISCO 88, the Australia and New Zealand Standard Classification of
Occupations (ANZSCO) is a skill-based classification, using the concepts of both skill level
and skill specialization to group occupations together. However, five skill levels are defined
for ANZSCO.
ANZSCO offers more detailed classification of ICT Occupations than the ISCO-88.
Occupations under major group ICT managers include ICT Chief Information Officer and ICT
Project Manager. ICT Professionals have skill level 1 and include such occupations as:
 ICT Trainers,
 ICT Business Analysts,
 Systems Analysts,
 Multimedia Specialists,
 Web Developers,
 Analyst Programmers,
 Developer Programmers,
 Software Engineers,
 Database Administrators,
 ICT Security Specialists,
 Systems Administrators,
 Computer Network and Systems Engineers,
 Network Administrators,
 Network Analysts,
 ICT Quality Assurance Engineers,
 ICT Support Engineers, and
 ICT Systems Test Engineers.
6.5 Vendor neutral and Vender-specific certifications
A number of companies and organization offer a wide range of generic or vender neutral or
vender independent certifications worldwide. Some of the most popular include the following.
CompTIA is one of the most popular vendor neutral certification suppliers. They offer a wide
range of certifications and are widely accepted as pre-requisites for other types of training.
The A+ has been 'accredited' as part of a Technical Certificate and is often seen as the
benchmark for an entry level IT Professional.
Help Desk Institute (HDI) provides four levels of certification for those working as part of a
helpdesk team. These progress from Customer Support Specialist though Help Desk Analyst
and Help Desk Senior Analyst to Help Desk Manager.
There are also over 500 certifications from over 100 vendors. Some of the popular product
certifications are Apple, CISCO, Dell, Hewlett Packard (HP), Microsoft, Novell, Oracle, Sun,
3 com, and IBM. Some of certifications are briefly described below. Annex A provides a list
of vendor-specific certifications.
Apple - Apple offers in-depth certification programs designed to create a high level of
competency among Macintosh service technicians, help desk personnel, technical
coordinators, system administrators and Pro users. Includes a qualification suitable for
working those on Help Desks; Apple Certified Help Desk Specialist (ACHDS).
CISCO - Cisco Systems, Inc. is a worldwide leader in networking for the Internet. Cisco
Internet Protocol-based (IP) networking solutions are the foundation of these networks. There
are four tracks and CCNA certified professionals can install, configure, and operate LAN,
WAN, and dial access services for small networks (100 nodes or fewer) CCNP is a more
advanced qualification.
Dell - Dell have a training site that gives access to a wide range of on line training
programmes Dell - Training and also has a certification programme covering Servers,
Networks and Storage Networking.
Hewlett Packard (HP) - HP has a wide rage of certifications available under their Certified
Professional Program. Qualifications range from 'Platform Specialists' to 'Master Accredited
System Engineer'.
Microsoft - Microsoft has a comprehensive range of certifications covering both IT User and
IT professionals. Some of these qualifications have links to Technical Certificates and
delivery is available through commercial suppliers or under the Microsoft IT Academy
programme. The Academy Programme provides a range of IT User (Office Specialist) and IT
Professional certifications at Academic pricing. There is a Training Centre Locator Tool on
the website. Popular certifications include MCP, MCSA, MCSE, Office Specialist and MMI.
Novell - Well known for the CNE (Certified Network Engineer) programme covering its
Network Operating System, Novell offers additional certifications in Linux.
Oracle - Oracle has a certification programme associated with its Oracle University
Programme. The website contains address details for Training Providers delivering Oracle
certifications. There are links between Oracle training and Technical Certificates.
Sun - Sun has details of certification programmes for Java Technology, Application and
Directory Server, Solaris Operating, and System Network Storage.
IBM - A wide range of certifications, mainly product related, including Lotus and other
software and a range of hardware.
7 Classification of ICT Occupations in Ethiopia
7.1 Ministry of Labour and Social Affairs
The Ministry of Labour and Social Affairs is mandated for establishing national Standard
Classification of Occupation. The Ministry has prepared a draft Ethiopian Standard
Classification of Occupations (ESCO) based on ISCO-88 developed by the International
Labour Organization (ILO).
7.2 Federal Civil Service Agency
The Federal Civil Service Agency is responsible for formulating human resource policies and
laws and follow-up their proper implementation. The Agency is, among other things,
mandated by The Civil Servants‟ Proclamation No. 262/2002, among other things, to:
a) approve organizational set-up of Government Offices,

b) create and classify positions and grades,
c) prepare class specification for each class of positions supervise the implementation
of same, and
d) Issue directives on classification of positions.
The Agency is planning to develop standard classification of ICT occupations for use by
Government Offices.
7.3 Ministry of Finance and Economic Development
In the absence of a standard classification of ICT occupations for use by Government Offices,
and in view of the fact that the Government is the major employer of ICT personnel, sample
Government agencies were selected in order to help analyze how ICT occupations are
classified. The review included ICT occupational classifications and the requirements for the
specific position in terms of education and work experience.
The Ministry of Finance and Economic Development (MOFED) was one of the sample
government agencies selected for review. The Ministry has wide-ranging ICT positions. The
ICT positions found in MOFED are:
 Senior Programmer
 Assistant Programmer
 Programmer
 Junior Programmer
 Senior System Analyst
 System Analyst
 Senior System Expert (Database Administrator)
 System Expert (Database Administrator)
 Software Development Administration Team Leader
 Operations Head
 Operations Assistant
 Database Administration Team Leader
 Information System Administration Centre Head
 Data Technician
A detailed description of the positions, job descriptions and educational and work experience
requirements are found in the Working Document.
Many of the senior-level ICT positions (senior programmer, senior system analyst, senior
system expert, software development administration team leader, database administration team
leader, information system administration centre head, etc) require qualifications in computer
sciences but such fields as accounting mathematics and statistics are acceptable as substitutes.
7.4 Occupational Standards for ICT Technicians
The Ethiopian Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET) Qualification
Authority has legislative responsibility for the issuance of the certificates. To this end, it has
developed elaborated draft Occupational Standards8 for:
 ICT Hardware Technician Level I,

 Assistant ICT System Technician Level II,
 ICT System Technician Level III,
 ICT Software Assistant Level I , and
 ICT Application Developer Level III.
The occupational standard provides details of duties and tasks, general scope of knowledge
and skills, general scope of tools, equipment and materials as well as general work behaviour.
8
Ministry of Education, Draft TVET Occupational Standards
8 Competency Certification Experiences
8.1 ICT Competency Certification Experiences of ESTC
The Ethiopian Science and Technology Agency (then Commission) started the competency
certification programme for professionals and for computer and computer related services s for
in 19919. The legal basis for the Agency‟s work was a letter from External Economic
Relations and Investment Committee. Following the instruction, a guideline entitled
“Registration Guidelines for Computer and Computer Related Services” was in February
1991.
As shown in the table below, over the period 1991 to 1996, the Commission issued
competency certificates to 45 companies and to 175 individuals.
Table 9
Competency Certificates Issued by ESTC
Year Companies Individuals
1991 0 1
1992 3 9
1993 10 30
1994 4 41
1995 12 47
1996 15 47
Total 45 175
Source: Temtem Assefa, 1998.
The Agency‟s work had laid the basis for the issuance of trade license only to competent
organizations and certified professionals were able to get employment and for self-
employment. However, there were a number of problems and weaknesses. The guideline was
incomplete. The requirements for certification were not well-defined. The guideline also
lacked clear procedures. For example, in certain cases, applicants' work experiences were not
accepted by the evaluation committee with no adequate justification. Applications were also
rejected simply by looking at their educational credentials and transcripts claiming that they
were not directly relevant fields of studies.
The guideline was not updated. There were also excessive delays in processing of applications
largely due to lack of sufficient human resource. Finally, the certification programme was
terminated by mid January, 1998.
8.2 Certification of ICT Trainers
The regional and city administration education bureaus, through their Technical and Vocational
Education and Training (TVET) Commissions, are mandated by Proclamation No. 391/1996 to
offer competency certificates for formal and non-formal education and training providers. The
formal education programme includes 10+1, 10+2 and 10+3 programmes while the non-formal
training programmes run for from a few days up to six months.
9
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Applicants for competency certificate for non-formal training are required to submit with their
application:
 Curriculum of the training to be offered,

 Qualification of the Trainers,
 Duration of the Training programme,
 List of Training materials and equipment, and
 Trade license from the relevant authority.
The application will be evaluated by the experts and those who fulfilled the minimum certification
requirements will be issued with a certificate. Certificates issued are valid for a year.
8.3 Competency Certification In Selected Sectors
In the development of competency certification procedures for ICT professionals, ICT service
providers and ICT trainers, lessons and experiences of other organizations were reviewed.
The sample institutions include the Ministry of Justice, Ministry of Works and Urban
Development, Ethiopian Management Institute and Ethiopian Electric Agency. These are
described below.
Licensing and Registration of Advocates
In order to regulate the licensing and registration of advocates practicing before Federal
Courts, the Government has issued Federal Courts Advocates Licensing and Registration
Proclamation No. 199/2000. This Proclamation confers the Ministry of Justice to license
advocates. The Council of Minister‟s has also issued implementation regulations and code of
conduct for advocates.
The Proclamation has specified the criteria for licensing and registration of individuals who
wishes to render advocacy services. It also states the conditions under which individuals may
render advocacy services without license. Some of the requirements for a license include
submission of credentials, a recommendation letter from his/her former employer and such
other information as may be required by the Ministry.
An applicant who fulfils the minimum requirements will be required to sit for an entry exam
and pay the registration fee. Applicants with a teaching experience in law in Ethiopian higher
educational institutions with the rank of associate professor, and those with a bachelors degree
in law and at least five years of experience as a judge or public prosecutor in a Federal High
Court, and those with those who served as legal consultants and attorneys in known
governmental organizations are exempted from the entry exam.
The Ministry of Justice issues the following types of licenses:
1. Federal First Instance Court Advocacy License,

2. Federal Courts Advocacy License, and
3. Federal Court Special Advocacy License.
A person who has another permanent job may not be issued with an advocacy license. An
advocacy license shall be renewed annually and the applicant is required to pay the renewal
fee. There is also a penalty provision for a person who renders or attempts to render advocacy
services without having obtained a license or renewing his/her license.
A licensee is required to return his/her license permanently or temporarily where he/she is

engaged in an activity outside the profession or is not in a position to render the services. The
Ministry may also suspend or revoke a license where the license is obtained with fraud, the
licensee is charged with an offence, or is incompetent, or is engaged in deceitful activities.
Apart from the individuals, the Ministry also licenses law firms, where the nature of the firm is
non-business organization.
The registration and licensing of advocates and law firms is managed by committees. There
are three committees:
1. Entrance Exam Setting Committee,

2. License Evaluating Committee, and
3. Advocate‟s Disciplinary Committee.
The members of the committees include officers of the Ministry and representatives of the
Advocate‟s Association, and the Federal Courts. The term of committee members is two years
and chairperson of the committee is appointed by the Minister.
Before the issuance of a license, committee recommendations shall be submitted to and

approved by the minister. In case, where there is an aggrieved person by the decision of the
minister, the law permits applicants to appeal against the decision to the Federal High Court.
The experience of the Ministry in the registration and licensing of competency certificate is
seems quite sound. The strengths include promulgation the guideline as a regulation, existence
of code of conduct and inclusion of representatives of relevant organizations in the
committees.
Certification of Engineers and Architects
The Ministry of Works and Urban Development is mandate to register and issue a competency
certificate to qualified individual and firms engaged in building works, transport construction
works, highways and bridges, consulting offices, etc. To this effect, the Ministry has
developed a Guideline, which contains criteria, procedures, field of expertise and grading. All
construction professionals, consultants and contractors desiring to carry out activity related to
construction works are required to submit an application in a form designed for same purpose.
The evaluation of applications for certification is performed by a Committee consisting of

officers (mainly division and department heads) of the Ministry while preliminary screening
and other routine activities are handled by the Certification and Registration Division, the head
of which is member and secretary of the committee. The committee is responsible for detailed
evaluation of applications on the basis of the requirements specified in the Guideline and
submit its recommendation on whether the applicant may register, license renewed, upgrade or
may reject the application to the Minister for approval.
Once the application is approved by the Minister, a certificate will be issued to the applicant
up on the payment of registration fee. The certificate of registration will be signed by the
Committee chairperson and contains such details as name of the certificate holder, type of
business, category and grade or professional classification, etc.
The committee may reject an application for registration when the applicant is found by a
court of competent jurisdiction to be of unsound mind or convicted by a court of any offence
involving fraud or dishonesty or found unfit to carry out the business or doesn‟t fulfil the
specified requirement. Renewal of registration for professionals is valid for two years and for
firms is one year.
The Guideline lists the conditions for suspension, cancellation and revocation of certificates. A
certificate may be suspended if its holder is found guilty of misconduct in matters related to
professional practice, or fails to abide by the requirements, rules and regulations issued by the
Ministry. A certificate may be also cancelled or revoked when the registered person dies,
incapacitated, quits the business or fails to comply with rules and regulation that may be
issued by the Ministry from time to time.
Any juridical person registered with the Ministry may be represented by legally authorized
agent and when the bearer of the certificate dies, the certificate is eligible for transfer to his
legal inheritor provided that the inheritor fulfils the given requirements.
The Guideline also details the hearing procedures. Upon the receipt of notification of rejection
of application, or suspension, cancellation, or revocation of the registration certificate, a
person may appear before the committee in defence of his application.
Though it is not updated, based on the given classifications and grading, the Ministry has set
experience, qualification, equipment, capital and staff requirements for each type of certificate
designation.
It was also learned that though the Guideline requires evaluations of applications to be
undertaken by a Committee, in practice, most of the activities are carried out by the
Certification and Registration Division.
Certification of Management Consultants
The Ethiopian Management Institute (EMI) issues certificate of competency for management
consultants. The legal basis for Institute to do so is a letter written from the former Ministry
of Trade.
Evaluation of applications for certification is done by a Committee consisting of officers of the

Institute and appointed by the General Manager. The Institute has developed a Guideline,
which includes, among others, the requirements for certification, duties and responsibilities of
committee members, and contains working procedures of the Committee and evaluation
criteria.
With regard to the evaluation and grading criteria of the applicants, the minimum requirement
for applying, the applicant shall have:
1. First degree or equivalent from a known institution, and

2. At least 10 years of service after first graduation.
An applicant who fulfils the minimum requirement can apply for the certificate and will be
provided an application form. The applicant is also provided with 3 copies of referee‟s
personal recommendation form, which the applicant‟s referee shall fill and send, sealed to the
Institute.
The applicant is further required to attach and present passport size recent photograph, letters
about the work experience, training sessions conducted, consultancy assignments, and
research activities undertaken. Furthermore, the applicant is required to submit originals and
photocopies of credentials (degrees, diplomas, certificates, etc.) and output materials
(published articles, papers, books, research and consultancy results, handouts, etc.) as stated in
the application form.
The applicant is also required to produce at least 10 years of experience engaged in

management consultancy/training activities. Managerial work experience at all levels of
management (first level, middle level, and professional position in all organizations,
management development institutions, accredited organizations and institutions are considered
as directly relevant years of experience.
The Institute issues only one type of certificate and an applicant whose document have
successfully passed the committee‟s evaluation shall pay a service charge of birr 550 (five
hundred fifty only).
The criteria for evaluation include education qualification; work experience; actual work
accomplished (research, training conducted and consultancy assignments undertaken);
publication (materials, handouts, cases, papers, books, etc.), and references.
From our discussion with the experts of the Institute, it was learned that the following as
pertinent problems.
a) Except the letter written from the former Ministry of Trade, there is no legal
basis for the Institute to enforce the certificates it issued.
b) Though the Institute is providing certificate of competency for management
consultants, there is no follow up and renewal mechanisms.
c) The Institute is supposed to provide certificate of competency for management

consultants. In this regard, the Institute has determined that the relevant fields
are management, accounting, business management, economics and public
administration. On the other hand, applications are open from any field of
expertise and applications from experts/graduates in other fields who have
been working in some management activities. In this case, there is a difficulty
to objectively evaluate the applicant‟s experiences in the management aspect
so that decide whether to issue the certificate or not. More points are given to
the applicants graduated in the priority areas and this is creating some
complaints among applicants of graduates of other areas of expertise.
Certification of Electricians
Competency Certification of electricians is done by the Ethiopian Electric Agency. The

Agency has set certification criteria, which include the requirements of educational credentials
from accredited institutions of electrical engineering or electrical technology and relevant
experiences or service years.
Certification is classified into four (classes A, B, C and D) with the corresponding allowed job
limits expressed in Kilo Voltage Ampere (KVA). Applicants are required to have the specified
minimum years of experience. An applicant is also obliged to sit for theoretical and/or
practical entrance exams as may be applicable.
The Agency is issuing certificates on the basis of the following procedures.
 Announcements for registration are made by the Agency each year on mass
media for at least 10 consecutive working days.
 Applicants shall be registered up on verification of the submitted documents
against the required criteria and fill in application forms. Applicants may send
their documents by mail, fax or e-mail.
 Date and place of entrance exam shall be informed during registration or on
the notice board of the Agency.
 Registered applicants sit for theoretical and/or practical examinations as may
be applicable.
 Correction of examination and notification of the results shall be completed
within 13 consecutive working days from the last date of examination.
 Successful examinees shall settle the necessary payments and secure their
certificates following the notification of the results.
 Review of examination papers shall be conducted in the presence of the
applicant.
 Personal documents of unsuccessful examinees shall be returned up on
personal requests but not for successful persons.
 Applicants, who filed to the Agency for loss damage or burn of certificates
with legally proven evidences, shall be provided with new certificates.
Applicants who satisfy all evaluation criteria and passes the examination shall pay registration
fee.
We have been informed that the Ethiopian Electric Agency is currently preparing
comprehensive guideline, which include local and international experiences for professional
competency certification. For the time being the document is at a draft level and not accessible
for different reasons.
9 Proposed Certificate Designations and Requirements
9.1 Proposed Certificate Designations
The bases for classification of certificate designations are the international and national
experiences. More specifically, the classification of ICT professionals, associate professionals
and technician occupations are based on the ISCO-88, the occupational classifications of
personnel of ICT firms (see Table 3, page 12) as well as the Occupational Standards
developed by the TVET. Similarly, the classicisation of ICT providers and ICT trainers are
based on the review of the ICT firms in Ethiopia and the international experiences.
In the classification of ICT Trainers Certification designations, it is proposed that the EICTDA
offer competency certificates for trainers of advanced courses (i.e., application development,
network design and management, database management system, and computer hardware and
software maintenance) and the regional and city administration education bureaus will
continue to offer certificates for trainers of basic computer application courses.
The proposed certification designations are outlined below and requirements for certification
are detailed in Tables 9-11.
ICT Professionals, Associate Professionals and Technicians
1. Certified ICT Planning and Project Management Professional (CPPMP)

2. Certified System Analysis and Design Professional (CSADP)
3. Certified System Development Professional (CSDP)
4. Certified System Security Professional (CSSP)
5. Certified Network Design and Management Professional (CNDMP)
6. Certified Hardware Maintenance Professional (CHMP)
7. Certified Database Administration Professional (CDAP)
8. Certified System Administration Professional (CSAP)
9. Certified System Administration Associate Professional (CSAAP)
10. Certified Hardware Technician (CHT)
11. Certified Software Technician (CST)
ICT Service Providers
1. Certified ICT Systems Management Consulting Service Provider (CSMCSP)

2. Certified ICT Systems Development and Implementation Service Provider
(CSDISP
3. Certified Computer Networks Design and Implementation Service Provider
(CNDISP)
4. Certified Hardware and Software Maintenance Service Provider (CHSMSP)
5. Certified Hardware and Software Sales and Support Service Provider
(CHSSSSP)
ICT Trainers
1. Certified Computer System Development Trainer (CSDT)
2. Certified Network Design and Management Trainer (CNDMT)
3. Certified Database Management System Trainer (CDMST)
4. Certified Computer Hardware and Software Maintenance Trainer (CHSMT)
Table 10- Minimum Educational Qualification and Experience Requirements for Certification of ICT Professionals, Associate Professionals and Technicians
Minimum Entry Requirements
Occupational Designation Educational Qualification and Relevant fields of Study Experience

1. Certified ICT Planning and A bachelor degree in ICT programmes as a major field of study from accredited college or At least 8 years of relevant
Project Management university; experiences after graduation:
Professional (CPPMP) OR
A bachelor degree in ICT programmes as a minor field of study from accredited college or
university;
OR
A bachelor degree in any discipline and must have taken ICT graduate courses of at least 15
credit hours from accredited college or university.
2. Certified System Analysis and A bachelor degree in ICT programmes as a major field of study from accredited college or At least 6 years of relevant
Design Professional (CSADP) university; experiences after graduation:
OR
university;
OR
3. Certified System Development A bachelor degree in ICT programmes as a major field of study from accredited college or At least 4 years of relevant
Professional (CSDP) university; experiences after graduation:
OR
university;
OR
4. Certified System Security A bachelor degree in ICT programmes as a major field of study from accredited college or At least 6 years of relevant
Professional (CSSP) university; experiences after graduation:
OR
university;
OR
5. Certified Network Design and A bachelor degree in ICT programmes as a major field of study from accredited college or At least 4 years of relevant
Management Professional university; experiences after graduation:
(CNDMP) OR
university;
OR
6. Certified Hardware A bachelor degree in ICT programmes as a major field of study from accredited college or At least 4 years of relevant
Maintenance Professional university; experiences after graduation:
(CHMP) OR
university;
OR
7. Certified Database A bachelor degree in ICT programmes as a major field of study from accredited college or At least 4 years of relevant
Administration Professional university; experiences after graduation:
(CDAP) OR
university;
OR
8. Certified System A bachelor degree in ICT programmes as a major field of study from accredited college or At least 4 years of relevant
Administration Professional university; experiences after graduation:
(CSAP) OR
university;
OR
Associate Professionals:
9. Certified System Diploma or Certificate of Middle Level TVET Program Year Three (10+3) from accredited At least 4 years of practical
Administration Associate institution or University or college dropouts with at least 15 credit hours in ICT courses experience
Professional (CSAAP)
Technicians:
10. Certified Hardware Technician Certificate of Middle Level TVET Program Year Two (10+1) from accredited institution At least 2 years of practical
(CHT) experience
11. Certified Software Technician Certificate of Middle Level TVET Program Year One (10+1) from accredited institution At least 2 years of practical
(CST) experience
Entry Exam Requirements
Applicants who met the minimum educational qualifications and experience shall be required to pass the entry exam for each of
the certification designation. In order to be considered for detailed evaluation, an applicant must score a minimum of 50 points
out of 100 in the entry exam.
Criteria for Certification
To attain the competency designations, applicants must satisfy all certification requirements specified hereunder. At the
discretion of the Agency, these requirements may be modified at any time. A point system is used to evaluate competency.
Table 11. Criteria for Competency Certification of ICT professionals, associate professionals and Technicians
Evaluation Criteria
A. Educational Qualifications Maximum
Field of Study Points
1. Professional Designations ICT Major ICT Minor Other
st
1 Degree 15 points 10 points 5 points
2nd Degree 17 points 13 points 7 points
PhD or equivalent 20 points 15 points 10 points
2. For Associate Professionals and Technicians Designations 20 points
Certificate of Middle Level TVET Program Year One (10+1) 15 points
Certificate of Middle Level TVET Program Year Two (10+2) 17 points
Diploma or Certificate of Middle Level TVET Program Year Three (10+3) or University dropouts 20 points
B. Entrance Exam 40 points
C. General Experience 10 points
D. Specialized Experience 20 points
E. Relevant generic or vendor-specific certifications 10 points
Total 100 points
Minimum Passing Score 55 points
Certificate Grade Designations
Certificate Grades for all designations shall be determined on the basis of the points scored by an applicant as shown below:
Table 12. Criteria for Certificate Grading

Score Certificate Grade
55.00-69.99 points I
70-84.99 points II
85 and above III
Table 13
ICT Service Profiles and Requirements for Competency Certification
Scope of Services Minimum Requirements

Number of Full-time staff Number of
Certificate Project Cost concurrent successful Workshop
Designation Services to be provided Grade Ceiling (Birr) Users/nodes Qualification No. projects Facilities
Certified ICT  ICT Systems I 250,000.00 50 1. Certified Systems Analysis and Design One None
Systems Requirements Analysis Professional Grade I or above
Management activities
Consulting  Information Systems 2. Certified Network Design and One
Service Provider and Computer Network Management Professional Grade I or
(CSMCSP) Design activities above
 Preparation of II 1,000,000.00 100 1. Certified ICT Planning and Project One One
Specifications of Management Professional I or above
Computer Hardware 2. Certified Systems Analysis and Design Two
and Software Professional Grade I or Above
 Provision of assistance
in the Evaluation of 3. Certified Network Design and One
bids related to ICT Management Professional I or above
 Provision of 4. Certified System Administration Two
monitoring services Associate Professional Grade I or above
during the III Unlimited Unlimited 1. Certified ICT Planning and Project One Three
implementation of ICT Management Professional Grade II or
projects above
 Working as a 2. Certified Systems Analysis and Design One
consulting agent for Professional Grade II or above
clients when 3. Certified Systems Analysis and Design One
implementing ICT Professional Grade I or above
projects
4. Certified Network Design and One
 Preparation of Management Professional I or above
Information System
5. Certified Systems Development One
security policy and
Professional Grade I or above
guideline
6. Certified System Administration Two
 Conduct ICT Systems
Associate Professional Grade I or above
audit
Certificate Number of Number of
Full-time staff
Designation Project Cost concurrent successful Workshop
Services to be provided Grade Ceiling (Birr) Users/nodes Qualification No. projects Facilities
 Information Systems 1. Certified Systems Development Professional Two
design, development Grade I or above
and implementation I 400,000.00 50 None
 Computer Network 2. Certified Systems Administration Associate One
Design and Professional Grade I or above
implementation 1. Certified ICT Planning and Project
 Develops desktop and Management Professional Grade I or above One
N-tier systems using
2. Certified Systems Analysis and Design
state of the art object One
Professional Grade II or above
oriented technologies
 Provides training II 1,000,000.00 100 3. Certified Computer Network design and Two
Management Professional Grade I or above One
services to users of the
developed system 4. Certified Computer Systems Development
Certified  Provides post- Professional Grade I or above One
Information implementation
Systems services to the
developed system and 1. Certified ICT Planning and Project
Development and One
implemented networks Management Professional Grade II or above
Implementation 2. Certified Project Management Professional
Service Provider  Implements Network- One
Grade I or above
(CISDISP) level and Application-
level security 3. Certified Systems Analysis and Design
One
 Undertakes Systems
Customization 4. Certified Systems Analysis and Design
One
Activities Professional Grade I or above
 Undertakes Systems 5. Certified Network Design and Management
III Unlimited Unlimited One Four
Integration Activities Professional Grade I or above
6. Certified Systems Development Professional
 Design and Develop One
Grade III
static and dynamic web
based applications 7. Certified Systems Development Professional
One
Grade II or above
8. Certified Computer Systems Administrator
One
9. Certified Systems Administration Associate
Two
Certificate Number of Full-time staff Number of
Services to be provided Grade Project Cost Workshop
Designation concurrent successful
Ceiling (Birr) Facilities
Users/nodes Qualification No. projects
 Wireless and wired
Local Area, Wide Area, 1. Certified Network Design and
Dial-up, VPN Network I 250,000.00 25 Management Professional Grade I or Two None
Design and above
Implementation
Activities, 1. Certified Network Design and
 IP Number planning Management Professional Grade II or Two
 Structured network above
cabling activities
 Installation and
Configuration of II 400,000.00 100 Two
Network Operating
Systems 2. Certified Network Design and
Certified Management Professional Grade I or One
 Implementation of
Computer above
Network Security
Network Design  Provision of post-
and implementation
Implementation services to the 1. Certified ICT Planning and Project
Service Provider implemented networks Management Professional Grade I or One
(CNDISP)  Provision of consulting above
services to 2. Certified Network Design and
One
organizations Management Professional Grade III
undertaking Network 3. Certified Network Design and
implementation Management Professional Grade II or Two
projects III Unlimited Unlimited above Three
 Overseeing network 4. Certified Network Design and
implementation Management Professional Grade I or One
activities undertaken by above
other Network Service 5. Certified Computer System Security
One
Providers Professional Grade I or above
6. Certified Computer System
One
Administrator Grade II or above
Certificate Number of Full-time staff Number of
Services to be provided Grade Project Cost Workshop
Designation concurrent successful
Ceiling (Birr) Qualification No. Facilities
Users/nodes projects
1. Certified Hardware Maintenance At least one
One room with 20
Professional Grade I, or above
m2 Area with
I 250,000.00 None
2. Certified Hardware Technician Grade the necessary
 Performs basic Two
I or above workshop
software installation
facilities
and configuration
activities 1. Certified Hardware Maintenance At least one
One room with 30
 Performs virus
2. Certified System Administration m2 Area,
detection and removal One
Professional Grade I or above with the
activities II 400,000.00 Two
Certified necessary
 Upgrades upgrading
Hardware and 3. Certified Hardware Maintenance workshop
of software and One
Software Professional Grade I or above facilities.
hardware
Maintenance
 Performs preventive
Service Provider 1. Certified Computer Hardware Two At least one
maintenance activities
(CHSMSP) Maintenance Professional Grade II or room with 60
 Performs hardware
above m2 Area,
failure testing and
2. Certified Computer Hardware One with the
maintenance
Maintenance Professional Grade I or necessary
 Consults the
above workshop
selection, acquisition, III Three
Unlimited Unlimited 3. Certified System Administration One facilities.
of software and
Professional Grade I or above
hardware
4. Certified Computer Network Design One
and Management Professional Grade I
or above
Certificate Number of Number of
Full-time staff
Designation Project Cost concurrent successful Workshop
Services to be provided Grade Ceiling (Birr) Users/nodes Qualification No. projects Facilities
 delivery of hardware 1. Certified Hardware Maintenance
and software products Professional Grade I or above One 20 m2
that meet the Annual Sales Workshop
specification up to Birr floor area,
requested by clients 2. Certified System Administration
I 500,000 (Five - Associate Professional Grade I or - with the
 software installation One
Hundred above necessary
and configuration Thousand) workshop
activities on sold 3. Certified Hardware Technician facilities
Certified products Grade I or above One
Hardware and  providing post-sales
Software Sales support services 1. Certified Computer Hardware
Two
and Support  providing Maintenance Professional I or above
Service Provider maintenance services 2. Certified Database and System
(CHSSSP) to sold products Administration Professional Grade I One 50 m2
or above Workshop
Annual Sales
3. Certified Computer Network Design floor area,
above 500,000
II - and Management Professional Grade One - with the
(Five Hundred
I necessary
Thousand)
4. Certified System Administration workshop
Associate Professional Grade I or Two facilities
above
5. Certified Hardware Technician
One
Grade I or above
Table 14- ICT Training Providers‟ Profiles and Requirements for Competency Certification
Minimum Requirements
Certificate Full-time staff
Courses to be offered
Designation Computers and Teaching Materials Training Room
Qualification No.
1. Certified System Development One – At least 10 computers and each
Professional Grade I or above computer must have the capacity to
run the computer application
– application software.
development tools such – One computer shall be offered for
Certified
as Visual Basic, C++, each trainee
Computer
C#, Java, etc – The necessary lab set-up to offer the
Application 1.4 m2 per trainee and
– web development tools course
Development a maximum of 12
such ASP, PHP, 2. Certified System Administration – Trainer‟s Manuals and Trainees
Trainer trainees per session
JavaScript, VBScript, Associate Professional Grade I or One course materials to be approved by
(CCADT)
Apache, etc. and above the Agency.
– specialized computer – At least one course material for each
applications course shall be provided to each
trainee.
– Chairs, tables, whiteboard and other
necessary training materials.
Qualification No.
– Networking essential 1. Certified System Network One – Minimum of 10 computers and each
– ICP/IP Design and Management computer must have the capacity to
– Managing & Professional Grade I or above run the computer Network Design
Certified Maintaining Server and Management software.
Network Design – Implementing, 2. Certified System Administration One – There must be the necessary lab-
Associate Professional Grade I 1.4 m2 per trainee and
and managing and setup for the course to be offered
or above a maximum of 12
Management maintaining network – network training materials such as:
trainees per session
Trainer infrastructure (both o Hub/switches/Routers
(CNDMT) wireless and wired) o Servers
– Implementing, o Network Operating System
managing mail and (NOS)
messaging server o Network Anti-virus Software
– Installing and – One computer shall be offered for
configuring Network each trainee
and Internet security – Trainer‟s Manuals and Trainees
– Internet Information course materials to be approved by
service the Agency.
– Basic and specialized – At least one course material for each
computer applications. course shall be provided to each
trainee
necessary training materials
Qualification No.
– Enterprise Database 1. Certified Database Management One – At least of 10 computers. Each
Systems Administrations System Professional Grade I or computer must have the capacity to
(such as SQL-Server, above run required software.
Oracle, DB2, MySQL One – The necessary lab setup (server-
etc.) based) for course to be offered
– Centralized and – One computer shall be offered for
Certified Distributed Database each trainee
Database Design and – Trainer‟s Manuals and Trainees 1.4 m2 per trainee and
Management Implementations course materials to be approved by a maximum of 12
System Trainer – Advanced Courses MS- 2. Certified System Administration the Agency. trainees per session
(CDMST) Access database Associate Professional Grade I – At least one course material for each
Management System or above course shall be provided to each
– Advanced database trainee
management system – Chairs, tables, whiteboard and other
– Basic and specialized necessary training materials
computer applications.
Qualification No.
One – At least of 10 computers. Each
1. Certified Hardware Maintenance computer must have the capacity to
Professional Grade I or above run required software.
– Well organized and equipped training
One workshop
– Complete computer maintenance
tools.
 Screw drivers
 Ohm Meter
 Volt Meter
 Blower
 Tester RJ 45
 Crimp tools
Certified
– computer Accessories for training
Computer
– Hardware Maintenance purpose such as:
Hardware and 1.4 m2 per trainee and
– software Maintenance  Motherboard
Software a maximum of 12
– and basic specialized 2. Certified System Administration  memory
Maintenance trainees per session
computer applications. Associate Professional Grade I or  Hard disk
Trainer
above  disk drives
(CCHSMT)
 printer accessories
– There must the necessary lab set-up
for the training to be offered
– One computer shall be offered for
each trainee
– Trainer‟s Manuals and Trainees
course materials to be approved by
the Agency.
– At least one course material for each
course shall be provided to each
trainee
necessary training materials
10 Programme Implementation and Sustainability
10.1 Organization, Staffing and Budget Requirements
Based on the experiences in competency certification in other sectors in Ethiopia, it is suggested

that the responsibility for detailed evaluation of applications for competency certification must be
made by a committee comprised of officers of the EICTDA and representatives of other relevant
institutions.
Some might argue that such an arrangement will lead the Agency to depend on external bodies
and will keep back the Agency from developing in-house expertise. Furthermore, it might be
argued that a committee will require additional budget and would also be time consuming.
However, such an arrangement will bring a number of benefits: it will overcome some of the
existing capacity limitations of the Agency, at least in the short-run, and will also allow greater
stakeholder participation, and therefore improve transparency of the certification process and
increase credibility of the certificate.
Preliminary screening of applications will be done by officers of the Agency. Applicants who
passed the preliminary screening and who passed the entrance exam will then forwarded to
the evaluation committee for detailed evaluation.
Organization and Staffing of the Competency Certification Team
It is proposed that a National ICT Competency Certification Team under the Standardization
and Regulatory Department be established. The Team will have appropriately qualified
permanent full time personnel consisting of a Team Leader, Senior Expert and a Secretary as
shown in Table 15.
Table 15
Proposed Staffing of the Competency Certification Team
Position Number Minimum Qualification Minimum Experience
Team Leader 1 M.Sc. in ICT fields or related areas 8 years
Senior Expert 1 B.Sc. in ICT fields or related areas 6 years
Secretary 1 Diploma in Secretarial Science and Office 6 years
Management
The proposed organizational structure of the proposed Competency Certification Office is

shown in Figure 2.
Figure 2
Proposed Organization of the Competency Certification Team
Office of the Director General
Public Relations &

Finance Department Documentation Service
Planning, Monitoring & Audit Service

Evaluation
O & M, Human Resource & Legal Service

Property Admin. Dept.
Standardization & Information ICT Development Expansion &

Coordination Security D/Director Coordination Deputy Director
General General
Information Systems
Security & Management Human Resource &
Coordination Project Research Coordination
Project
Standardization & Govt. Information System

Regulatory Project Development & Service
Coordination Project
Private Sector Information

Competency Certification Development Coordination
Team Project
Community Information
Development Project
Budget Requirements
The successful implementation and sustainability of the proposed certification programme

obviously requires the allocation of sufficient resources. The budget required for three years is
estimated at Birr 2.2 million. This will comprise personnel costs, computers and accessories,
telephone and internet, stationeries and allowances for certification committee members. Also
included is Birr 650,000 for preparation of and updating of entry exams and Birr 350,000 for
database system development and updating the certification. Breakdown of the estimated budget
is given in the Table 16.
Table 16
Estimates of Thee Year Budget for ICT Competency Certification Office
Unit of Per Three
measure No. Rate/Unit Month 2006/07 2007/08 2008/09 year
Item of Expenditure
Personnel:
Programme Manager Number 1 4,000 4,000 16,000 48,000 48,000 112,000
Senior Expert Number 1 3,200 3,200 12,800 38,400 38,400 89,600
Secretary Number 1 1,500 1,500 6,000 18,000 18,000 42,000
Computer and Printer Set 7 15,000 105,000 105,000
Telephone and internet Lump-sum 1 1,500 1,500 18,000 18,000 18,000 54,000
Stationeries 1,500 1,500 18,000 18,000 18,000 54,000
Allowances for Committees:
ICT Professionals Number 3 1,000 36,000 36,000 36,000 108,000
ICT Service providers Number 3 1,000 36,000 36,000 36,000 108,000
ICT Trainers Number 3 1,000 36,000 36,000 36,000 108,000
Entry Exam Preparation and
updating Lump-sum 1 500,000 500,000 - 150,000 650,000
Database Development and
updating of Guidelines Lump-sum 1 250,000 250,000 50,000 50,000 350,000
Promotion, public notices Lump-sum 200,000 100,000 100,000 400,000
Total 1,233,800 398,400 548,400 2,180,600
10.2 Sustainability of the Certification Programme
Once the Programme is initiated, the key challenge for the EICTDA will be to sustain it. It must
be clear at the outset that the credibility and value of the certificates issued by the Agency will
almost entirely depend on the strict enforcement and regular updating of the Guidelines, regular
renewal of certificates, and rigorous follow-up and monitoring of certificate holders‟ adherence to
the requirements set in Guidelines and in the Code of Conduct. Accordingly it is strongly advised
that the EICTDA must ensure the sustainability of the programme.
A number of mechanisms have been embedded in the Guidelines in order to protect certificate
holders. These include the requirement that ICT Service Providers and ICT Trainers must employ
certified workers in order to be certified by the Agency; and the prohibition that a person may not,
unless s/he holds a certificate issued under these Guidelines, directly or indirectly use an
abbreviation, word, or sign that intends or is likely to create an impression with the public that the
person holds the certificate designation titles under these Guidelines.
Some of the enforcement mechanisms that may be considered by the EICTDA for the
enforcement and sustainability of the Programme include:
(a) Enacting the Guidelines as a Regulation by the Council of Ministers;

(b) Regular follow-up and inspection of certificate holders for strict
compliance with the requirements and code of conduct;
(c) Education and awareness creation of the value of the certificates issued by
the Agency;
(d) Promote the value of the certificate to potential employers of ICT workers
(government agencies, private sector, non-governmental organization) so
that they may include competency certification among the requirements
for selection of potential candidates
(e) Make arrangements with the Public Procurement Agency and ensure that
in accordance with Article 21 (1) (a) of Proclamation No. 430/2005, only
certified ICT Service providers and certified ICT Trainers are maintained
in the suppliers‟ list. (The clause requires that that in order to participate
in public procurement candidates must posses the necessary professional
and technical qualifications and competence); and
(f) Maintenance of a database of major ICT projects implemented in the
country which would serve for cross referencing in the verification of
certification applications.
(g) Make available on-line as well as regularly publish newly certified ICT
Service providers and ICT Trainers and those who have renewed their
certificates; and
(h) Convene annual forums in order to get feedback on the Programme and
conduct regular programme evaluation.
10.3 Implementation Action Plan
The implementation of the envisaged national ICT Competency Certification Programme

essentially involves the following key steps.
First, the EICTDA will review the findings and conclusions of this reports and working
documents and finalize them. This will be completed as soon as the first week of December 2006.
The finalization of the reports and guidelines will require four weeks and will be completed by the
end of December 2006.
Second, the Agency will make arrangements to secure budget required for the implementation of
the Programme and this will take 8 weeks, from the first week of December until the end of
January 2007.
Third, having allocated the budget, the Agency will appoint the required staff, preferably through
internal transfer or promotion. This may require 4 to 8 weeks, depending on whether the positions
will be filled through internal transfer or through external vacancy announcement recruitment and
will be completed by the end of beginning of the second week of April 2007.
Fourth, the Agency will arrange for the preparation of the entrance exams required for the
Professional, Associate Professional, and Technician certificate designations. This may be
contracted out to institutions of higher learning, consulting firms, or to a group of individual
consultants. This is expected to take 15 calendar weeks, from the third week of March until end
of June 2007. Procurement of computers and accessories and promotion and public
announcements of the certification programme could be made in parallel.
Finally, the certification programme will be launched by the beginning of July 2007.
A Gantt chart depicting the schedule of activities and their durations is presented in Figure 3. The
Chart shows the activities and time estimates for each main task.
Figure 3- Schedule of Activities
References
Cushway, B. (2004), The Handbook of Model Job Descriptions, Kogan Page India Private
Limited.
Federal Negarit Gazetta, No. 8222nd July 2003, Ethiopian Information and Communication
Technology Development Authority Establishment Proclamation No.360/2003
Federal Republic of Ethiopia, Ministry of Capacity Building, The National ICT for
Development (ICT4D) Five Years, Action Plan for Ethiopia [2006 – 2010], Draft (Version
4.02), May 2006.
International Labour Office (1990), International Standard Classification of Occupations:

ISCO- 88; Geneva, 1990.
Mulat Demeke and Tadesse Birr, ICT Penetration and Usage in Ethiopia: Baseline Study, The
Scan-ICT, October 2002, unpublished.
tMTM x¿Í (1990), l÷MpEWtR xgLGlÖT y¸s_ yÑÃ BÝT ¥rUgÅ yx¿‰R hùn¤¬Â xSf§gþnT
ysþStM _ÂT yÑÃ BÝT ¥rUgÅÂ y 2000 wQ¬êE gùÄ×C xWd _ÂT
United States of America Standard Occupational Classifications: http://stats.bls.gov/soc/
United Nations Development Programme, Human Development Report, 2005.
Annexes
Annex 1
Guidelines for Competency Certification of ICT Professionals, Associate
Professionals and Technicians
Annex 2
Guidelines for Certification of ICT Service Providers
Annex 3
Draft Guidelines for Certification of ICT Trainers

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Ethiopian Information and Communication Technology Development Agency

Competency Certification for ICT Professionals, ICT Service

Figure 1 Components of the ICT4D Action Plan 8

Table 1 Selected ICT Indicators, 2004 10

Annex 1 Guideline for Competency Certification of ICT Professionals, Associate Professionals

ADLI Agricultural development Led Industrialization

Our special thanks to the following:

To Mr. Debretsion G.Michael, Director General, Ethiopian Information and Communication

Cognizant of ICT as enablers of broad-based social and economic development, the

 promote human resource development;

Structure of the Report

2.1 Objective of the Study

2.2 Study Approach and Methodology

The Study utilized a number of methodologies. These included extensive review of

The envisaged ICT competency certification programme shall be applicable to ICT

The Government‟s Sustainable Development and Poverty Reduction Programme (SDPRP)

National Policies and Priorities

Overall Long-term Development Strategy

Ethiopia has adopted a long-term development strategy of Agricultural Development-Led

Stimulating Economic Growth

Private Sector Development

It is now widely recognized that strengthening governance is a pre-requisite for creating an

The Government is implementing a Public Sector Capacity Building Programme (PSCAP) to

a) Civil Service Reform Programme;

4.2 ICT Policies and Programmes

a) promote human resource development;

a) facilitating government administration and service delivery, including the

Figure 1- Components of the ICT4D Action Plan

ICT sector structure

ICT sector performance

Institutional efficiency and sustainability

a) the level or amount of formal education and training;

Skill specialization is defined as a function of the following four factors:

a) Field of knowledge required;

6.3 European Union ICT Skills and Qualifications Frameworks

The European Union variant of the International Standard Classification of Occupations

 ICT Skill Level 6 in correspondence to qualification level 5M (second cycle degree or

6.5 Vendor neutral and Vender-specific certifications

7.2 Federal Civil Service Agency

a) approve organizational set-up of Government Offices,

7.3 Ministry of Finance and Economic Development

7.4 Occupational Standards for ICT Technicians

 ICT Hardware Technician Level I,

8.1 ICT Competency Certification Experiences of ESTC

8.2 Certification of ICT Trainers

 Curriculum of the training to be offered,

8.3 Competency Certification In Selected Sectors

Licensing and Registration of Advocates

The Ministry of Justice issues the following types of licenses:

1. Federal First Instance Court Advocacy License,

A licensee is required to return his/her license permanently or temporarily where he/she is

1. Entrance Exam Setting Committee,

Before the issuance of a license, committee recommendations shall be submitted to and

The evaluation of applications for certification is performed by a Committee consisting of

Evaluation of applications for certification is done by a Committee consisting of officers of the

1. First degree or equivalent from a known institution, and

The applicant is also required to produce at least 10 years of experience engaged in

c) The Institute is supposed to provide certificate of competency for management

Competency Certification of electricians is done by the Ethiopian Electric Agency. The

The Agency is issuing certificates on the basis of the following procedures.

ICT Professionals, Associate Professionals and Technicians

1. Certified ICT Planning and Project Management Professional (CPPMP)