Ethiopia seems to have learned or learning now the skill of project management and this could make much of the difference at the end.
Many commentators are saying the on-going mega-project of Abay Dam has gained a robust project management under the leadership of PM Abiy Ahmed and with that succeeded to reach one of the critical milestones of the project lifetime, the initial filling of the dam itself. Many citizens are now excited about the news and this in turn is having a wider ramification of doing more towards the development of the country.
Some of the commentators in the following video are saying "it is not only about the allocation of resources that can make a given project successful, but the skill of its management is the more critical one". They also said that in many instances before many projects were initiated but then failed to succeed according to the initial schedule not because of the allocated money but precisely because of lack of adequate project management skill and that might have exasperated the overall conditions and led to the demise of the project owners themselves at the end.
One of the commentators said that "'seeing is believing' and we didn't imagine to see such a big change within this short period of time" of the scene she was visiting with her companions of the Oromian Parliament members.
Let me be clear here: I am making this comment not just to praise the accomplishments of these specific projects but the lasting lesson gained from thses projects will make a huge difference in the future in many different aspects of the social, economic and political landscape of the country and it is about the lessons gained from the skill of managing projects.
I think to have heard somewhere that about 4000 projects were finalised in the given fiscal year of 2012 of the Ethiopian Calendar.
Skill of project management is the foundation of many different developments of a country, a company and the society of all levels. This is a PLUS for the country.