Somali Region unveils Mesob one-stop portal to advance digital public services

JIGJIGA, Ethiopia — The Somali Region has inaugurated the Mesob One-Stop Service center in Jigjiga, consolidating key government services under one roof in a bid to modernize public administration and cut red tape across Ethiopia’s eastern region.

Chief Administrator Mustafe M. Omer led Sunday’s opening alongside Aklilu Tadese, state minister for Cabinet and Sector Oversight in the Prime Minister’s Office. The launch positions the Somali Region among the country’s early adopters of unified service delivery, a cornerstone of the national “Medemer State” governance philosophy championed by Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed.

In its first phase, the Mesob center brings together nine government institutions to deliver 32 distinct services at a single, integrated location. Officials say the consolidation is designed to reduce wait times, minimize the need for citizens to shuttle between agencies, and strengthen transparency and accountability in routine interactions with the state.

Named for the traditional Ethiopian mesob bread basket — a symbol of unity and sharing — the facility blends human expertise with modern digital infrastructure. Its systems are built to process requests quickly and accurately, reflecting expanded national investments in digital tools and standards across the public sector.

The initiative dovetails with Ethiopia’s broader digital transformation effort, which has prioritized digital IDs, e-governance platforms and upgraded telecommunications networks. While more services move online, the Mesob model aims to ensure that physical service points remain efficient and citizen-centered, particularly in regional capitals that anchor economic and administrative life beyond Addis Ababa.

Backed by a strategic directive from the Prime Minister’s Office, the national rollout of Mesob centers is intended to promote institutional synergy and collaborative governance — hallmarks of the Medemer approach. In practice, that means integrating processes, data flows and accountability mechanisms so residents can complete more tasks in one visit, from licensing and records to permits and payments.

The Jigjiga facility is expected to widen its service menu as subsequent phases come online, deepening its role as a bridge between government agencies and the public. Regional administrators have framed the opening as both a practical upgrade in service quality and a signal of the Somali Region’s commitment to consistent standards of delivery across Ethiopia.

For citizens, the immediate impact is tangible: fewer queues, fewer referrals and clearer pathways to essential services. For the state, the model offers an opportunity to streamline procedures, reduce backlogs and better track performance — outcomes seen as vital to building trust and improving the everyday experience of governance.

The Somali Region’s successful launch is likely to serve as a template for other urban centers that are preparing their own one-stop hubs. As Ethiopia presses ahead with digital government reforms, Mesob centers are emerging as the physical front door to a more integrated public service — one that is designed to be faster, more transparent and closer to the people it serves.

By Ali Musa

Axadle Times international–Monitoring.