Yirgalem City
A Woreda in Ethiopia
… On the other hand, according to Mr. Joppe Bastiansen, the ULGE project manager at the Netherlands Association of Municipalities (VNG International), the pilot project of ULGE’s Public Finance Management on Yirgalem and Bulbula cities have been greatly helped to increase their municipal income. In particular, he pointed out that the best practice of Yirgalem city’s income generating system has been recognized at the national level and can be expanded to other cities in the country. …
About the project
The overarching objective of the project is to enhance the institutional and operational capabilities of local governments, thereby advancing Ethiopia’s decentralization efforts and fostering sustainable development.
The project’s specific goals are as follows:
- Enhance the effectiveness of local government representative bodies at both urban and rural levels, transforming them into robust platforms for exchange and advocacy with higher tiers of government.
- Strengthen the capacity of woredas (districts) in Public Finance Management, including the augmentation of Own Source Revenue Generation, and bolster Civil Service Capacity to improve service delivery.
The anticipated outcomes of the project are as follows:
Result 1: Consolidation of the Ethiopian Cities Association, evidenced by an increase in membership dues, the formulation of a comprehensive five-year strategic plan, the organization of numerous training workshops, and active engagement in policy formulation at the federal level, exemplified by contributions to initiatives such as the New Urban Policy.
Result 2: Facilitation of initiatives aimed at establishing representation for sub-national governments at the rural level, with notable progress observed in two pilot zones centered around Yirgalem (in the Sidama Region) and Bulbula (in the Oromia Region), fostering enhanced collaboration between urban and rural woredas.
Result 3: Implementation of modernization and digitization measures within the pilot city of Yirgalem, resulting in the overhaul of property and land lease processes, including the introduction of an e-billing and e-payment system. This modernization initiative entailed citizen engagement, enhanced accountability measures, provision of IT support, leadership training, and a redesign of revenue collection processes.
Result 4: Completion of Service Delivery Research initiatives undertaken by two universities (Oromia State and Hawassa), stimulating discourse and debate within the framework of Outcome R2.
April 2022
Launch of Property Tax Pilot in Yirgalem City
In April 2022, an agreement with the Sidama Regional State, the Mayor of Yirgalem, and the Municipality was reached, to undertake a comprehensive update of property assessments and taxation procedures in the city of Yirgalem. Currently, Yirgalem collects only 3% of its potential tax revenue, highlighting the critical need to expand its revenue base to enhance service delivery to residents.
AGM CityRev Revenue Management solution; Expectations delivered
The AGM Core Digital Framework, together with AGM Smart Field Experience for Data Collectors, is the foundation of the technical architecture
Exploring Yirgalem: A Journey Through Sidama’s Charm
Tuesday morning in Hawassa began with the soft light filtering through my hotel room window, coaxing me from slumber to embark on another adventure. As I descended to the hotel’s dining area, the tranquility enveloped me; I found myself the lone patron amidst the quiet hum of early morning preparations. With a day of discovery ahead, we set out on a scenic one-hour drive from Hawassa to Yirgalem, where promises of sunshine and warmth awaited us in the heart of the Sidama Region, Ethiopia.
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