Assessment of meritocracy, accountability, and public service reforms in Ethiopia: evidence from public organizations in the Northwest Region

Ethiopia’s commitment to public service reform and meritocratic principles faces challenges, particularly legal and moral violence in the study area. The objective of this study is to investigate the effects of meritocracy on public service reform, mediated by accountability. The study applied an explanatory design and a quantitative approach through a structured questionnaire-based survey (n = 354) with randomly sampled respondents in public organizations in the northwest region of Ethiopia. The reliability and validity of scale items were tested. The data were analyzed using SEM-PLS version 4. The results revealed that meritocracy and accountability had a direct effect on public service reform. Additionally, the study demonstrated a partial mediation of accountability, shaping the relationship between meritocracy and public service reform. Organizations that prioritize meritocracy witness enhanced accountability and public service reform, emphasizing the effectiveness of merit-based systems. The study’s unique interdisciplinary approach and mediation explorations within public organizations are deemed original, laying the groundwork for future research on challenges in public service contexts. Finally, it is recommended for government officials and policymakers to prioritize the local context and a merit-driven system, ensuring an accountability mechanism that addresses complexities in Ethiopian public service reform effectiveness.