Ever since the introduction of the federal system in Ethiopia, there has been an increased demand  for professionals qualified in the area of federalism at the federal, regional and local government  levels and in the higher learning institutions. The due implementation of federalism in Ethiopia has  been seriously hampered by a shortage of competent, skilled professionals to ensure the operation  of federal institutions in the legislative, executive and judicial bodies at federal, regional and local  government levels. This limitation has generated a high need for a masters program in federal  studies. The establishment of this programme is further justified by the post 2001 development in  state constitutional restructuring with a view to decentralizing power and resources from the regions  to the wereda. The level of decentralization that has been pursued since then and the achievements  and  challenges  encountered  in  terms  of  implementing  such  decentralization  merit  a  careful  investigation  as  such  decentralization  has  serious  impact  on  the  local  population  in  terms  of  improving their way of life, development and peace. Of late, there is also a significant development  and interest in understanding emerging cities as autonomous units.  
The MA program in federalism and local government studies is launched against this background  covering a range of issues that are of relevance not only to the emerging multicultural federal  practice  in  Ethiopia  but  also  to  Africa  and  other  multicultural  societies  elsewhere.  It  promotes  teaching  and  research  in  the  fields  of  federal  political  philosophy,  the  history  and  theory  of  federalism,  federal  political  systems,  comparative  federalism,  federalism  and  human  rights, 

federalism as a conflict management tool, fiscal federalism, aspects of adjudicating federal disputes,  federalism  and  intergovernmental  relations,  state  constitutions,  local  government  and  good  governance. 
Accordingly, the overall objective of the program is to contribute to the discourse on federalism in  general  and  strengthen  the  federal  system  of  Ethiopia  in  particular  by  producing  competent  professionals  at  the  federal,  regional  and  local  levels  and  conducting  quality  research  and  consultancy in the various fields of federalism.