Forum on the Modernization of Public Services and State Institutions

Transcription

1 African Training and Research Centre in Administration for Development Ministry of Modernization of the Public Sectors Kingdom of Morocco Original: French Forum on the Modernization of Public Services and State Institutions Theme: Making African Public Services Human and Social to better Serve Populations Aide-Mémoire June 2006 Rabat, Morocco

2 Forum on the Modernization of Public Services and State Institutions Introduction: Topic: Making African Public Services Human and Social to better serve populations During its 43 rd Meeting held in Tangier (Morocco) on 29 June 2005, the Governing Board mandated CAFRAD to organize seminars parallel to the Board s annual meetings. In conformity with this decision, the present forum is organized. As a matter of fact, the concept forum suits better the basic idea behind these high level meetings. They serve as a platform for exchanging ideas and knowledge, strengthening capacities and examining new approaches aimed at improving the performance of African public services. The forum is open to decision-makers, professionals and experts involved in public sector management, reform, innovation and modernization and as it covers this wide spectrum of categories; henceforth its appellation: Forum on the Modernization of Public Services and State Institutions is appropriate. These meetings will be an opportunity for participants to immerse themselves in new trends and new perspectives about the topics to be tackled. Each forum will deal with a specific topic relating to the concerns of African public services. As far as this year s forum is concerned, the topic is entitled:: Making African Public Services Human and Social to better Serve Populations. It meets the current concerns of both public services and the populations. Justification and Context: The public service designed to implement government policies and serve the populations, is often badly seen and still fails to develop a good relationship with citizens. Brutal, coercive and impersonal methods still persist in the majority of African public services. At the same time, efforts undertaken through administrative reform policies have not yet yielded an African public service adapted to the real needs of populations. The public service seems to be very remote from populations, which makes dialogue, collaboration and performance difficult. Owing to its long and often complex procedures, the public service gives the impression of working for itself and not for the population. The use of Information and Communication Technologies (ICT), which is supposed to shorten processes and speed up operations, often yields adverse results. The language used, the regulations imposed and the procedures required to be followed are often incomprehensible to users-customers. For some users, the public service seems to be living in an impenetrable, insensitive ivory tower. The outcome of such a situation is that the population seems to be losing trust in their public service which they fail to identify themselves with. The population feels forsaken and misunderstood. This gives rise to numerous manifestations of dissatisfaction and claims. Given this sad established fact, should CAFRAD, Ministry of Public Sector Modernization, Kingdom of Morocco- (Forum_06_AM_En-Rev) 2

3 we carry on with this relationship of incomprehension between African public services and their citizens, or rather review their methods, approaches and structures to better serve populations? This question and many others are at the heart of this Forum which the African Training and Research Centre in Administration for Development (CAFRAD) will organize, in conjunction with the Moroccan Ministry of Public Sector Modernization. The Forum will examine indepth the relationships between African public services and citizens. It will consider the ways and means to be adopted, not only to improve relationships between the public service and citizens, but also and foremost to make public services and all their organizations more accessible, more efficient and oriented towards meeting populations needs. For the purpose of this document, public services should be meant to include all state services and institutions which have a direct impact on the populations, in particular the following Ministries and their related services: - of Civil Service which, in the majority of African countries, not only manages State personnel, but also undertakes the responsibility to carry out reforms and innovations to better fulfill State missions and to better meet populations needs; - of Labour and Social Security, which not only combats unemployment, but also occupies itself in improving the working and living conditions of the population; - of Economy and Finance, which is in charge of planning economic development and ensuring a good distribution of the country s riches among the whole population; - of Justice, which is in charge of ensuring justice, equity, human rights and the equality of all in front of the law; - of the Interior, of Defense and of National Security, which are responsible for the protection of property, populations and the national territory; etc. All these various services and institutions play a major role in a country s social and economic development. They ensure peace, security, social welfare, individual and collective blossoming. Their role in the social blossoming of the population is crucial, as they see to freedom of speech, judgment, action and participation. The question now is to know how ministries and services, which are entrusted with the heavy responsibility of designing and introducing reforms and innovations within the public service, could provide for both the state to efficiently reach its objectives, and for the population to profit by the benefits of their public services? Moreover, what is to be done in order that African populations become a major concern and a priority for the public service so as to better combat poverty, endemic diseases and underdevelopment? In other words, how to make the African public service human and social, knowing that a human public service is one that: (i) sees to better serve its populations; (ii) creates an environment conducive and appealing to the social life of its citizens and ; (iii) enhances the social, economic and intellectual blossoming of populations. Objectives: The Forum s main objective is to consider the possibilities and methods to adapt African public services to the population s real needs and aspirations. Specific objectives are the following: CAFRAD, Ministry of Public Sector Modernization, Kingdom of Morocco- (Forum_06_AM_En-Rev) 3

4 - To exchange experience and knowledge on topics to be tackled; - To consider the fundamental role of the public service and its relationships with the population; - To analyze and determine appropriate approaches to make the public service more efficient, relevant and closer to citizens; - To determine concrete actions to be carried out to better meet population s needs; - To reflect on the ways and means to be used in order back up population s efforts to ensure economic, social and intellectual blossoming of citizens. Contents Issues: The Forum will discuss the following issues: 1) Fundamental Role of Public Service - in the service of the State: to assist the State in fulfilling its missions and programs; - an instrument of social and economic development; - protection and security; - service delivery; - creating an environment conducive to the quality of life and blossoming; - enhancing social and economic welfare. 2) Decentralization of the Public Service and Making Its Services Population-Oriented - to establish services close to populations; - to promote and back up local initiatives; - to supply and develop local resources; - to strengthen local human capacities. 3) Improving Relationships between the Public Service and Citizens - to understand populations needs, demands and aspirations; - to be willing to lend a sympathetic ear to and be at the service of the population; - to create facilities, structures and contact, dialogue and reconciliation mechanisms between the public service and citizens; - to improve information and communication about the public service; - to train civil servants in having cordial and equitable relationships with the population. 4) Adapting the Public Service to Populations Concerns - simplifying administrative procedures; - clear and applicable regulations, laws and texts; - justice and equity for all within the public service; - adapting ICT use to the level and needs of populations. 5) In favour of a Public Service Conducive to Social, Economic and Intellectual Blossoming - to enhance and back up population s intellectual, cultural and social blossoming; - to promote and facilitate economic development actions; - to carry out activities for fighting poverty and corruption. CAFRAD, Ministry of Public Sector Modernization, Kingdom of Morocco- (Forum_06_AM_En-Rev) 4

5 Participants: The Forum is intended for high-ranking officials who are involved in designing and implementing public service policy. These include Ministers, Permanent Secretaries, Directors General and Directors of the various African public services. They will represent Ministries of Civil Service, Administrative Reform and the Modernization of State Services and Institutions ; of Planning and Governance. Also will be included Directors of National Public Service Schools and Chairpersons of National Public Service Commissions. This diversity of participants will allow for a rich and fruitful exchange of experience and knowledge. Resource Persons: Resource persons will be selected from among eminent African consultants, having an extensive knowledge of the issues to be treated. They will prepare and make presentations, take part in debates as well as in drawing up the Forum conclusions. Expected Results: It is expected that the Forum will be an opportunity to change the image the population has of the public service, so that the latter becomes accessible, efficient and high-performing. It is also expected that following this Forum, participants will review the way their public service is run in terms of procedures, structures, service delivery and attitudes, so as to better serve populations. Moreover, the Forum is supposed to open new prospects for the contribution of the African public service in the human development, intellectual blossoming and the fight against poverty. Methodology: Forum proceedings will be carried out in a participative and active way. Participants will have freedom to express themselves, make commentaries and suggest solution avenues to problems. Resource persons will introduce issues in the form of presentations, which will be followed by debates and contributions from participants. Concrete cases will be presented to better illustrate situations. Partner Organizers: The Forum will be jointly organized by the African Training and Research Centre in Administration for Development (CAFRAD) and the Moroccan Ministry of Public Sector Modernization. Date: 27 to 28 June Venue: Rabat (Morocco) Duration: 2 working days Languages: French, English, Arabic CAFRAD, Ministry of Public Sector Modernization, Kingdom of Morocco- (Forum_06_AM_En-Rev) 5

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