Head of Public Service Calls for Collaboration between African Schools of Government

The Chief of Staff and Head of Public Service Felix Koskei has urged Africa Schools of Government and Management Development Institutes (MDIs) to deepen collaboration in Capacity Development.

            This, he said, will further strengthen their networks and engagements in the area of training and build a highly skilled, agile, and adaptable public sector workforce that responds to the needs of the Public Service with its diversity and opportunities.

            The schools were also encouraged to enhance collaboration in research and resource mobilization.

            Mr Koskei stated thatMDIs and Schools of Government are expected to carry out research to inform policy gaps and evidence-basedcapacity-building programsbut due to limitedresource allocations, many are unable to perform the roles and fall short of realizing their mandates.

            “Collaboration will revitalize this research function for many MDIs,”said the Head of Public Service Thursday during the closing ceremony of the 1st Africa Schools of Government Conference hosted by the Kenya School of Government (KSG), Mombasa Campus.

            The four-day conference brought together accomplished scholars, professionals, thought leaders and managers of Schools of Government and MDIsfrom across Africa under the theme: “Advancing Africa’s Public Service Excellence: United in Pursuit to Realize Capable Institutions and Transformed Leadership”

            The schools were further encouraged to be innovative, develop inclusive policies and to collaborate in sharing of knowledge.

“The Continent is in dire need of innovative ways to deliver to a highly informed and demanding citizenry. This is further aggravated by the increasing digital transformation taking place across the Continent and the ever-changing global context within which we must operate,” Koskei said.

            “Our Continent is highly interconnected and interdependent. Its development must then be anchored on policies that promote inclusivity and strengthen networks between Governments, stakeholders, the private sector, donor agencies and other critical drivers to ensure that no one is left behind,” he added.

            The Head of Public Service observed that the criticality of Public Service in the achievements of the socio-economic goals of individual countries and the collective goals of the Continent as espoused in Africa Agenda 2063 under the mantra of “the Africa we want” cannot be overemphasized.

“The Public Service is the fulcrum of the development of the Continent and therefore this Conference is most fitting and timely noting the global and regional challenges facing the Continent,” he said.

            He also called for concerted efforts to address emerging global challenges like Climate change, dwindling resources, growing population, youth unemployment, peace, security and technological advancement facing Africa.

            On his part, Chairperson of the Public Service Commission Amb. Anthony Muchiri reiterated the importance of collaboration among African institutions.

            Amb. Muchiri said that African schools of government must mainstream their courses with leadership values.