DESA will be organizing a second capacity building workshop for public sector human resource managers in Africa from 12-16 April in Cotonou, Republic of Benin.
Following the establishment of the Africa Public Sector Human Resource Managers’ Network (APS-HRMnet) in Arusha in February 2009, DESA’s Division for Public Administration and Development Management designed a project financed under the “Development Account” in order to provide assistance to APS-HRMnet.
The activities planned under the project include capacity building workshops, expert group meetings, study tours, on-line training programmes and a publication on human resource management in the public sector.
The first activity under this project is a capacity building workshop on “Strengthening Human Resource Capacities for the Achievement of the Millennium Development Goals and Africa’s Development” scheduled to take place from 12 – 16 April in Cotonou, Republic of Benin. The main objective is to enhance the capacity of human resource managers in the public service in Africa to carry out the various functions of Human Resource Management with the aim of achieving the MDGs and Africa’s development.
More information on the workshop
Advisory Mission to Turkmenistan and Belarus
Policy advice through DESA’s technical assistance on public sector and e-government has resulted in new capacity development initiatives in this region.
Mr. Alexei Tikhomirov, DESA’s Interregional Adviser, met with H.E. Mr. Gurbanguly Berdimuhamedov, President of Turkmenistan, four Deputy Prime-Ministers, and other Ministers.
As a result of this mission, the Government is now reviewing and revising its socio-economic strategy up to 2020 and is preparing a 2030 socio-economic strategy, including elaboration of the e-government programme and related public sector reform activities.
The mission also contributed to the preparation of a public budget charter and the design of normative documents in the area of public service. Mr. Lenni Montiel, United Nations Resident Coordinator, expressed UNDP’s interest in funding a project framework for DESA to support the Government in the above areas for 2010-2012.
During the mission in Belarus, Mr. Tikhomirov met with Mr. Usevalad Yanchuski, Assistant to the President of Belarus (public administration and e-government issues), Mr.Siarhei Tkachou, Assistant to the President of Belarus (economics issues), and other officials to discuss the implementation of their e-government policy and the design of a new e-government programme to be launched in 2011.
As a result of the analytical output of the 2010 e-Government Survey, DESA’s Division for Public Administration and Development Management, through Mr. Tikhomirov was requested by the Government of Belarus to assist their government leaders with the revision of their e-government programme. Mr. Tikhomirov was able to generate an agreement with UNDP and the World Bank to establish a project for DESA to help improve online services in Belarus through their e-government programme.
Supporting the Caribbean e-Government Strategy
Training for permanent secretaries senior officials to improve the framework for e-government in Dominica, Antigua and Montserrat.
The Government of Dominica has decided to design an integrated framework for the concrete implementation of e-government by combining the actions of the Public Service Reform Unit with those of the Information and Telecommunication (ICT) Unit as a result of a training workshop organized by DESA’s Division for Public Administration and Development Management (DPADM) together with the Caribbean Centre for Development Administration (CARICAD).
The Government of Dominica also agreed to work on the development of a human resource information system, on computerized leave records, on having a robust and secure Intranet for governmental offices, and on the development of a comprehensive information management policy. DPADM advised on initial steps that are not capital intensive.
In addition, in a meeting with permanent secretaries, it was agreed that there is a need for the definition of a clear coordination mechanism through policy directions from the Cabinet.
Jonas Rabinovitch, DPADM, also met with the Minister for Public Services, the Minister for Information, Telecommunications and Constituency Empowerment, the Minister for Parliamentary Affairs within the Office of the Prime-Minister and with the Cabinet Steering Committee for Information, Telecommunications and e-Government, among other senior officials. The mission was considered timely by the Government, given recent elections.
DPADM obtained consensus from the Governments of Dominica, Antigua and Montserrat that e-government is much more than a mere technology fix and presents a real opportunity to transform the way governments do their business. A few concrete and detailed follow-up steps were designed with these governments, which will be monitored during the next few months.
