Nairobi: Public Service Commissions in Africa have resolved to mainstream the adoption of ICT in their operations and leverage research in policy-making while championing professionalism among employees to enhance the effectiveness of service delivery. This was the consensus reached by delegates from 13 member commissions of the Association of African Public Service Commissions, representing the Western, Eastern, and Southern regions of the continent. The delegates convened for a conference in Nairobi to strategize on boosting efficiency in public service delivery.
According to Kenya News Agency, a joint communique was issued at the end of the three-day conference at Safari Park Hotel by AAPSCOMS President Amb Anthony Muchiri, who is also the Chairman of the Public Service Commission of Kenya. The Association highlighted the increasing pressure on public service institutions across Africa to adopt innovative solutions to address the evolving challenges in the workplace. The Association emphasized the need to
build a modern, citizen-centric public service by deploying technological interventions and incorporating novel principles in public sector management.
The communique called on African governments to allocate resources for ICT implementation, which is seen as crucial for realizing e-governments and improving service delivery. It also stressed the importance of capacity building to ensure officers are ICT compliant, thereby enhancing trust levels and overcoming technology apathy.
Delegates agreed on the need to professionalize public service through continuous skilling and training of personnel, aiming to infuse ethical values among public sector workers. The communique specifically highlighted the necessity of fostering an ethical workforce through character formation, bridging the gap between systems, policies, and the people served. It stated that technology should complement human work, as it cannot infuse public service values like empathy and ethics.
Amb. Anthony Muchiri, who was elected as the Presid
ent of AAPSCOMS, read the communique of the Sixth Elective General Assembly and Conference of AAPSCOMS. The conference underscored the importance of personal character in public servants, urging them to radically change their attitudes and be motivated by a commitment to serve the public good.
The AAPSCOMS Conference also advocated for the adoption of a scientific public policy management system, where policy planning and decision-making are based on facts and accurate statistics. Delegates emphasized aligning research with national development goals and improving the quality of research to address challenges faced by citizens effectively.
Furthermore, the communique called for straightforward public policies with measurable impacts, noting that research without impact is not beneficial. The Association also highlighted the importance of prioritizing policy-making to inform succession planning rather than deploying research reactively.
Delegates agreed that public service recruitment should focus on the ri
ght skill sets, and resources should be allocated for the training of public servants, who should earn the goodwill of their governments through their formation.
The Conference advocated for collaboration among various public service commissions across Africa to broaden the Association’s membership. It also called for the simplification and translation of the Association’s constitution into major African languages to enhance effective communication and inclusivity. Participants included representatives from twelve constitutional commissions and independent offices in Kenya, and the conference was opened by Public Service and Human Capital Development Cabinet Secretary, Justin Muturi.