Training public sector trainers

"This activity is one of the essential building blocks of the Commonwealth New Public Administration initiative ..."

Senior public sector educators and trainers will convene in Wellington, New Zealand, for a two-week training course on assisting public sector reform in their countries.

Some 30 delegates will attend the 'Supporting Public Sector Reform 2004' programme from 17 to 29 October 2004. Organised by the Commonwealth Secretariat's Governance and Institutional Development Division (GIDD) and the Victoria University of Wellington, it seeks to equip participants with skills and knowledge to actively assist public sector reform initiatives in their countries. The programme will draw on New Zealand's experiences with the decentralisation of managerial authority.

Professor Victor Ayeni, Director of GIDD, said: "This activity is one of the essential building blocks of the Commonwealth New Public Administration initiative endorsed by Commonwealth Heads of Government. It will, in turn, contribute towards the realisation of the Secretariat's broader mandate to promote good governance in member countries."

The participants include officials from Commonwealth countries and territories in Africa, Asia, the Caribbean, Europe and the Pacific, as well as representatives from several non-Commonwealth states. Delegates are teachers and trainers in public administration and management, or those who provide training within government organisations.

The programme aims to tutor participants in developing managerial or public service skills and knowledge. It also seeks to provide a stimulating learning environment that will promote the exchange of ideas and networking. Participants will be updated on current research and familiarised with internationally benchmarked practice. They will present case studies about various aspects of public sector change and formulate action plans for implementation in their respective countries.

This project is funded by the Commonwealth Fund for Technical Co-operation, administered through GIDD, and the New Zealand Agency for International Development. It is the third in a series of public sector development training programmes. The previous two meetings in 2002 and 2003 supported 22 countries.