Enhancing The Core Values of Civil Service

Commonwealth Deputy Secretary-General Winston Cox

Public service organisations have to focus on the core values of public service, adopt business practices and principles, and promote private sector partnerships in the face of globalisation and economic liberalisation, says Commonwealth Deputy Secretary-General Winston Cox.

Speaking ahead of a four-dayseminar on 'Public Service Leadership and Management: The Critical Role of the Head of the Public Service' from 5 to 8 July 2004 in Ottawa, Canada, Mr Cox stated: "Effective democratic institutions and good governance have to be nurtured within a competent civil service, which remains the most dominant player and driving force in national development. Its performance is central to all facets of a country's socio-economic and political development."

The Deputy Secretary-General said public service organisations have to improve their services through constant re-evaluation and reinvention of the nature of the public service business and the delivery mechanisms within organisations. Support programmes have to be developed for heads of public services to manage the changing dynamics as the sector undergoes reform.

"The public that we serve demand a right to be informed, a right to make choices and they are not prepared to accept sub-standard service. They demand and expect the highest level of professionalism, commitment, and timely delivery of quality services. This means that public services are constantly under public scrutiny and the challenge is to close the gap between our current performance and expected performance."

Mr Cox pointed out the transformation of the public service today, with greater accountability by senior civil servants who are often called upon to explain and justify themselves to those they lead, serve or represent. He stressed the importance of public service leaders who can lead their organisations to unprecedented performance levels.

The seminar, organised by the Governance and Institutional Development Division of the Commonwealth Secretariat and the Public Policy Forum of Canada, is designed to promote strategic thinking and management among the heads of Commonwealth public service organisations. Some of the topics on the agenda include delivering government policy, developing policy capacity, performance management, political interference, attracting talent, and ethnic and gender diversity in public service. The meeting will provide a platform for the sharing of ideas, information and experience among senior officials. Presentations, case studies and expert resources will be employed to stimulate discussion and debate among the participants.