Governments outline public sector priorities in Asia

A series of training programmes for officials working in public sectors across Asia was mooted at a recent Commonwealth meeting in Brunei Darussalam.

Food security, rural governance and climate change were among the priority areas for representatives from countries proposing training activities for the Commonwealth Secretariat to initiate and implement over the next three years.

Public administration training in Bangladesh; supporting the National Reconstruction Bureau to work with local governments in Pakistan; and supporting the formulation of national public policy in India, were all raised at the meeting, which took place between 9 and 11 June 2009.

Hidah Misran, Principal Assistant Director at the Federal Government Administrative Centre in Malaysia, was one of 16 senior officials from nine Commonwealth countries who attended.

“It is extremely important for countries to share experiences and learn from each other,” she said. “That is why we have agreed to work with the Commonwealth Secretariat and set up diplomatic training for Foreign Service officials from across Asia at the Malaysian Institute of Diplomacy and Foreign Relations.

“Through a series of practical exercises, role plays, discussions and lectures, the training will present diplomats with the necessary skills to deal with any manner of situations they are confronted with.”

At the three-day meeting in Brunei Darussalam more than 30 programmes were proposed. The Commonwealth Secretariat will now work with the respective member governments to ensure these projects are all followed through before 2012.

The training will be conducted through the Commonwealth Fund for Technical Co-operation (CFTC), set up in 1971 to be the principal means by which the Commonwealth delivers development assistance to member countries.

The CFTC is arranging a further meeting of Commonwealth Primary Contact Points (PCPs) at the Secretariat’s Marlborough House headquarters in London this week.

Secretariat Links:

• Country Profile: Brunei Darussalam
• Public Sector Development