Over the past two years, more than 70 public sector development assignments were undertaken in some 30 member states. Citizens from almost all Commonwealth developing countries have participated in these programmes.

Public sector reform

	Participants from Asia and the Pacific at a Commonwealth Advanced Seminar on leading strategic change in the public sector, New Zealand, February-March 2005

Reform of the public sector is a key element in the Secretariat’s work in public sector development. Its support for national public sector reform processes includes specialised seminars, training and study programmes.

Cabinet seminars were facilitated for Botswana and Mozambique, at their request, to enhance cabinet ministers’ understanding of their collective and ministerial roles, and to contextualise the role of cabinets in relation to other governance institutions. An intensive study programme for some 52 permanent secretaries in Nigeria promoted propriety in public sector governance and best practice in public sector reform.

Two seminars for cabinet secretaries and heads of public services were held in Canada on the effective management of public services. Consultative meetings were held with heads of public services in Africa to explore the role of the public service in the New Partnership for Africa’s Development (NEPAD), and a framework to guide the implementation of NEPAD in the public sector was developed. The Secretariat has also helped establish a Forum of African Heads of Public Service that meets annually, providing opportunities to share best practice in public sector management.

Other assistance has included a knowledge management programme in Singapore, a public executive development programme in Canada, training on decision support systems in finance in India, and on enhancing public service delivery in Malaysia. A quality assurance programme in key ministries was introduced in Brunei Darussalam.

A leadership development initiative for public sector executives in Eastern and Southern Africa was implemented in collaboration with the University of Botswana. Other leadership programmes have been delivered in Canada, Jamaica, Mauritius, New Zealand, Singapore, United Kingdom and United Republic of Tanzania.
The Secretariat assists management development institutes in re-engaging with public sector developments. Regional seminars in West and Southern Africa were complemented by the Secretariat’s capacity-building programmes and the attachment of CEOs of management development institutes to selected centres of excellence.

Public expenditure management

The Secretariat’s public expenditure management programme is designed to help Commonwealth governments strengthen institutional capacities in public financial management systems. It comprises pan-Commonwealth, regional and in-country programmes.

Draft guidelines for public expenditure management have been completed and a consultative workshop scheduled to develop these into a widely acceptable reference document. A seminar for senior budget officers and managers on enhancing budgetary outcomes was delivered in collaboration with the Government of Singapore under the Singapore-Commonwealth Third Country Training Programme in May 2005.

Good corporate governance

The Secretariat’s efforts to promote good corporate governance focus on strengthening the capacity of companies and countries to compete in the global economy, promoting a positive post-privatisation environment, anti-corruption efforts, and enabling the corporate sector to contribute to people-centred development through improved corporate citizenship. This work covers private companies, state enterprises, banks and financial institutions, public utility companies and agencies, public service bodies, co-operatives and NGOs.

Over the last two years the Secretariat provided training in corporate governance to more than 500 practising directors and some 50 company chairpersons from both public and private sector agencies in 11 countries. Country codes were developed for two countries.

Public-private partnership

This programme seeks to strengthen the capacities of public sector institutions involved in promoting public-private partnerships and private sector investment. It focuses on advisory services on structuring PPP initiatives; capacity-building and training for cabinet ministers and officials; and creating an enabling environment for PPP projects.

In Malta, the Secretariat is advising two government agencies, Heritage Malta and Malta Enterprise, on possible models for PPP projects. Policy advice is being extended to other countries in Africa and Asia. A capacity-building workshop was delivered in India, and training modules are in development. In Tanzania, a cabinet workshop in June 2004 will be followed up with training programmes for senior public sector officials.

Public sector informatics

The Commonwealth Action Programme for the Digital Divide (CAPDD) aims to bridge the gap between countries with and those without access to information and communication technologies (ICTs). The Secretariat has built public sector capacity to deliver on CAPDD through the development of national ICT strategies, notably in Lesotho and Mauritius. Consultations on an update of CAPDD to accelerate project implementation took place in Malta and at a regional workshop in Antigua and Barbuda.

Another area of focus is electronic governance for good governance. Training was delivered on developing e-Government and e-Business strategies for senior technical ICT staff in the public sector and, at the legislative level, to assist member countries in conceptualising e-Governance strategies and the adaptation and adoption of the Secretariat’s e-Governance model laws.

Commonwealth experts helped strengthen ICT capacities in Barbados, Botswana, Ghana, Lesotho, Maldives, Mauritius, Namibia and Tanzania. In March 2004, a CFTC expert began work on an e-Commerce instrument for CARICOM member countries.

Sub-national government and administration

This programme promotes democratic principles, efficiency, responsiveness and participatory elements in sub-national governance institutions. It includes advice on financial decentralisation and the relationship between local and central/ provincial governments, enhancing the financial capacities of local authorities, and other aspects of local government.

Regional symposiums on ‘Making Local Government Work’ were held in collaboration with the Commonwealth Local Government Forum (CLGF) in the Caribbean and the Pacific. Symposiums in Africa and Asia will complete the series.

A conference on ‘Deepening Local Democracy’ held in Aberdeen, Scotland, in March 2005 was attended by some 400 senior local government stakeholders from across the Commonwealth, including about 20 local government ministers. Organised by the CLGF with Secretariat support, the conference agreed principles for local democracy and good governance in the Commonwealth.

Many governments in the Pacific region are undertaking structural reforms at both central and local levels. The Secretariat has engaged a long-term regional expert, based in Fiji Islands, to support regional local government capacity-building projects being facilitated by CLGF. The expert works in close collaboration with the PIFS and other agencies.

Human resource management

Increased mobility as a consequence of globalisation has brought new challenges to the management of human resources. The Commonwealth assists governments in developing strategies to minimise the impact of global pressures on the human resources available for delivery of essential services. It develops new approaches to human resource management, including its integration within national reform programmes.

A study programme designed through the Singapore Technical Corporation enables senior managers to explore contemporary strategies and best practice in the design of country-specific human resource management systems. In-country technical advice had been provided to member governments in East Africa. In Brunei Darussalam, training enabled human resource development managers to undertake training needs assessment for their respective ministries.

The human resource implications of HIV and AIDS present a major challenge for the continued delivery of service in many developing countries. The Secretariat has developed a human resource management framework for use by governments in developing HIV/AIDS response strategies for the public sector. Policy development work has been done in Seychelles and Zambia for human resources retention and efficient utilisation, and to bridge the gaps created by the HIV/AIDS pandemic.

Public sector governance

Over the last two years programmes have been undertaken to build the capacities of senior public officials to address issues of integrity through training and exposure to good practice in ethical conduct and accountability. For example, a regional workshop on ethics and accountability for ministers of public services in West Africa and a related national workshop for senior public servants in The Gambia imparted skills to combat corruption across all sectors of government.

The Secretariat works with Public Administration International (PAI), a UK-based consultancy company, to provide anti-corruption training for senior government officials. In June 2005, senior officials from 21 Commonwealth countries participated in a two-week training programme delivered through the Singapore Civil Service College, which delivered skills in the design, implementation and management of anti-corruption strategies.

Another area of focus has been the establishment and strengthening of oversight institutions, such as ombudsman offices. Workshops and training built skills and strengthened networking between oversight institutions across the Commonwealth, and specialised programmes for senior officials were organised jointly with PAI.
The Secretariat helped institute an office for managing public complaints in Bermuda (UK), and supported an initiative led by the South African Ombudsman Office to help reinstitute the African Ombudsman Forum as a fully fledged regional organisation. In the Caribbean, a regional workshop shared experiences and best practices with countries that have not established such offices. The Secretariat supports the efforts of the Caribbean Ombudsman Association in working towards the establishment of a regional ombudsman.