Part 6- Public Sector Reforms in Sub-Saharan Africa. Conclusions

Key Messages:

Rethinking and enforcing PSR strategies that tackle issues of values, ethics, integrity and attitude in the public/civil service can turn around the African continent. Strong public institutions, complaint handling systems and streamlined service time processes are in many ways embedded in value-based and ethical public services; and enhances competitiveness;

Public sector reforms should be designed and implemented within the socio-political and macroeconomic context of a given country. And therefore, PSR success may not entirely depend on what we have BUT on how we use what we have;

Meaningful public sector reforms must be driven by a clearly defined national vision, planning framework and strategic direction…And PSR Agenda without Political Commitment is a Dead Agenda;

In actual practice, good PSR strategies and programmes have been designed in Sub-Saharan Africa BUT the problem lies with stakeholder commitment towards implementation.

Food for thought:

• Why have Public Sector Reforms been      branded majorly unsuccessful in SSA? What would be the prerequisites for      Africa to embark on PSRs?

• Given the high cost of PSRs, what kind      of management and funding approaches can help Sub-Saharan African      countries to build sustainable and effective PSR agenda?

• Are Public Sector Reforms still relevant      for Sub-Saharan Africa? Can it be considered a ‘Western Value’? What would      constitute a Public Sector Reform agenda for Africa and with an African      perspective?

• How best can PSRs be evaluated and      measured? What could be the ideal performance measures (at outcome and      output level) for measuring a PSR agenda? Can we justifiably credit PSRs      for sector specific outcomes and outputs when and where the results are      impressive?

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