PUBLIC SERVICE MANAGEMENT FROM SWEDEN TO SOUTH AFRICA 2010

On a visit to the AfCoP platform on October 2009, I recall that the first thing I saw was a message about the International Training Program on Public Service Management informing on the extension of the closing date of applications to AfCoP members. As I carefully read through, I felt in my stomach that I should give this one my best shot and said to myself: “this is a once in a lifetime opportunity that I can’t pass up!”

I saw it as a chance to broaden my field of expertise. As a Monitoring and Evaluation expert with experience in different departments including the Presidency and South African Social Security Agency, I felt it would be a unique way to know more about change management in the public sector, specifically given my current assignment at the Department of Public Service & Administration. The part that I especially found interesting is that this program goes beyond simply learning, to actually prepare over 12 months the implementation of a change project. I will write in more details about this project in another article, but in short its aim is to inculcate a culture of change in the area of compliance of public agencies to regulations as part of the governance process.

I immediately downloaded the application form, read the brochure carefully, got my two-pager Change Project approved, and within two days, my application was at the Swedish Embassy in Pretoria. Within two months I had gone through interviews with Professional Management and selection process, not knowing that my fellow AfCoP member, Mr. Innocent Musabyimana, from Rwanda was also selected among the 25 participants from the ten participating African countries – South Africa, Namibia, Mozambique, Zambia, Botswana, Uganda, Rwanda, Tanzania, Kenya and Ethiopia. After admission to the Programme, participants received instructions for the initial work needed prior to the second phase. Among others, change projects were discussed individually with mentors as well as team members.

My takeaways from the training

After this first phase, I went for four weeks (April 19-May 14, 2010) in Sweden to follow an intensive training program with leading experts and resource persons from Swedish public sector institutions and moderators. It offered an opportunity for participants to collaborate and interact with the private sector, civil society, and public sector – national and local governments in the following areas:

• Local Democracy and Self Governance – through interactive methodology, in activities related to the themes of local democracy and self-governance (Visits and discussions with Senior Management in County Council of Stockholm, Local Municipalities of Ilidingo and Hassleholm);
• Democratic Institutions and Participatory Democracy – through interactive methodology, in activities related to the themes of democratic institutions and participatory democracy (Visits and discussions with Director Generals’s of Public Agencies for Ministry of Finance, Ministry for Social Development, Care of the Elderly; Upper Secondary and Free Schools & University of Malmo; Anti-Corruption Agencies, Ombudsman Offices, Parliament of Sweden; etc.
• Human Rights towards Gender Equality – visited and discussed issues seeking to increase successful practicing of gender mainstreaming and, as a consequence, to increase gender equality and implementation of women’s human rights;
• Local Environmental Management in the Hassleholm Area – Visited and discussed Waste Water Management, Energy Resources by ensuring that the participants: 1) acquired an understanding and knowledge of the general preconditions for local environmental management in urban areas; 2) are able to implement a project for change to improve the local environmental management in their home countries; 3) and acquired a network for interchange of experiences and support between the participants.

Next steps

After the training in Sweden, the participants continue to work on their change projects for a period of six months supported individually by and in regular contact with mentors from Professional Management. The next phase is a one-week regional seminar for all the participants to be held in South Africa from November 21-26, during which the change projects will be closely examined. This regional seminar will also include study visits to the participants’ organizations in South Africa.

After that, participants will receive individual coaching according to specific needs and demands, and will finalize their projects. All planned activities will be carried out during a period of 14 months. I am confident that this work will help me bring concrete change in my organization.

The whole Program is based on participatory approach and capacity building. It was indeed an opportunity not to be missed. I especially found in the workshops and study visits very concrete and tangible ways to study results management. I will continue the dialogue on public sector management with my fellow participants, many of whom are about to join the AfCoP.

Ledule Bosch, South Africa
AfCoP Core Management Team member
Department of Public Service & Administration
Chief Director: Public Sector Monitoring & Evaluation