Question NW2780 to the Minister of Public Service and Administration

Reply:

Since the approval of the Framework for the Professionalisation of the Public Sector by Cabinet in October 2022 the following has happened:

1. A Directive on its implementation has been drafted to guide Departments on how to go about implementing it. The Directive will be issued before the end of the current calendar year and will cover areas related to revisions on recruitment and employment management, human resource development, and performance management;

2. A partnership approach has been adopted where the DPSA is coordinating the implementation of the Framework with the support of the Public Service Commission (PSC), and the National School of Government (NSG);

3. The United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), has been engaged to provide technical support, as well as the development of an independent monitoring capacity for the implementation. To this end, a senior technical assistant resource has been appointed to specifically work on the Professionalisation Framework;

4. In August 2023, the Cabinet endorsed the guiding principles for revising the Performance Management and Development System (PMDS) specifically for Heads of Departments (HoDs). This revised PMDS will be implemented from the next cycle (1 April 2024) and will prioritise productivity, introduce objectivity, and provide a direct link between the performance of the institutions and that of the HODs and DDGs;

5. The revised set of Public Service Regulations has been consulted and a SEIAS assessment conducted. These will provide clarity on a number of definitions to improve interpretation and compliance.

From the above, it should be noted that the Framework comprises multiple pillars, with targeted interventions for phased implementation, which have commenced.

End