Question NW3859 to the Minister of Public Service and Administration
29 December 2023 - NW3859
Kibi, Ms MT to ask the Minister of Public Service and Administration
What (a) measures has she put in place to ensure that the innovation from the Centre for Public Service Innovation (CPSI) is integrated as part of the Government plan to /professionalise the Public Service and (b) resourcing plans are in existence to increase the capacity of the CPSI?
Reply:
a) A professional public servant in a rapidly changing and evolving governance environment requires the capacity to innovate and manage innovation, especially in a digitised public sector. As such the CPSI is working closely with:
- NSG to introduce relevant capacity building courses such and Managing Innovation in the Public Service, Design Thinking and soon Strategic Foresight.
- DPSA and other Departments such as DCDT and Home Affairs and academic institutions such as Wits School of Governance to engage on, develop and implementing digital transformation initiatives.
- Participated in the PSETA/TUT in the research on future skills for public servants.
- Currently conducting a comprehensive assessment of public sector innovation in partnership with NACI to ensure evidence-informed innovation policy and practices.
- Facilitating a ‘trailblazer’ network (ie a network of system developers) in provinces and departments to develop ‘in-house’ capacity and share code and documentation for replication across government.
b) CPSI has engaged extensively with all stakeholders to ensure a future-fit organisation. This culminated in 2021 in a comprehensive study by Wits School of Governance on the strategic direction, capacity and resource requirements of the CPSI. As such, a new structure was approved by the MPSA. Unfortunately, due to budget constraints and no additional allocation in the MTEF this cannot be operationalised and as such the CPSI would be reliant on reprioritisation within the MPSA portfolio.
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