Koskei urges African Schools of Government to unite in training

SADIK HASSAN-KNA

The Chief of Staff and Head of Public Ser vice, Felix Koskei, has urged African Schools of Government and Management Development Institutes (MDIs) to deepen collaboration in capacity development. 

He stated that this collaboration will further strengthen their networks and engagement around training, ultimately building a highly skilled, agile, and adaptable public sec tor workforce that responds effectively to the diverse needs and opportunities within the Public Service. 

The schools were also encouraged to enhance their collaboration in re search and resource mobilization. Mr. Koskei noted that MDIs and Schools of Government are expected to conduct research to identify policy gaps and develop evidence-based capacity-building pro grams.

However, due to limited resource allocations, many institutions struggle to fulfill these roles and fall short of realizing their mandates.

“Collaboration will revitalize this research function for many MDIs,” the Head of Public Service said during the closing ceremony of the 1st Africa Schools of Government Conference, hosted by the Kenya School of Government (KSG) at its Mombasa Campus. 

The four-day conference brought together accomplished scholars, professionals, thought leaders, and managers of Schools of Government and MDIs from across Africa.

The theme of the conference was: “Advancing Africa’s Public Service Excellence: United in Pursuit of Capable Institutions and Transformed Leadership.” 

The schools were further encouraged to be innovative, develop inclusive policies and to collaborate in sharing knowledge.

“The continent is in dire need of innovative ways to deliver to a highly in formed and demanding citizenry. 

This is further aggravated by the increasing digital transformation taking place across the continent and the ever-changing global context within which we must operate,” Koskei said.

“Our Continent is highly interconnected and interdependent. Its development must then be anchored on policies that promote inclusivity and strengthen networks between governments, stakeholders, the private sector, donor agencies and other critical drivers to ensure that no one is left behind,” he added. 

The Head of Public Ser vice observed that the criticality of Public Service in the achievements of the socio-economic goals of individual countries and the collective goals of the continent as espoused in Africa Agenda 2063 under the mantra of “the Africa we want” cannot be over emphasized