Address by Minister for Public Service and Administration, Ms GJ Fraser- Moleketi, MP, at the Extended Ministerial Bureau Meeting on the Preparations for the sixth Pan-African Conference of Ministers for Public/Civil Service in Bujumbura, Burundi

Honourable Commissioner for the African Union,
Honourable Minister for Public Service and Administration, Burundi,
Honourable Members of the Bureau,
Our generous sponsors German Technical Cooperation (GTZ),
All protocol observed

Welcome

I am very pleased to welcome you all to this extended meeting. It is an important meeting, one that takes place on the margin of the Post Conflict Reconstruction and Development (PCRD). This workshop is to advance our objectives under the Abuja declaration, which forms the basis of work under the Ministers Programme. To have these two events close to each other assists in aligning the political guidance which the bureau must give to ensure the accelerated implementation of our programme of action.

Given the nature of this special meeting, we have two items on the agenda. The first item is the review of progress under the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP). Under this agenda item we will review processes regarding the implementation of the UNDP Preparatory Assistance Programme. The second item on our agenda will be a discussion of preparations for the sixth Pan Conference of Pan African Ministers for Public Service. We must reach consensus on the process we will utilise and the method and strategy we shall deploy for achieving the objectives of the sixth Pan-African Conference. Since the conference is our decision making forum, it is essential that we prepare adequately for this forum.

During the fifth Pan-African Conference for Ministers of Public/Civil Service in Addis Ababa, 2005, a continental programme was adopted characterised by key thematic areas, which are as follows:

* the all Africa innovation awards,
* the Africa public service charter,
* anti-corruption,
* post-conflict reconstruction and development,
* the Africa public service day,
* capacity development,
* public sector effectiveness,
* strengthening of the regional economic communities (RECs),
* human resource development,
* information and communication technology.

To date, much has been achieved in line with the continental programme, however we need to accelerate our efforts if we are to fully realise our goals.

Allow me to expand on a few of the thematic areas mentioned already:

With regard to the Africa Public Service Charter:

The Africa Public Service Charter (APSC) has a critical role in the work that lies ahead. Through this instrument it is possible to strengthen governance measures and accelerate the capacitation of the state. The charter will further contribute to strengthening systems therein enabling us all to improve service delivery capacity. We should indeed step up our work in this regard.

On 3 December 2007, Algeria hosted a successful workshop during which a decision was taken to accelerate the APSC through the African Union (AU). This is substantial progress; once the charter is implemented, it will assist member states in the transformation of their public service.

Nigeria also stands ready to fund and implement a workshop in Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) and Common Market for Southern and Eastern African States (COMESA) has also expressed a desire to conduct a similar workshop. Algeria, as champion has been advised of these developments. We will ensure that a special team will work with Algeria on these new developments.

All Africa Innovation Awards:

Under the leadership of Mauritius, extensive work has been done under this thematic area. The adjudication process has been streamlined to ensure efficiency and accelerated delivery. I have signed off on the list of adjudicators approved by the AU. The date has changed for the sixth Pan-African Conference this will also effect the timeline for the presentation of projects by nominees.

On Regional Economic Communities

Regional Economic Communities are the building blocks of the African Union Commission (AUC) and are fundamental to driving the developmental agenda as articulated by our Heads of State. We, the bureau, need to ensure that we contribute towards regional integration a key objective of the AUC. Our efforts post sixth Pan-African Conference, is to ensure that the RECs are clear on how they can advance all the elements of the Ministers Programme. As part of the UNDP process my office has initiated consultations with the Development Bank of Southern Africa (DBSA) which has agreed to assist the Ministers Programme so that we can engage the RECs in determining a programme in this regard. The first step, as discussed at the steering committee meeting will be to convene the RECs under the auspices of the AUC, we must also note that terms of reference have been drafted.

Progress on capacity building

Over the last three years capacity building has been a cross cutting theme for the bureau. The time has come for us to move forward in relation to this matter, the UNDP Preparatory Assistance Programme provides us with the ideal opportunity to make substantial strides in this area.

On the African Governance and Public Administration Programme

Honourable members, at the fourth Ministerial Bureau meeting held in Windhoek, Namibia in October 2007, I reported to the bureau that we were engaged with the UNDP to source funding for implementation of the Ministers Programme. The result of these consultations is the United Nations Development Programme Preparatory Assistance (UNDP PA) commitment to the value of 1,964 340 dollars. The grant will provide support for the implementation of high impact activities under the Ministers Programme.

The Preparatory Assistance Grant signed in November 2007 has to be implemented in one calendar year, which commenced on 1 January 2008. We therefore have one year to implement the programmes that fall under the UNDP PA programme.

I am please to inform you that the UNDP has informed us that the long term strategy of the Ministers Programme is in line with the UNDP Africa's renewal commitment and the building of institutional capacity in the continent as part of the UNDP strategic plan for 2008/11. This has ensured that the Preparatory Assistance Programme forms part of the UNDPs 2008/09 strategy and that this project is viewed as a seed to a long term strategy of the Ministers Programme. The significance of the UNDP PA cannot be over emphasised as it is the most crucial integral part of the future success and sustainability of the Ministers Programme.

As we prepare for the Ghana Conference in September 2008, during which the implementation of the Paris Declaration will be reviewed, we need to focus on ownership of our programme. Ownership goes beyond only setting the developmental agenda but actively engaging in its implementation and providing the necessary leadership.

Ghana provides an excellent platform for us to come up with concrete measures beyond conceptualisation and planning and to move towards implementation and application. Above all it allows us to engage with the Paris Declaration.

I urge you to consider the ethos of 'Business Unusual', coined by the President of the Republic of South Africa, Mr Thabo Mbeki. I quote, "We speak of Business Unusual not referring to any changes in our established policies but with regard to the speedy, efficient and effective implementation of these policies and programmes, so that the lives of our people should change for the better, sooner rather than later. With all hands on deck, and a commitment to conduct our business in an unusual and more effective fashion, we shall sustain the process of our reconstruction and development and take it to even higher levels". State of the Nation Address (SONA 2008)

I believe that this has broadly been the philosophy of the bureau and emphasise that we need to strive to epitomise the spirit of 'Business Unusual'.

I thank you.

Issued by: Ministry for Public Service and Administration
7 April 2008