Windhoek
Prime Minister Saara Kuugongelwa-Amadhila yesterday revealed that performance contracts for ministers are ready for signature, in line with the policy framework for the operationalisation of performance agreements for ministers and other political office bearers, as approved by Cabinet.
Meanwhile, performance agreements are already in place between permanent secretaries and their respective ministers. “As you may have gathered in public announcements, the president has initiated a new shift towards performance contracts with all ministers,” the PM said.
“This has added a fresh dimension to performance management. At the very least, it warrants cascading the obligations, which ministers enter into with the president, down each ministry’s hierarchy and ensuring that higher-level contracts are synchronised with these lower level-ones.” “Naturally, it also entails nurturing the attitudes and developing the capacity, without which performance contracts cannot be successfully executed,” said Kuugongelwa-Amadhila in a speech read on her behalf by the Deputy Minister in the Office of the Prime Minister, Christine
//Hoebes, yesterday.
Since the assumption of duties by the new administration in March, government has commenced on a journey to deliver a reform agenda to increase the efficiency and effectiveness of public administration and management. One aspect of this reform package is a renewed commitment to manage performance in the public service, which is driven from the top through a process of performance contracting.
“Performance management in the public service does not have a proud history. Various initiatives were launched and aborted since Independence,” the PM said.
“The Performance Management System launched in 2004 remains largely a work in progress with the focus shifting from all-out to pilot implementation.”
Her remarks were delivered during the official opening of the fifth annual conference of the Namibia Institute for People Management (IPM).
In the ministerial performance agreements, each minister is – amongst other duties – required to oversee the development and implementation of citizens’ service charters in all key departments and outlets of the respective offices, ministries and agencies (OMAs) that interface with the public.
Citizen charters are public agreements between citizens and service delivery providers that codify expectations and standards in terms of service delivery.
“A citizen charter will typically focus on the commitment of an OMA towards its citizens in respect of standard of services, information, choice and consultation, non-discrimination and accessibility, grievance redress, courtesy and value for money. The charter also includes expectations of the OMA from the citizen for fulfilling the commitment of the OMA,” Kuugongelwa-Amadhila explained.
She added that the Office of the Prime Minister (OPM) would lead the process of developing service delivery charters by prescribing a practical road map with common standards. “We will continue to challenge the way we do things, both within the OPM and in relation to our work within the broader public sector, in our ongoing quest to deliver better performance and outcomes,” Kuugongelwa-Amadhila concluded.