Job: Public Service Ministerial Strategic Plan Consultant

Location:  Mbabane, Swaziland 
Deadline: Sunday, 22 September 2013 

Description

PUBLIC SERVICE MINISTERIAL STRATEGIC PLAN CONSULTANT

Location : Mbabane, SWAZILAND

Application Deadline : 22-Sep-13

Type of Contract : Individual Contract

Post Level : International Consultant

Languages Required : English

Starting Date : (date when the selected candidate is expected to start) 07-Oct-2013

Duration of Initial Contract : 25 calender days

Expected Duration of Assignment :25 calender days

Background

The Public Service architecture globally is undergoing significant reforms with the changing environment both in the public and private sector. This includes the increasing demand from citizens for better, quality services; emergence of information technologies which provides alternative approaches to service delivery thus defining the need for a responsive public service sector. More countries are developing a public service that is citizen-centric or people oriented a service that thrives to meet the needs and demands of the citizenry. There are also a number of global and regional initiatives that have been adopted by countries to respond to emerging needs and demands for quality service delivery. The African Union has developed the African Charter on values and the Principles of Public Service and Administration and the long term Strategy for African Governance and Public Administration. These developments have given a momentum for creating efficient public service in Africa. The emergence of information communication and technologies, increased connectivity has also influenced and changed the landscape for service delivery. As the country embarks on the process of developing a new strategy for public service it is critical that alignment to the global and regional initiatives is considered.

The Ministry of Public Service (MoPS) is one of the key ministries within the Government of Swaziland with a mandate of ensuring efficiency and effectiveness of the public sector. It is responsible for the management of personnel in the civil service including implementation and monitoring of the terms and conditions of service for all civil servants. The main objectives of the Ministry are to attain effective general public service management; performance improvement; effective development and utilisation of human resources; promote ethics, transparency and accountability amongst the public service; determine and maintain the right size and cost of the public service to ensure that it's fit for purpose.

The ministry's vision is to transform the public service into efficient, effective, lean and responsive machinery for good governance and to meet national development goals by 2022. The ministry also seeks to ensure that the Public Service is qualitative, responsive, and meritorious and of the right size to support national priorities and development challenges including attainment of the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs). It is founded on the following values objectiveness, innovation, transparency, discipline, creativity, integrity, openness, fairness, mutual respect, diligence, professionalism and pro-activeness.

The Ministry is presently comprised of nine departments namely: The Management Services Division (MSD), a department established to provide internal management services to the sector, overall management of the civil service including productivity and performance, labour relations, development of policies guidelines and legal instruments and client focused services. The Public Sector HIV&AIDS Coordinating Unit (PSHAC) is a unit responsible for public service welfare ensuring that the government has a healthy productive workforce, implement programmes aimed at preventing, mitigating and controlling the impact of communicable and non communicable diseases. The Terms and Conditions of Service Unit responsible for ensuring fair and just labour practices including development of public service policies documents. The Staffing Requirement and Complement Control have a mandate of ensuring quality services in an efficient and effective manner; manage establishment staff registry and implementation of general orders. The Government Housing is responsible for housing allocation and monitoring. The In-Service Training department and Swaziland Institute of Management and Public Administration (SIMPA) are responsible for staff development, in-service short term and long term training of the public sector and the Civil Service Commission (CSC) whose mandate is to ensure adequate staffing of civil servants using transparent practices. All the departments have visions and missions based on their strategic function in the Ministry. Most of these departments were established in the early 70s and the Ministry of Public Service does not have a comprehensive strategy that will drive the Public Service reform agenda. This will be the first strategic plan for the Ministry.

The purpose of this assignment therefore is to develop the MoPS Strategic Plan in line with current regionally and globally trends of public service reform processes, taking cognisant of the country uniqueness, socio economic status and the aspirations of the NDS, Vision 2022. The consultant is expected to assess the progress made so far towards achieving the objectives of the Ministry's portfolio responsibilities; evaluate the degree to which MoPS programmes are aligned to the national development policies; establish the relevance of the ministry in line with the current fiscal challenges versus MoPS's core business and strategic intent; identify important emerging issues in Ministry's programmes and management, this will be incorporated in the Strategic Plan 2014-2018, make an assessment of the capacity of the Ministry to carry out its mandate and also review the current organisational and communication structure and make recommendations thereof.

Objectives

• The primary objective of the assignment is to develop the Ministry of Public Service Strategic Plan and implementation plan to provide the required strategic direction to the Ministry to implement its mandate. The Strategic plan will define strategic goals, objectives and outline the coordination framework for the attainment of transparency and accountability in service delivery;
• To strengthen the institutional capacities of the Ministry of Public Service in the area of strategic planning, coordination, monitoring of the public sector and having a transformational, innovative, people – centred approach to service delivery.

Duties and Responsibilities

The Consultant will be responsible for carrying out the following activities:-

• A detailed work plan for the development and finalization of the strategic plan. This work plan is to be presented and approved by the Public Service strategic plan steering committee prior to implementation;
• Review relevant documents on the Ministry of Public Service, consultancy report; annual reports and its allied Departments including: previous strategic planning reports, policy guidelines, and legislation falling under the Ministry of Public Service; National Development Strategy, Poverty Reduction Strategy; Economic Recovery Strategy, Investor Road Map and any other documents that may inform the strategic plan. This review will include regional bodies such as SADC and AU Public Service development efforts including the UN Economic and Social Council resolutions on Public Service;
• Conduct a situational analysis of the MoPS Departments operations to date through in depth brainstorming, consultations and planning meetings with the Principal Secretary and all Heads of Department of the Ministry of Public Service, development partners on the envisaged strategic direction of the Ministry and appraise and advise the MoPS Public Service Steering Committee on emerging findings;
• Develop a five year strategic plan and implementation plan based on results from the strategic planning meeting and other subsequent meetings with specific, measurable, attainable, realistic and time bound (SMART) objectives and activities to facilitate the achievement of the desired outputs. The strategic plan should be costed;
• Design an outcome-based approach to planning for the effective management of MoPS various programmes. The outcome-oriented approach should measure the impact of public service programmes, to ensure that the Government is focused on achieving the expected real improvements of the lives of Swazi citizens;
• Evaluate the current institutional capacity; organizational set-up and functional structure and develop an appropriate structure for the MoPS;
• Develop an addendum monitoring and evaluation framework outlining key indicators for measuring performance of the Ministry. The Consultant should also provide a mechanism for monitoring sectoral public service delivery to citizens, including guidelines for the establishment of an effective monitoring and evaluation committee for the Ministry of Public Service to make sure that it realizes its mission and mandate;
• Recommend a communication and change management strategy for the Ministry to guide operationalisation of the strategy;
• Present the draft strategic and implementation plan to stakeholders, for review and finalize the plan;
• Present the final strategic plan and implementation plan for adoption by the Principal Secretary and Ministry of Public Service Steering Committee;
• The process for development of the MoPS strategy must be inclusive and participatory of all stakeholders.

Main Deliverables

Measurable deliverables / Milestones to be monitored are:

• An inception report acceptable to the Ministry of Public Service with a detailed work plan outlining the activities to be undertaken in order to carry out the Strategic planning exercise two days into the assignment. The strategic plan should highlight the role of the Ministry vis-à-vis its key stakeholders, and M&E framework for monitoring progress and should be costed;
• Situational Analysis including the Desk review Report following the analysis of relevant documents including previous strategic plan, policy guidelines, legislation, annual reports, National Development Strategy, Poverty Reduction Strategy; Economic Recovery Strategy, Investor Road Map and other critical documents and reports that outline Government governance priorities, reforms and challenges and consultations with stakeholder.
• Presentation and validation workshop of early findings of draft Report; wherein the Consultant will be expected to review and discuss the draft report with the Ministry of Public Service;
• A Draft Strategic Plan with operational plan for MOPS 2014-2018 for approval by the Principal Secretary and MOPS Strategic Plan Steering Committee;
• A monitoring and evaluation plan;
• At the end of the consultancy assignment, submit 10 copies of the original report and soft copy.

Competencies

• Proven analytical, organizational development and inter-personal skills;
• Research and evaluation skills including ability to synthesize information;
• Knowledge of the country's labour laws;
• Excellent oral and effective presentation and report-writing skills;
• Express clearly and concisely ideas and concepts in writing and orally;
• Ability to meet deadlines with minimum supervision;
• Ability to manage conflicting ideas and views from diverse groups;
• Excellent social and communication skills;
• Excellent computer skills.

Required Skills and Experience

Education:

• A minimum of Master's Degree in the following fields: Governance and Public Administration; Public Policy Analysis and Development, Political Sciences, Human Resources Management or a related discipline. PhD is an added advantage.

Experience:

• At least 10 years of relevant professional experience including at least five years experience in Public Sector Administration Policy development and Public Service Reform;
• Experience in public sector policy analysis, human resources management;
• Must have over ten (10) years proven experience of developing Government Public Service strategic plans in the SADC region or in Africa;
• Must be familiar with development of the AU and SADC in promoting an effective and responsive public service.

Language

• Fluency in English.

UNDP is committed to achieving workforce diversity in terms of gender, nationality and culture. Individuals from minority groups, indigenous groups and persons with disabilities are equally encouraged to apply. All applications will be treated with the strictest confidence.

More Info and Application