Twenty-two civil servants were recently awarded certificates after taking part in a three-day training on data analysis and policy cycle review organised by the Policy Analysis Unit.
The training, funded by the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), was implemented by MDI in collaboration with Personnel Management Office (PMO).
Speaking at the closing ceremony, Muhamadou Lamin Jaiteh, Director of Policy Analysis Unit, said the primary objective of the training was to enhance knowledge and practical skills acquisition in policy analysis, as part of efforts at building strong workplace frameworks for a whole government policy coordination and management.
He said the daily workload confronting the PAU had posed daunting challenges and therefore such a mechanism was a sin qua non for the unit to live up to expectations by effectively carrying out its mandate.
“As we forge ahead in our nation building, we would like to see this body being inaugurated,” he said.
The Gambia Policy Analysis Network (GPAN) would grow into a strong formidable force that would confront the numerous challenges faced by the sector in keeping all aspects of their policies alive and focused, to avoid duplication and maintaining relevance, he added.
It was in this direction that the training sought to target policy managers to capacitise them technically for the job ahead, Mr Jaiteh said.
Alieu K. Jarju, deputy Director-General of MDI, said as technology and society progresses updating skills must progress as well.
He told the participants that for human beings to be productive there must be necessary fundamental skills.
According to Mr Jarju, continually updating skill is the best way to ensure attentiveness and awareness of the challenges and complexities of the modern workplace.
As a public servant training institution, MDI in partnership with government share the belief that the fight against poverty, the struggle for sustainable development, the eradication of corruption and other geopolitical malaise would be won in the country’s civil services with support from the private sector and development partners, he added.
Mr Jarju told participants that the programme had come at a time the Government of The Gambia, in partnership with the UNDP, had embarked on public service reform and institutional capacity development programme, which aims to build the capacity of all the major sectors in the economy.
MDI, in collaboration with PMO, would continue to organise series of training programmes for the public and private sectors so that by the year 2020, the country would have adequate and efficient human resources to mend the economy, he said.
