The training which brought together officials from the various Ministries, Departments and Agencies (MDAs), Civil Society Organisations and security agencies, among others, seeks to improve, influence implementation of policies and to promote operational excellence towards implementing sustainable development.
It is also aimed at equipping the participants to be able to gain insights about the nature and practicalities of policy development implementation, understand how to influence sectoral, national, international and other policy and strategic frameworks.
Deputising for the Secretary General, Pateh Jah, permanent secretary at the Ministry of Public Services underscored the importance of training, saying it will greatly enhance gains made in the country’s development endeavors.
The training, he added, is quite apt and timely as they embark on the implementation of the Recovery- Focused National Development Plan 2023-2027.
He thus urged participants to participate and make linkages and references to their own jobs, projects and programmes and also capitalise on the gains and experimental learning arising from such diverse cohort.
Professor Hebert Robinson, Vice Chancellor of the University of The Gambia, acknowledged the relevance to The Gambia, as it intensifies efforts to build the capacity of civil servants and to bring strong institutions necessary for democratic governance and social economic transformation.
The policy making process and implementations in Africa, he observed, is sometimes very difficult in view of the fact that it is often characterised by shortcuts, missing links in the policy value chain, particularly in the areas of understanding issues, data gathering, advocacy monitoring, and evaluation.
“Without effective policy making and implementation that is anchored evidence based there will be development but it will not be sustainable. The event will bring together ideas to work towards sustainable development."
Deputising for the Minister for Higher Education, Research Science and Technology, Muctar Darboe, Deputy Permanent Secretary at the Ministry, described the CDP accredited training as a testament to their ongoing commitment to excellence and continuous professional development within the civil service,
He recalled that over the year, they have demonstrated the power of collaboration and capacity building.
Professor Gibril Faal, Director of GK Partners highlighted the achievements and the series of training they have conducted over the years, pointing out that they had conducted training for 80 people and they undertook 216 activities in 2017, which he said, was made possible due to the strong partnerships with some officials.
The training, he added, focuses on areas of development that they feel need to be structured; that is to integrate continuous professional development within the normal working schedules of the public servants.
He revealed that GK Partners have developed and run a number of courses across the world and they are pleased to start to two courses; one on the implementation of policy and operational express.
Professor Faal indicated that they will be discussing with different ministries to set out full programs perhaps one year in advance.
