EDWIN B.R. GBARGAYEPRESENTER/DISCUSSANT/

FACILITATOR PA-301

UP-NCPAG

OUTLINE

INTRODUCTIONHISTORICAL FACTSEVOLUTION OF REFORMGLOBAL EXPERIENCEWHY REFORM IN LIBERIACHALLENGES/CONSTRAINTSIMPACTSINTERNATIONAL

OBSERVATIONREFERENCES

Liberia

LiberiaLiberia : “Grain Coast”, “Land of the Free”Founded by The American Colonization

SocietyHomeland for Freed Black Slaves from the

USIndependence-1847Monrovia-Capital CityPopulation: 3.6 million (UNDP 2007)Sixteen Indigenous Tribes Official Language: English

Historical Facts

Founded by The American Colonization Society

Homeland for Freed Black Slaves from the US

Independence-1847

FOURTEEN YEAR BRUTAL CIVIL WAR

Former President Charles G. Taylor

WAR IMAGES

War Images

The Liberian Leader

President Ellen Johnson Sirleaf

EVOLUTION OF REFORM

ROOT CAUSES OF REFORM

American Government reform was largely due to public dissatisfaction with government

European Union was mandated to reform due to its Mission and Vision

Former Soviet Bloc administrative reform went hand in hand with democratization and political reform

Latin America with repeated economic crises the failure of “Primera Generacion” of reforms to achieve economic stability

Sub-Saharan Africa democratization of political Administration to achieve Economic Growth and Stability

GLOBAL EXPERIENCE

MexicoBrazilPhilippines

PUBLIC MANAGEMENT REFORM

Survey conducted in 1999 found that during the last two decades:

40% of the World’s 123 countries had one major reform movement

15% had some public management reforms but no national level initiatives

22% of the world’s largest had 2 or more reform movements

Most of the Latin American countries have had one major reform especially with modernization of the state

The Global Government Movement

THREE PHASES:

1. 1980’s – Government concentrated on economic liberalization and privatization of state owned enterprises (SOEs, GOCCs)

2. 1990’s- focus on the administrative reform of core state functions and the building of state capacity

3. 2000’s- Response to globalization and technological development and advancement

WHY REFORM IN LIBERIA?

FAILED STATEBREAKDOWN OF LAW AND

ORDERTRANSITIONAL STATE

Pres. Sirleaf says Civil service is the heart of government business

The Civil Service, with its bureaucracy and technical skills and competencies, the President said, is the heart of government business. It is in this context, that the structure, policies, operations and orientation of the civil service should be reformed.

CHALLENGES/CONSTRAINTS

Corruption and Accountabilitystrong public administration patronage

cultureLack /or Poor ImplementationPovertyHarnessing the Private SectorImperative to train Elected LeadersPopulist Culture

Resistance to ChangeImperative to Change Elected

LeadersStrengthening Institutional

Capacities of the Legislature

Entrenching Legal and Judicial Reform

CHALLENGES/CONSTRAINTS

REFORM MEASURES

GOOD GOVERNANCEREFORM AS POLICYSTRONG IMPLEMENTATIONFIGHT AGAINST RAMPANT

CORRUPTIONSTRENGTHENING OF JUDICIAL

SYSTEMDOWNSIZING/RIGHTSIZING OF CIVIL

SERVICELEGISLATION OF LAWS

REFORM AREAS

REACTIVATION OF THE CIVIL SERVICE

APPORTIONMET OF POWER-THREE BRANCHES OF GOVERNMENT

INCLUSIVENESS OF THE CSOs IN POLITICAL REALM

SUBSTANTATIVE DEVOLUTION OF POWER /RESOURCES TO COUNTIES, DISTRICTS, ETC.

WIDER CEATION OF ENVIRONMENTFOR PRIVATE SECTOR PARTICIPATION IN ECONOMY

ENHANCEMENT OF THE JUDICIARY TO BE INDEPENDENT ENACTMENT OF

ANTI-CORRUPTION LAWESTABLISHMENT OF WATCH DOG

GROUPS

REFORM AREAS

ENFOCEMNT OF ETHICAL AND ACCOUNTABILITY CODES

IMPROVED AX ADMINISTRATION REGIME

PASSAGE OF TELECOMMUNICATIO ACTPASSAGE OF PUBLIC FINANCIAL

MANAGEMENT ACTTHE CODE OF CONDUCT LAWAMENDMENT OF THE PENL LAW

REFORM AREAS

ESTABLISHMENT OF THE VETERANS BUREAU

CREATION OF TH LIBERIA AIRPORT AUTHORITY

ESTABLISHMENT OF THE INDEPENDENT HUMAN RIGHTS COMMISSION

DISSOLUTION OF DORMANT SOEsIMPLEMENTATION OF THE BUILD OF

TRANSFER (BOT)

REFORM AREAS

REMOVAL OF GHOST NAMES FROM GOV’T PAYROLL

ESTABLISHMENT OF LAND REFORM COMMISSION

INTRODUCTION OF BIOMETRIC IDENTIFICATION SYSTEM

REFORM AREAS

REFORM AREAS

RECONSTRUCTING POLITICAL INSTITUIONS

REHABILITATING SOCIAL AND ECONOMIC INFRASTRUCTURES

DEVELOPMENT OF CIVIL SERVICE REFORM STRATEGY

RESULTS/IMPACTS

HIGH ECONOMIC GROWTH

PROSECUTION OF CORRUPT OFFICIALS

EFFICIENT AND EFFECTIVE AND LESS CORRUPT BUREAUCRACY

INVESTMENT BOOM

US MILLENNIUN CHALENGE ACCOUNT

HIGH DEGREE OF ACCOUNTABILITY AND TRANSPARENCY

FISCAL DISCIPLINE AND MANAGEMENT

MULTI-DONOR BUDGET SUPPORT

RESULTS/IMPACTS

INTERNATIONAL RECOGNITION

UNUS/ UKSCANDANIVIAN COUNTRIESECOWASAUWBAfDBPC

As Obama often says “A New Era of reform” where there will be a progressive mobilization to keep the pressure on and overcome entrenched interests”

REFERENCES