By Mercy Matonga:
The Malawi School of Government (MSG) has embarked on a programme aimed at filling professional gaps in public officers, especially those holding senior positions.
MSG describes this as a “proactive step” towards enhancing leadership standards within the civil service and has since launched what it calls a Public Service Leadership Milestone Programme.
Among other targets, the initiative aims to provide comprehensive leadership training to officials in various leadership positions within the government.
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During the programme’s launch in Lilongwe, MSG Director-General Professor Asiyati Chiweza said government officers need “necessary skills” to excel in their roles.
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Chiweza mentioned that the idea for the programme arose following gaps identified in the civil service, especially among those in leadership positions.
“We conducted a training needs assessment for directors, district commissioners and chief executive officers [CEOs] in local councils and the content we have developed is a result of the gaps we identified through this assessment,” she said.
Secretary for Human Resource Management Blessings Chilabade admitted that many individuals have assumed leadership positions in government without proper training.
“As government, we believe that after the training, the participants will be better equipped to perform their duties in the context of the public service, the Central Government and district councils,” Chilabade said.
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Recently, during the official inauguration of MSG, President Lazarus Chakwera directed Secretary to the President and Cabinet Colleen Zamba to identify civil servants for educational advancement with government assistance.
The President said this would enhance efficiency and effective service delivery for Malawians.
District Commissioner for M’mbelwa District Council Rodney Simwaka, who is one of the participants, expressed hope that the training would help improve standards in the civil service.
“It has been a general concern that standards have declined in the civil service, and this training will assist us, especially as decentralisation has increased responsibilities at the local level,” Simwaka said.
Singapore-based non-profit organisation Chandler Institute of Governance developed the curriculum for the training.
Its CEO Wu Wei Neng said the programme would empower participants to effectively navigate and excel in their roles “despite the challenges they encounter”.
MSG was established by the Malawi School of Government Act of 2022 through a merger of Malawi Institute of Management and Staff Development Institute.
