SUVA – Nineteen senior civil servants returned from a monitoring and evaluation training in Adelaide, Australia, last month and are spearheading the formation of a new taskforce aimed at improving government service delivery and policy effectiveness.
Ministry of Civil Service Training team leader Mr. Suliasi Tokoni was part
of the travelling delegation. He stated that the four-week training provided an
opportunity for in-depth learning through rigorous workshops led by experts in
the field of monitoring and evaluation.
Mr. Tokoni revealed that the Group through the Taskforce is committed to
addressing the lack of standardized evaluation practices, identifying training
needs for civil servants to effectively implement monitoring and evaluation
frameworks, utilizing evaluation tools, promoting best practices in data management,
engaging stakeholders, and focusing on measuring the success and long-term
impacts of Government services on the community.
Permanent Secretary for Civil Service Mr. Parmesh Chand says he is happy
with the exposure of senior civil servants to best practices in monitoring and
evaluation, noting that M&E is critical in ensuring the success and
sustainability of policies and projects implemented by the Government.
“Monitoring and evaluation exercises help establish pathways through which
government services can lead to desired outcomes, ensuring that our
interventions are strategically aligned with the needs of our people,” Mr.
Chand said.
PS Chand reassured that he fully supports the establishment of the Taskforce,
recognizing its importance in improving government accountability and
effectiveness. He said the needs are practical and significant.
“As such we need to indulge in practioner led training and disemmmination
of information to our colleagues across the Civil Service.”
He adds that the Taskforce is structured along these lines to achieve
maximum impact and results in the shortest practicable time.