The Gambia

Development Objectives

Government’s leadership in development, financing and implementation of a long term strategy for public service reform and institutional capacity development while also addressing short term capacity needs.

Activities

• - Establishment of a Public Service and Institutional Capacity Development Board in the Office of the President to strengthen government leadership and spearhead the civil service reform process.
  
• Recruitment of the PMU staff and procurement of equipment.
  
• Conduct capacity development mapping exercise of all on-going and planned capacity building interventions to determine investment patterns of capacity building to guide government policy
  
• Creation of a database on on-going and planned capacity building interventions
  
• Development and implementation of a communication and sensitization strategy for the project.
  
• Support study tours and exposure visits to selected countries
  
• Identify critical capacity gaps in selected strategic areas and key government institutions
  
• Develop and implement strategies to fill gaps for these key government institutions
  
• Fast track introduction of new systems and processes for operational efficiency
  
• Upgrading of skills of middle-level staff and strategic management skills of senior managers
  
• Monitoring and Evaluation exercises through preparation of quarterly, mid-year and end-year reports as well as organization of quarterly review meetings
  

Intended Results

In line with the changing discourse on civil service reform, the project was developed to focus attention on how the Gambian civil service can be assisted in optimal service delivery for the poor.

Four specific outputs have been identified for this main objective

• Strengthening government’s leadership and coordination role in public service reform
  
• Development and implementation of short-term strategies to address pressing capacity gaps, focusing on critical skills and capacities in selected strategic areas ( i.e economic governance, policy formulation and strategic management)
  
• Assisting key public service institutions to identify appropriate structures, human resources and systems that will enable them to carry out functions efficiently and effectively in the medium term
  
• Putting in place a comprehensive long-term vision and strategy for an efficient and public service sustained by institutional arrangements and partnerships
  

Corporate Thematic Area :Governance and Human Rights

Project Status : Operational

Location: National level

Period of the Project : 2007-2011

UNDP Program Officer: Bashirou Garba-Jahumpa- Programme Specialist

National Implementing Partner: Personnel Management Office (PMO)

Project Director: Permanent Secretary, PMO

Major Sources of Financing: Spanish DGTTF & TRAC 1 US$ 1,800,000: UNDP $ 350,000, Spanish DGTTF $ 1,450,000

Delivery: No disbursements in support of project activities were done in the last quarter of 2007.