SINGAPOREAN MISSION CONTRIBUTES TO ONGOING STRENGTHENING OF THE NATIONAL CIVIL SERVICE COMMISSION

25 Aug 2011
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Timor-Leste’s Civil Service Commission welcomed, from 19 July to 2 August 2011, a joint UNDP-Government of Singapore sponsored delegation of public administration and information systems experts from Singapore, to help support the Civil Service Commission improve its information and communication technology and systems.

The experts are from IDA International Singapore, a subsidiary of IDA which specializes in public service IT consulting in Singapore, and were contracted to undertake a high-level assessment of the Civil Service Commission’s current IT position.

The Civil Service Commission of the Republica Democratica de Timor-Leste is an independent statutory body that provides the framework for all human resource management and development activities across the civil service in Timor-Leste, in accordance with the provision of the Civil Service Commission Act (2009). The Commission was set up in 2009 to strengthen overall capacity of the Timorese civil service by developing and delivering impartial and effective government services supported by high standards of professionalism. The Commission is still a young institution, but it is maturing steadily and is keen to benefit from international experience and best practices through international cooperation to nurture its development.

The Singaporean mission conducted a comprehensive assessment of the Commission by reviewing fundamental strategic documents and reports, and interviewing a variety of key stakeholders and staff members. It concentrated its review into the effectiveness and functionality of the ‘Personnel Management Information System’ (PMIS). The PMIS is a system developed to assist strategic planning for the civil service by centralizing and systemizing information on all personnel, processes and performance.

The team identified a number of issues to be addressed, but also suggested a corresponding set of detailed recommendations to help guide the direction and implementation of the information and communications systems. This includes, for example, steps to link PMIS with the Ministry of Finance’s payroll system. Singapore is recognized as having very efficient public service institutions, and the assessment team was able to draw upon Singapore’s own experiences and lessons in related areas, in order to share such learning with the staff at the Commission.
The President of the Civil Service Commission, HE. Mr. Liborio Pereira, welcomed the missions’ findings and stated:

“Now we know what we do not know, what we do not have, and what we need. We, the Civil Service Commission, therefore, with the support of UNDP and other development partners, will pursue with discussions and actions to address the issues identified by the mission for effective and efficient management of the civil service and, in turn, to provide a better service to the people of Timor-Leste.”

The UNDP Timor-Leste Country Director, Ms. Mikiko Tanaka added: “UNDP is pleased to cooperate with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Singapore to provide this timely assistance and will continue to support the Commission’s efforts to address the strategic issues identified by the mission”.

Mr. Seah Chin Siong, CEO of IDA International said, “We’re happy to have had the opportunity to be included in this mission, and to be able to share our public service infocomm experience with Timor-Leste. We hope to be able to contribute more towards this initiative.”

For more information contact:
Joao Pereira, Programme Officer, UNDP Support to Civil Service Reform in Timor-Leste, Ph: +670 743 8767, joao.pereira@undp.org, or
UNDP Communications and Media Unit, Ph: +670 732 7211, john.fenech@undp.org

Orignal Source: UNDP Timor-Leste