South Sudan to deploy 200 highly qualified civil servants from foreign countries
By James Gatdet Dak
August 14, 2010 (JUBA) – The autonomous Government of Southern Sudan (GoSS) has resolved to identify and select up to 200 highly qualified civil servants from the neighboring countries in Africa for a rapid intervention to support the civil service institutions in the region.
The program entitled ‘Regional Initiative for Capacity Enhancement with IGAD Partners’ is an initiative by the United Nations Development Program (UNDP) as part of the UN’s initiative to support what it calls “fragile” countries in Africa.
In a cabinet meeting on Friday chaired by President Salva Kiir Mayardit, the memo on IGAD rapid capacity placement for Southern Sudan was presented to the Council of Ministers by the Vice President, Riek Machar, on behalf of the Minister of Labour and Public Service, Awut Deng Acuil.
In a press statement, the Acting Minister of Information and Minister of Telecommunications and Postal Service, Madut Biar Yel, said the purpose of the project is to enable GoSS to rapidly identify and deploy highly qualified and competent civil servants from the region to deliver essential public services at the level of GoSS and states. This is with the ultimate goal to, “strengthen governance infrastructure in order for it to deliver essential public service, community security and rule of law.”
Three IGAD countries which include Kenya, Uganda and Ethiopia were initially identified as the regional states from which such highly qualified civil servants or retired civil servants can be selected and deployed in various institutions in the semi-autonomous government.
As southern Sudan is left with only five months to decide whether to confirm the current unity of Sudan or establish its own independent country, research recently carried out by the public service ministry has alarmingly indicated that up to 60% of the current civil servants in the government are unclassified staff, while the classified staff constitutes only 40%; most of whom are inexperienced.
Officials say highly qualified civil servants from the IGAD countries will bring a wealth of experience that will provide southern Sudan with an invaluable opportunity for mentoring and coaching.
UNDP will cover the salaries and any administrative cost of the program, while GoSS will address key capacity gaps and areas of need. While the cabinet approved the project as a policy or in principle, it has been sent to the government cluster – special ministerial committee of selected cabinet ministers – to scruitinize technical issues first before they are finally approved. to scrutinize its technical aspects and will then be placed in the Ministry of Labor and Public Service for smooth launching, implementation, mentoring and evaluation.
The cabinet also directed all the ministries and government institutions to identify their areas of need for consideration in the project. These will include, among others, medical doctors, university professors or lecturers, economists, accountants, legal experts, etc.
If successfully implemented, Southern Sudan will be among a number of African countries with weak civil service that the United Nations has supported through providing them with highly qualified civil servants from foreign countries.
Botswana has received up to 10,000 civil servants from other countries in a similar project. Kenya had a foreigner from Ghana as the country’s Chief Justice until early 1990s.
(ST)
Justin Chicago opiny
South Sudan to deploy 200 highly qualified civil servants from foreign countries
While is a good idea to get highly qualified civil servants from foreign countries
that will not solve the problem of qualified civil servants in southern sudan overnight.We have a number of highly trained south sudanese in diaspora epecially in the Usa,Canada and Aussie.
Why don’t the GOSS arrange with Goss missions in these countries to recruit those southerners willing to go back and help in development. Israel did just that following the 1948 Leaque of Nations what is now United Nations approval of its statehood instead of depending on foreign nationals whose intention is just to take money away.
There are those who work in the oil fields as geologist,Welding Engineers and Technicians,Non-destructive testing Inspectors now that the south needs its own refinery.You will be better of with your own people in the future for now it is Ok otherwise embark on massive recruitment incase the south decides to go
independent by 2011.
murlescrewed
South Sudan to deploy 200 highly qualified civil servants from foreign countries
Why not encourage highly qualified Southern Sudanese abroad to return home by luring them back with lucrative pay for their talent?
black-hope
South Sudan to deploy 200 highly qualified civil servants from foreign countries
Why do we depend on foriegners neglected our own brothers, The main problem is that the key Goss leaders including president are not qualified to those positions and lack of implementation of laws to high level of gov’t. This wasting of resources to employ foriegners.
Adam
South Sudan to deploy 200 highly qualified civil servants from foreign countries
Dear Readers,
Here we go! This is going to be disaster. Do you think Mr. President / VP that Kenyan, Ethiopian and Ugandan will help us? Just look at the situation of these countries and you will know that you’re going to bring “Satan” to do more corruption. “Bye Bye” Southern Sudan State.
Is there anything like this in Garang’s literature? Or this is an innovation of the current thieves so they can go to their mansions and their imported dogs and hyenas do their dirty work of sucking the blood and bone marrow of our already dying people.
O Southerners work hard to uproot the incompetent and unjust SPLM/A tyrants
Adam Milawaki, Kansas City
Bec Akuot
South Sudan to deploy 200 highly qualified civil servants from foreign countries
Why not to give the chance to the Sudanese communities who’re in abroad first then u’ll supplement them with foriegners incase their number become limited?
Abraham Majur Lam
South Sudan to deploy 200 highly qualified civil servants from foreign countries
The decision is the good idea in delivering services,it can boomrange if not well manage because these Experts would be paid highly and may not deliver what worhty of their being in the South. In real sense they may drainage our economy if they are not guided by the concern people. To me as a concern citizen and potential ecnomist (Economist in making,the project -ve implications out weight it +ve efects. The gov’t should embrace this idea but also has to invest in the local manpower by offering scholarship to both undergraduate and postgraduate if UNDP is willing to the cost and this will be long lasting solution to inadequate manpower in Southern SUDAN. Let me hope there will be change when this project materialise and I urge our leaders to have Southern Sudan Community in heart than believing in Capitalist ideology of every individual for himself and God for us all. Even Obama push for health care for all Americans which was nightmare during previous regime hence our leaders should make some of differences with NCP/NIF which had denied our civil population service for quite long time.
Sudan virus
South Sudan to deploy 200 highly qualified civil servants from foreign countries
The Sudanese are addicted to fraud and lies of the Arabs.Some of them do it purposely to fail the government of south Sudan while others because of incompetence among other things.Try the foreigners.But check corruption elements.