LONDON, England – The Commonwealth Secretariat will host its 2nd Biennial Pan-Commonwealth meeting of heads of public service and cabinet secretaries in June.
Confirmed speakers include the prime ministers of Barbados and Bhutan, cabinet secretaries, former senior government officials, academics, and representatives of international organisations.
The Secretariat is set to host a meeting of heads of public service, cabinet secretaries, and senior government officials from across the Commonwealth next month. The 2nd Biennial Pan-Commonwealth meeting of heads of public service/cabinet secretaries will be held virtually under the theme ‘Frontiers of Government Performance Management: Towards Generally Accepted Performance Principles (GAPP)’.
Over three days from 6 – 8 June 2022, delegates will have the opportunity to review the commitments made at the inaugural meeting in March 2019, discuss a range of issues relating to public service governance, examine international best practices and available toolkits for enhancing government performance, and further accelerate the implementation of policies towards achieving the 2030 Agenda.
The Commonwealth Secretary-General, Patricia Scotland QC will open the meeting, which will also be addressed by a distinguished panel of speakers that includes senior and former government officials, representatives from international organisations, and academics. The prime minister of Barbados, Mia Amor Mottley QC MP, and the prime minister of Bhutan, H.E. Lyonchhen Lotay Tshering, have been confirmed as keynote speakers.
Speaking ahead of the meeting, the Commonwealth Secretary-General, said:
“The effectiveness of government administration is a key factor in the competitive and comparative advantage of nations. Countries with effective and efficient governments are well placed to succeed.
The Commonwealth’s collective responsibility is the bond of trust between governments and the people they serve. My aim is to build a Commonwealth-wide network that advances good governance and encourages Commonwealth countries to work together from a position of strength.
This meeting will be a great opportunity to discuss, share, and agree on strategies for sustaining effective performance in government, especially in the face of the COVID-19 pandemic. It comes at the right time, helping governments to drive action to create a better environment for effective delivery and achieve their national development goals.”
The secretary-general also hailed public servants across the Commonwealth, particularly frontline staff, for going beyond the call of duty to deliver public services despite several constraints and challenges. “Public servants have demonstrated admirable resilience and fortitude, with many sadly paying the ultimate price,” the secretary-general noted.
This meeting builds on the inaugural meeting where more than 50 delegates discussed strategies and approaches that could assist developing member countries to build public service resilience given the shifting global dynamics and trends. The meeting sought to determine how best member countries could harness the impact of these trends to facilitate the achievement of the 2030 Agenda.
This year’s meeting will provide an opportunity to review progress made in implementing these commitments, identify challenges in the aftermath of the COVID-19 pandemic, and further strengthen the collaboration among Commonwealth countries to foster ambitious new initiatives for successful government performance management systems.
At the conclusion of the meeting, an outcome statement outlining key recommendations will be issued for consideration by Commonwealth member countries. The meeting outcomes will also inform the policy agenda for the upcoming Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting (CHOGM) in Kigali next month and will also be shared with other stakeholders for possible partnerships and collaborations.
