The SADC Public Service Commissions Forum is meeting in Windhoek to strengthen regional cooperation in public administration and improve service delivery.

The three-day General Assembly brings together public service commissions from across the region to exchange knowledge, benchmark best practices, and address shared challenges. The forum also aims to finalize its draft constitution.

Discussions focused on effective recruitment standards, skill development, digital competencies, and strengthening institutions.

“We need a developmental public service that is to take it and calculate it in the development of our economy. It is important that we keep pace with the 4th industrial revolution and digitalization. Africa and our region in particular cannot afford to not have this important development,” said Dr. Kaire Mbuende, Director General of the National Planning Commission.

Participants highlighted public service as a key enabler of economic growth, development, and regional integration. They called for capable, high-performing institutions to deliver quality services.

“The work that faces us is to make sure that we collaborate as the oversight and accountability bodies of public service in order to improve our efficiency and effectiveness. In order to upscale our uptake of technologies being used to improve effectiveness,” said Professor Somadoda Fikeni, Chairperson of the SADC PSC Forum.

The forum will also present reports from its previous meeting, approve minutes, and review the progress of action items.