The objective: To develop a government administration that is strategic, professional, transparent and accountable in the delivery of services and priority programs of the government of the day, and that is inclusive of the needs of Solomon Islanders.
Strengthening the Solomon Islands public service and supporting those working within all arms of the Government, is a key component of the Solomon Islands Government-RAMSI partnership.
RAMSI provides support to Solomon Islands Ministry of Public Service, Public Service Commission and Institute of Public Administration and Management to help drive positive change within the Solomon Islands public service. RAMSI advisers do this by helping to build the human resource management skills of Solomon Islands Government employees.
In addition, RAMSI is supporting the Solomon Islands Government’s reform of the country’s Government Employee Housing scheme. RAMSI also assists the Solomon Islands Office of the Prime Minister and Cabinet, with a focus on strengthening the processes of Cabinet decision-making and the professional development of Permanent Secretaries.
The strategy
RAMSI will provide assistance to the Solomon Islands Government to:
- Implement a full Human Resource Management program across the whole of the Solomon Islands public service.
- Strengthen the Solomon Islands Institute of Public Administration and Management.
- Support the reform of the Government Employee Housing scheme.
- Strengthen the quality, efficiency and effectiveness of the Office of the Prime Minister and Cabinet processes.
To learn more about some of the specific targets that have been set for each strategy, download the Partnership Framework document.
The challenges
Strengthening and modernising the public service is one of the core challenges facing the Solomon Islands Government.For many years, very little unityinequities have has existed across government ministries, with little standardisation across government employment conditions, and regulations governing public servants’ performance being significantly out of date.In addition, many public servants had, in the past, been provided with housing as part of their employment, without the terms of their accommodation being defined. Many of these houses have continued to be held by individuals, with very little documentation of their location, nor agreements related to their use. Greater clarity is required around the management and provision of housing as part public servants’ employment.
RAMSI’s work
RAMSI provides assistance to the Solomon Islands Government to improve policies, procedures, systems and work practices, while simultaneously building the capacity of public officers to lead and manage a contemporary public service. This work covers the following key areas:
1. Human Resource Management
Ensuring fair, equitable and appropriate human resource (HR) practices are used across the whole Solomon Islands Government remains a key priority in the partnership between the Solomon Islands Government and RAMSI. The key targets for this work include:
- Government legislation, policies and guidelines related to recruitment are reviewed, updated and gender-sensitive.
- An HR plan is available that enables forecasting of public staff numbers and capabilities.
- Where appropriate, terms of employment and HR administrative tasks have been delegated to Ministries.
- Employment terms throughout the Solomon Islands public service have been reviewed, based on an appropriate evaluation system.
- Ministries are capable of performing their delegated HR functions.
- Recruitments and transfers of staff are is processed quickly and effectively, using the principles of merit and justice. Particular attention to graduate recruits and women.
- The procedures for grievances and disciplinary appeals are fair and effective.
- The role and functions of the Ministry of Public Service and the Public Service Commission are reviewed and recommended to Cabinet.
- The Institute of Public Administration and Management is providing HR training in public administration to public servants before and during their employment.
2. Government housing
RAMSI works with the Solomon Islands Ministry of Lands, Housing and Survey to reform the management practices related to government-owned houses and the rental allowances for public servants. The key target for this work:
- A capable housing management team is in place that is able to provide government housing advice and support services, including for the implementation of alternative accommodation.
- Support the Government Housing Division to develop a housing maintenance framework to assist national and provincial governments to manage housing.
3. Office of the Prime Minister and Cabinet
Without a capable and effective Office supporting the Prime Minister and his cabinet, a government is limited in its ability to achieve its priorities. RAMSI supports building capacity within the Office of Prime Minister and Cabinet to improve the quality of cabinet submissions and strengthen coordination with SIG agencies on managing government business and policy. The key targets for this work:
- Implementation of an interim Office of the Prime Minister and Cabinet strengthening program.
- Design and delivery of an Office of the Prime Minister and Cabinet Strengthening Program that takes into account strategic capacity development, professionalism and ethical leadership, Permanent Secretaries’ professional development, Ministry corporate planning and Annual Reporting development.
Achievements so far
RAMSI’s assistance in strengthening the Solomon Islands Public Service has made a number of achievements. Some of these include:
- The tabling of the Public Service Code of Conduct in Solomon Islands parliament in December 2009 represented a major milestone in the work to improve the Solomon Islands public service. This new Code of Conduct provides a minimum standard of conduct and work performance for public officers and the majority of public servants have now undertaken training related to their responsibilities within this Code.
- The development of an HR Management Strategy for the Solomon Islands Government has been developed by the Ministry of Public Service, with RAMSI’s assistance. This strategy, approved by the Solomon Islands Cabinet in November 2009, represents an important milestone for the strengthening of the public service.
- New HR Management software has been implemented in the Ministry of Public Service. This software provides a central point for managing staff data, and ensures the Solomon Islands Government now has a central point for managing government employee information.
- A strategic management team has now been established within the Ministry of Public Service, which is now providing stronger direction and leadership within the Ministry.
- New Residential Tenancy Agreements for government-owned houses are now being implemented across the public service. These agreements clearly outline, for the first time, the respective rights and obligations of landlords and tenants.
- An asset register of government houses has been developed which contains, for the first time, full details of the location, condition, and occupancy of all government-owned housing in Solomon Islands.
- A new Public Service Rental Scheme database has now been implemented, containing full details of all rental scheme leases, including information relating to landlords and tenants, property details and condition, financial information, title registry verification, and internal Ministry approvals. This database is in addition to significant improvements to government housing data, with the Solomon Islands Government now able to collect full details of government-owned houses, illegal occupancies, and illegal structures.
- Significant financial savings are being realised through better tenancy management and property management practices. The elimination of incorrect payments to rental scheme landlords, for example, has resulted in savings of approximately SBD$1M each quarter.
- By early 2010, all housing registers have been updated for Honiara (the largest concentration of assets), with work is underway for the updating of asset and tenancy data throughout the rest of Guadalcanal Province, and with registers for all provincial areas being updated progressively.