Reforms

The 2015 public sector reforms agenda being the first comprehensive public sector reforms undertaken in all three branches of government are aimed at modernising the country and moving Malawi to a middle income country. The Public sector reform agenda of 2015 will be deepened and enforced so that reforms anchor the implementation framework of the key priority areas in the MGDS III.

Guiding Principles

The guiding principles for implementation of the public sector reforms are that:

  1. Public Sector Reforms are a continuous process aimed at transforming public institutions and should in no way be treated like one off events.
  2. Public sector institutions will embrace a continuous improvement culture to ensure that reforms are sustained.
  3. Public sector institutions will adopt innovative and business unusual approaches in the management of government business, problem solving and implementation of reforms to ensure that reforms bring sustained changes.
  4. All public servants including political, technical and administrative leaders shall demonstrate commitment to the modernization and transformation of the public sector. This will include political leadership being committed to reforms including those initiated by preceding governments.
  5. All public servants shall subscribe to the following values in the course of implementing reforms:
    • Accountability
      Public servants and institutions shall be responsible and answerable to the public for the decisions and actions taken, utilization of public resources, performance in terms of results achieved or not achieved based on agreed expectations and shall submit to whatever scrutiny appropriate to public office.
    • Transparency
      Public Institutions shall be accessible and open to the public within the boundaries of the Laws of Malawi to ensure that citizens have easy access to government records and information, including financial records and information on public debts and liabilities and important public documents such as development strategies, public policies and national budgets and; citizens are able to track service performance and are provided with information regarding how important decisions in the public service are made.
    • Excellence
      Public servants shall demonstrate diligence, commitment, and innovation in the execution of their duties, delivery of public services and implementation of priority government projects and programmes, while paying attention to high standards and continuous improvement of services and service delivery mechanisms at all times.
    • Objectivity
      Public Servants shall make decisions, act and provide services to all people living in Malawi with respect, equality, fairness and impartiality regardless of the socio- economic status of the persons, their place of origin or affiliation. All actions and decisions will be based on merit backed by rigorous analysis of evidence.
    • Impartiality
      Public servants shall be non-partisan and politically neutral in the discharge of their duties and carry out their responsibilities without prejudice or favour and provide the government of the day with timely and honest advice based on available evidence.
    • Integrity
      Public servants shall be upright in character, truthful and open, acting in good faith to serve the public interest thereby earning and sustaining public trust in public institutions. Public Servants shall declare conflict of interest, put the obligations of the Public Service above their personal interest and use public office responsibly and conduct themselves in a manner that is beyond reproach guided by a sense of propriety.
    • Loyalty
      Public Servants shall be loyal to the Government of Malawi by helping the government of the day to effectively deliver public services and development to the people of Malawi. Public Servants shall, therefore, be faithful and committed to policies and programmes of the government of the day regardless of their political, religious, social or cultural beliefs in order to serve the public interest.
    • Social Justice
      Public servants shall apply the principles of fairness and equality, guided by the principles of natural justice, in treating people, making decisions, administration of policies, delivery of services and distribution of resources, opportunities, projects and programmes.
    • Professionalism
      Public Servants shall adhere to a professional code of conduct and exhibit high degree of responsibility, competence, reliability and efficiency in the performance of their duties as public servants.
    • Selflessness
      Public servants shall be noble and shall avoid seeking personal gain or financial or other material benefits for their family or friends through their official position.