She was speaking in Maputo after the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding between the government and donors who support a common fund for the public sector reform. Under this mechanism, 19.9 million US dollars will be disbursed for phase two of the reform, scheduled to run from this year to 2011.
The memorandum. Diogo said, lays down guidelines for establishing principles, procedures and a common mechanism among the government's partners for allocating funds, and harmonising approaches in following, monitoring and managing the reform programme.
She reiterated the government's determination that the public sector reform should produce tangible results, in terms of improved service provision, and strengthening good governance.
The second phase of the reform also contains components on the fight against corruption, the strengthening of local state bodies, particularly at district level, and professionalising the civil service.
Representing the Common Fund, Irish Ambassador Frank Sheridan pledged that the donors would continue to support the public sector reform because of its stress on improving services to the public, particularly to the poor.
Sheridan added that the partners hope to see the conclusion of a reliable data base on the human resources employed by the Mozambican state, leading to an appropriate wage reform, and a standardised system of salaries and incentives throughout the public sector.
The ANFP is working on this data base through the current census of state employees, due to be concluded by the end of this month. The census should show exactly how many people are employed by the state, their ages, their qualifications, and even their fingerprints.
SOURCE: AIM
