Public policy, training, and civil service reform

Abstract

This paper presents an international perspective on civil service reform with respect to good governance and public policy training. Theoretical and conceptual frameworks are employed to understand the particular case of Pakistan's civil service. The experience of civil service reform policies in other countries is presented with the caveat that the unique historical, economic, social,and political environment of Pakistan and its civil service system needs to guide adoption of such policies. A case is made for incorporating formal public policy education in the training of higher civil service to improve professional competence of civil servants as key contributors to the policy-formulation process. Evidence, based on systematic analysis of public policies, can help identify best practices and help develop benchmarking criteria for future policies. A higher civil service that has had a quality public policy education, combined with access to data, evaluation of policies, establishment of policy research programmes, and use of information technologies, can contribute greatly to improving professionalism in the policy-making process and to better governance in the country.