Competency framework for new public service culture

A competency framework was developed to be used for the public sector to define the skills, behaviors, and attitudes that officers need to perform in their roles effectively.

It was developed by The National Human Resources Development Council of Sri Lanka (NHRDC) together with the Sri Lanka Institute of Development Administration (SLIDA), Department of Management Services,Public Administration and Management Ministry, Public Service Commission and University of Colombo Management Faculty.

The main objective of the framework is to improve the efficiency, effectiveness and the quality of public sector delivery. NHRDC ChairmanDinesh Weerakkody said “In a continuously changing environment, skilled and experienced managers are the need of the hour, the general public want the quality of service delivered by the public service to improve, therefore, it is necessary to develop and groom managers with the required skills, knowledge and attitude to run public sector organizations.”
Many argue, he said that the existing situation and the problems faced by the public sector are largely due to the lack of the required competencies among public sector managers, also it is necessary to develop new tools, new ways of working, new organizations and skill-sets to deal with the continuously changing environment successfully.

The proposed new framework according to NHRDC Assistant DirectorChamila Jayasingheis expected to achieve the following in the short term and long term;Improve the quality of public service delivery by having on board an ethical, productive and citizen focused/centric managerial workforce; Improve the quality of service of the public servants and also their sense of satisfaction, loyalty and commitment; To develop the high potential officers in the public sector to be effective in senior roles and; Pave the way for a new public service culture over time.

The Cabinet of Ministers has approved the implementation of the framework in consultation with the Public Service Commission.