Sudan strengthens its African presence by being elected as a member of the Executive Council of CAFRAD.”

Written by: Mohamed Ragab

Sudan concluded its participation in the 61st session of the Administrative Council of the African Training and Research Centre in Administration for Development (CAFRAD) and the 17th African Forum on Public Administration Modernization, hosted by the Moroccan capital, Rabat, by achieving a milestone by being elected as a member of the Centre’s Executive Council, representing the East African region.

The meetings, which included ministers, officials and experts from various African countries, witnessed discussions on the future of public administration in the continent, ways to enhance governance and government leadership, as well as exploring mechanisms to support digital transformation and develop government institutions in line with current challenges.

Sudan wins membership in the Executive Council

The election of Sudan to the Executive Council of CAFRAD is a step that reflects the confidence of the African member states in Khartoum’s contribution to supporting administrative reform efforts and enhancing continental cooperation in the areas of human resource development and institutional capacity building.

This representation gives Sudan a greater opportunity to participate in shaping the center’s policies and to contribute to the implementation of its programs aimed at developing public administration and exchanging experiences among African countries.

Sudanese participation in the forum sessions

The Sudanese delegation was headed by the Minister of Human Resources and Social Welfare, Mutasim Ahmed Saleh, who delivered Sudan’s speech during the ministerial session. He also gave an intervention that addressed issues of government leadership and digital sovereignty, reviewing Sudan’s experience in managing state institutions during the exceptional circumstances the country is going through.

The minister stressed that the continued provision of basic services by state institutions despite the repercussions of the war represents a model in crisis management, emphasizing that public administration reform and human resource development are essential pillars for the recovery and reconstruction phase.

Discussions about the future of public administration in Africa

The forum addressed a number of issues related to modernizing public administration in Africa, including digital transformation, enhancing digital sovereignty, and improving the efficiency of government institutions, in addition to reviewing the center’s administrative and financial reports, adopting the program of activities and budget, and discussing mechanisms for achieving financial sustainability and diversifying funding sources.

The participants stressed the importance of developing public administration as one of the main drivers for achieving sustainable development, enhancing the efficiency of government services, and improving the performance of institutions in various African countries.

Agreements to enhance cooperation with Morocco, Libya, and CAFRAD«

On the sidelines of the meetings, the Minister of Human Resources and Social Welfare held a series of meetings with a number of officials, which resulted in an agreement with the Director General of the KAFRAD Center to prepare a memorandum of understanding and organize a visit by a technical team to Sudan during the month of August, with the aim of strengthening technical cooperation and building capacities.

The minister also discussed with the Moroccan Minister of Digital Transition ways to update the memorandum of cooperation between the two countries, in addition to discussing a draft memorandum of understanding with the Libyan Minister of Civil Service to enhance cooperation in the areas of administrative reform and exchange of experiences.

Enhancing the Sudanese presence in African forums

The Minister of Human Resources and Social Welfare affirmed that Sudan’s participation in the forum strengthened its presence within African institutions and contributed to opening new horizons for cooperation with a number of countries and regional organizations, which supports efforts to modernize public administration, raise the efficiency of government institutions, and benefit from successful African experiences in the areas of governance and digital transformation. He added that the next phase will focus on implementing the outcomes of the meetings and transforming them into practical cooperation programs that contribute to supporting administrative reform plans, developing national cadres, and enhancing the ability of state institutions to provide more efficient and effective services.