The District Development Model is a revolutionary approach aimed at bringing all spheres of government closer to the people, says Public Service and Administration Deputy Minister, Sindisiwe Chikunga.
“The District Development Model was identified as a service delivery-planning instrument that aims to respond and address some of the challenges by bringing all spheres of government closer to the people at the district level and to foster an integrated approach to governance.
“This required thorough planning, coordination, collaboration and monitoring, to ensure that government gets value for the money it spends and protects the poor and vulnerable.
“This adaptive integrated service delivery model aims to establish a citizen-centric Public Service that is seamless, adaptive and responsive as per the dictates of the 1997 White Paper on Transforming Public Service Delivery,” she said.
Deputy Minister Chikunga was addressing the Africa Public Service Day (APSD) webinar dialogue on frontline service delivery monitoring.
She said integral to the successful implementation of the District Development Model is a much-needed policy dialogue on developing an integrated frontline monitoring and service delivery improvement system in support of the model.
“At a Continental level, we have the African Peer Review Mechanism (APRM) instrument. The APSD is also one of the critical continental programmes that has been distilled into a Batho Pele service delivery initiative, whose key objective is to “take services closer to where the people live” across the three spheres of government.
APSD Dialogue
This year’s APSD dialogue presented a valuable opportunity and space to the different stakeholders who have and continue to play a critical role in interventions at the frontline service delivery points and sites across the three spheres.
Part of the APSD dialogue was aimed at forging of effective partnerships with citizens, the private sector and other strategic sectors, as there are many instructive lessons that government can and do often learn as governments seek to improve systems, processes and performance of the public service.
The day (APSD) is meant to recognise the institutional contribution made by public servants to enhance the role, professionalism, image and visibility of the public service, as well as to recognise the value and virtue of public service to the community.
The Continental theme for 2021’s Africa Public Service Day is, “Constructing the Africa We Want through embracing an ethical culture that underpins purpose driven leadership”, while at the national level, the theme is “Creating the Front Line Service Delivery We Want.”
“The White Paper on Transforming Public Service Delivery of 1997 compels us to establish a citizen-centric Public Service that is seamless, adaptive and responsive.
“The dialogue today seeks and is affording a platform for critical interactions, update, exchange and sharing of data, information, knowledge as well as best practice by the different stakeholders; who are key to Frontline Service Delivery across the three spheres.
“Our main aim is to optimize government’s initiatives, interventions, and realisation of the desired impact of effective, efficient and economical service delivery,” she said.
The APSD is celebrated on June 23 annually throughout the continent…it is the day on which men, and women whose responsibility it is to serve the people of Africa are honoured.
The Pan African Conference of Ministers in 2001, declared June 23 as Africa Public Service Day. This year, the APSD was held in Zimbabwe.