MENAPAR Network's Second Conference Opens in Tunis

TUNIS, Tunisia, October 8, 2015 /PRNewswire/ --

H.E. Mohammed bin Ibrahim Al Mutawa, Minister of Follow-Up Affairs, emphasized the urgent need for scientific methodologies and knowledge bases to achieve a quantum leap in public administration performance, job performance excellence, competency development and administrative governance in all countries of the world. He called for promoting strategic alliances with regional and international organizations and institutes to create a model public administration structure capable of implementing best practices commensurate with MENA region requirements. This statement was made at the opening of MENAPAR Network's Second Conference held at the Tunisian capital during the period 6-9 October 2015 under the patronage of the Tunisian Prime Minister Habib Essid. The Conference was organized by Bahrain Institute of Public Administration (BIPA), Arab Governance Institute (AGI) in Tunis and the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP).

Dr. Raed Mohammed bin Shams, Director General of the Institute of Public Administration (BIPA) and President of MENAPAR, stated that Arab governments have unanimously agreed at the Second Conference, on the importance of public administration development in theory and practice, in order to integrate excellence, effectiveness and quality in government performance, and realize the aspirations of Arab citizens. He added that civil service today is not any less important than service in any other type of institution. To the contrary, success in civil service has become dependent on the state rankings on excellence, effectiveness and quality indicators.

Bin Shams highlighted the importance of development research capabilities in the field of public administration sciences, given their influence on public policies, support of administration competencies to serve as references in applied public administration research and excellence of governance, presentation of national initiatives, and promotion of partnerships between member states for exchange of best practices through mutually beneficial joint ventures. He added that MENAPAR gives utmost importance to the promotion of joint endeavors between practitioners and academia, and between public and non-public sector entities, to develop solutions for public affairs and policies. Bin Shams stated that this has clearly materialized in this Conference, the theme of which was "The Role of Citizens and Organizations in Co-Constructing Public Action in the MENA region".

The first day of the Conference included an open session titled "Co-Constructing Public Action in the Arab Region". A number of parallel sessions were also held to address several themes, mainly public-private sector partnerships, co-construction with citizens, local governance, co-construction and sustainable development, the legal implications of co-construction, creativity and electronic governance, competency building, and co-construction and the environment. The Conference will continue to hold sessions and workshops over the coming two days.

Website: http://www.bipa.gov.bh