Kutlo Motseta
2nd September 2026
The United Nation Economic Commission for Africa (UNECA) conducted a three-day workshop designed to enhance public service delivery, which was hosted at Royal Aria Hotel, Tlokweng.
UNECA partnered with the Government of Botswana for the three-day workshop, attended by Governments representative from Nigeria, Liberia, and Namibia.
“When we speak about performance contracts, it is easy to focus on the contract itself … But behind all of these systems is a much more fundamental question: Can the African State translate its promises into results that citizens can see and feel?” said Moeti Mohwasa, Minister for State President, Defence and Security.
He said, “They experience Government on the roads they travel, in the safety of their communities, the opportunities available to young people and the responsiveness of public institutions.”
Mohwasa revealed that in everyday encounters lies the real meaning of public service. “Our citizens are asking a much simpler and more important question: What changed? Did a service become better? Did a problem get resolved? These questions take us to the heart of accountability,” said Mohwasa.
The agenda includes attempts to integrate technology into public service delivery.
“The present workshop gives practical expression to the commitments made under the public-sector reform and social-policy pillar. It also supports the related commitment to strengthen public-sector institutions and accelerate the digitalisation of government systems, particularly in critical sectors such as health and education” said Thabo Fanu Masalila, Co-ordinator of Public Sector Reforms.
The United Nations Resident Coordinator of Botswana, Ms Wenyan Yang, spoke about the challenges that nations must overcome, as the workshop comes at a time when, “resources are shrinking, borrowing is more expensive and governments are under increasing pressure.”
In reference to a Barometer survey Nigeria’s Head of the Civil Service Commission of Nigeria, Evans Aggrey-Darkoh pointed out that many people across Africa are not happy with public services delivery.
“60% of citizens have adjudged governments performance as very poor … (citing) access to water … levels of crime … sanitation, healthcare, electricity … the state is not performing well in 38 performing countries … covid 19 global tension have placed greater pressure on government,” said Aggrey-Darkoh.
Aggrey-Darkoh encouraged states to improve public service delivery, as the private sector cannot thrive without a government enabled trading environment.
The workshop is a follow up to a high-level collaborative meeting between the Botswana government and UNECA on the 29th and 30th January 2025, which was led by Botswana’s President, Advocate Duma Boko.
