Overview of the Cabinet Secretariat
The Cabinet Secretariat is a pivotal state institution with a unique constitutional mandate to support the decision –making function of the Cabinet. The head is both the Secretary to the Cabinet and Head of the Civil Service. This dual authority makes the Cabinet Secretariat an important part of the Government. Its core functions include organizing the business of the Cabinet, as well as coordinating and supervising administrative and professional heads of Ministries, Departments and Agencies.
In pursuance of these functions, the Cabinet Secretariat draws its legal mandate from a number of section in the 1991 Constitution of Sierra Leone provides for a Cabinet System of government and the relevant sections include 5. (1) , 68. (1,2,&3abc&d). The Cabinet Secretariat is therefore crucial to the achieve ment of the NEW DIRECTION AGENDA.
VISION STATEMENT
To be an efficient, effective and dependable pillar of support to the Executive.
MISSION STATEMENT
The Cabinet Secretariat exists to support the Executive in taking evidence-informed and Implementable policy decisions through effective coordination, supervision and oversight of the Civil Service.
POLICY OBJECTIVES
- To provide a capable Secretariat for the Cabinet and Government consistent with Section 68(1) of the Constitution (ACT No. 6 of 1991).
- Effective policy formulation and implementation across the Civil/Public Service.
- To provide an innovative technological infrastructure for the 21st. Century Cabinet.
- To strengthen partnerships and experience sharing with Cabinet Offices in other countries to enhance functional effectiveness of the Secretariat.
- To provide strategic oversight and management of the Civil Service.
- To establish a Professional and motivated Public Service.
- To effectively the performance of senior civil servants for effective service delivery.
- To promote accurate and timely information and knowledge of the Civil Service and Government policies, programmes and strategies.
- To provide effective support to all Ministries, as well as Departments and Agencies for timely implementation of Cabinet Decisions.
Introduction:
The governments of Sierra Leone puts premium in strengthening the capacity of the Civil Service to enable government achieve its vision in ensuring socio-economic and infrastructural development in the country. The Civil Service is the engine for growth and development and the need for it to be capacitated cannot be over-emphasized. Over the past years, series of reforms have taken place in the Civil Service to enable it deliver efficient and effective service on a timely manner. These reforms, have brought about remarkable changes in the way the Civil Service does its routine activities, it is no more business as usual.
On top of these reforms is the Cabinet Secretariat who has played tremendous role in ensuring sustained reforms in the Civil Service. Without a vibrant, effective and result oriented Civil Service, development is farfetched and the more reason why capacitating the Public Service for delivery of its functions is continuing. These include actions on improving decision-making and implementation mechanisms; strengthening strategic leadership and performance management in the Civil Service, and ensuring the alignment of ministerial strategies and programs with the Agenda of government.
Throughout the year, the Cabinet Secretariat supports the Human Resource Management Office and the Public Service Commission in rationalizing the Civil Service through selection and recruitment. The Secretariat also supports other government Ministries, Departments and Agencies (MDAs) in ensuring reforms across the public sector.
To demonstrate its determination in ensuring sustainable reforms across the public sector, the Cabinet Secretariat periodically undergoes reforms to strengthen its systems and processes for quality delivery of services. A Management and Functional Review has been undertaken to restructure and re-invigorate the Secretariat to perform its unique functions of over-seeing Cabinet Affairs and the Public Service in general.
In the meantime, Permanent Secretaries and Professional Heads of Ministries, Department and Agencies are now signing performance contract to account for their individual and collective responsibilities. This will ensure that heads of MDAs do not only account for their stewardship but also ensure that they deliver their duties with dedication and passion for the good of the nation.
Meanwhile, the government continues to support reforms within the Civil and Public Service so as to ensure efficient and effective service delivery on a timely basis.
The history of the Cabinet Secretariat goes back to colonial times when the office was established to service the executive decision-making role of the colonial administration. Since then, despite the political and administrative changes that have taken place in Sierra Leone, the centrality of the Cabinet Secretariat has not changed much.
The Cabinet Secretariat continues to exist as a key part of the Office of the President supporting the decision-making function of the Executive Branch of the Government of Sierra Leone. The Secretary to the Cabinet and the Head of the Civil Service plays a dual role that gives him a unique perspective on governance in Sierra Leone.
Thus, the mandate of the Cabinet Secretariat remains vitally important; we have the responsibility to promote strategic improvements in policy-making, as well as ensure effective implementation of strategies and programs for achieving results in development and poverty reduction. While our core functions remains organizing the business of the Cabinet and coordinating and supervising administrative and professional heads of Ministries, Departments and Agencies (MDAs). We have modified the means through which we achieve these objectives, by strengthening our coordination and collaborative networks both locally and internationally, and also by being more proactive in supporting the activities of MDAs.
However, over the years, the Secretariat has been challenged by a myriad of problems including the lack of adequate resources, staffing, and the failure to embrace change in a dynamic and evolving public sector environment. Significantly also, poor data management infrastructure, including the lack of a modern database system and poor IT systems, posed a security risk and hindered public accessibility. The Secretariat found itself seriously limited in providing strategic leadership to the Civil Service, and was perceived to be a mere ‘conveyor belt’ for Cabinet memoranda.
To that effect, the former Secretary to the Cabinet and Head of the Civil Service, Dr. Ernest Surrur (SCHOCS – 2013 – 2018) in March 2013, initiated a restructuring of the Secretariat, in a bid to improve our business processes. The reforms focused on two key areas: (i) upgrading our structures to function-based units and staffing, and (ii) revising the Cabinet Manual to support evidence-informed policy formulation and decision-making.
At the moment, our efforts at reform have yielded significant gains; we now have functional units manned by qualified professionals, coordination and communication have been greatly enhanced by the introduction of weekly Management Meetings and monthly General Staff Meetings, as well as the establishment of an Outlook e-mailing system for correspondence. As a result of our improved systems, in 2014 we were able to formally manage the Performance Contract system for officers in Grades 11 and upwards for the Pay and Performance project, a feat we commend our able staff for accomplishing.
Finally, this website is the official Cabinet Secretariat Website, it is very comprehensive and hopes it provides important information about our operations, as well as serves as a source of inspiration to MDAs in the wider public service. More importantly, we hope it serves as evidence to you of our commitment to support the implementation of the Right to Access Information law in Sierra Leone, and also, efficient and effective service delivery to our clients and stakeholders. Our website is geared towards the move of promoting Digital Access to Information (ATI), focusing on Freedom of Information (FOI). It also plays an important role in promoting transparency, accountability and good governance in Sierra Leone.
ABOUT US:
OUR HISTORY:
The Cabinet Secretariat – (CabSec) was established during colonial times as an office to service the executive decision -making role of the colonial administration. Since then, despite the political and administrative changes that have taken place in Sierra Leone, the centrality of the Cabinet Secretariat has not changed much. The Cabinet Secretariat continues to exist as a key part of the Office of the President supporting the decision-making function of the Executive Branch of the Government of Sierra Leone.
Moreover, the Cabinet Office is the highest administrative organ in the Public Service charged with the responsibility of ensuring the effective formulation and implementation of policies, systems and procedures, monitoring and evaluating the overall performance of the Civil/Public Service for the efficient administration of Government business.
The Cabinet Secretariat has grown significantly over the years. The first Secretary to the Cabinet Secretariat oversaw a small staff of clerks and messengers. They maintained only a small secretariat with a small workforce of people. More than 20 years later, the Secretariat’s workforce now includes some more members of staff including Civil Service employees and contracted employee.
ROLE:
Our role has also changed in response to changing global circumstances. At one time, the Cabinet Secretariat was responsible for a number of Cabinet duties ranging from documentation of the Cabinet papers to control of Cabinet documents to management of the Ministers’ travel, payroll, etc. We now work to secure the general efficiency and effectiveness of the Civil/Public Service and to implement government policy initiatives while building a freer, prosperous, and secure civil and public service.
MANDATE:
The CabSec has a unique mandate within the Public Service governance system. It supports the decision-making function of the Cabinet and its head also serves as Head of the Civil Service. This role duality functions across the strategic high-level policy making cycle to the day-to-day operationalization of the programs and strategies by Ministries, Departments and Agencies-(MDAs).
CORE FUNCTIONS:
Organizing the business of the Cabinet and coordinating and supervising Administrative and Professional Heads of Ministries, Departments and Agencies (MDAs); promoting coordination and cooperation among stakeholders both locally and internationally; ensuring efficient and effective service delivery to the public.
OBJECTIVES: The strategic objectives of the CabSec are:
- To support the Cabinet’s decision-making role in government by enhancing the quality of information, consistency in policy formulation, through evidence- based policy development
- To ensure the effective implementation of government policies and the smooth running of government through leadership, effective coordination, supervision and oversight of the Civil Service
- To provide strategic support to MDAs enabling them to be effective and efficient.
CORE VALUES: INTEGRITY. HONESTY. OBJECTIVITY. IMPARTIALITY. LOYALTY. RESPECT. ACCOUNTABILITY. TRANSPARENCY. EXCELLENCE. CONFIDENTIALITY. SELFLESSNESS.
PORTFOLIO FUNCTIONS: The portfolio functions of Cabinet Office as stipulated in the Sierra Leone Constitution 1991 chapter V section 68 are as follows:
- Constitution of Offices
- Constitutional / Cabinet Policy Matters
- Coordination of Government Business
- Electronic Government / Cabinet
- Human Resource Management and Development;
- Cabinet Affairs / Services
- Civil Service Administration and Management
- Public Service Administration and Management
- Cabinet Decisions Implementation and Monitoring Support
- Strategic and Performance Management Services.
The Office of the Secretary to the Cabinet
The Office of the Secretary to the Cabinet is established under Chapter V. Section 68 of the 1991 Constitution of Sierra Leone and is responsible to the President for securing the general efficiency and effectiveness of the Civil/Public Service. The Secretary to the Cabinet is assisted by two Deputies or Assistant Secretaries to Cabinet. They are responsible for the Administration and Management of the Cabinet Secretariat. Specifically, the functions of the Cabinet Secretariat are:
- Providing secretariat service to Cabinet;
- Ensuring translation of Cabinet decisions into government policies and programs in order to facilitate implementation of the decisions by appropriate Civil/Public Service institutions;
- Providing and spearheading the implementation of the strategic vision of the Civil/Public Service in order to facilitate its transformation and attainment of Government priorities;
- Coordinating the development and implementation of Reforms with a view of improving Civil/Public service delivery;
- Overseeing the development and implementation of interventions to facilitate private sector participation in industrialization and job creation;
- Monitoring and evaluating the overall performance of the Civil/Public Service;
- Facilitating the implementation of decentralization and rural development in order to improve delivery of quality services by local authorities and promote balanced socio-economic development;
- Overseeing Ad-Hoc Commissions of Inquiry and arbitrating appeals from contending ministries, agencies and departments as well as performing functions that are not allocated to any MDA; and
- Coordinating and overseeing the administration and management of the Civil/Public Service.
