Civil service reform and retraining in transitional economies: Strategic issues and options

Abstract

AbstractCentrally planned and erstwhile centrally‐planned economies in Africa, Asia, Europe and Latin America are variously reforming their systems of production and exchange, sometimes in response to a breakdown in or declining performance of existing models and sometimes in consequence of the need to meet the challenges of a changing global economic environment. The developments that are taking place pose great challenges for governments in managing the process of transition as well as for donors in supporting the bold endeavours of the former. State institutions are also undergoing change, usually as a consequence of the economic reforms underway. This article reviews the experience of Eastern Europe, CIS and selected countries in other regions in three critical areas: policy making capacities and coordination, civil service legislation and reform and civil service training and retraining. Lessons are drawn from international technical cooperation projects being undertaken by both bilateral and multilateral donors in a variety of national contexts.