Making civil service reform in Iraq a reality
28 Oct 2008
–
A modest and humble Dr. Ghazi Al-Abudi sat in his office at the Civil Service Reform Committee tending to business, an ordinary day, but no ordinary man. Al-Abudi has spent many years pursuing a vision to reform the civil service system of Iraq, and now as the Chairman of the Civil Service Reform Committee he has not lost a minute making his vision a reality.
“There will be no sustainable and lasting reform without a sound civil service reform. Iraq civil service reform has been neglected for decades, but now with USAID’s help we are rebuilding a new civil service system on solid ground,” said Dr. Ghazi Al-Abudi, Chairman of the Civil Service Reform Committee. The formation of the Committee marks a notable milestone in Iraq’s progress toward a new civil service system. The Committee is charged with establishing the Federal Civil Service Commission and is working on a new civil service law in accordance with international best practices in this field.
The current civil service system suffered thirty years of neglect, as an outspoken advocate for a better system under Saddam Hussein’s repressive regime; Dr. Ghazi Al-Abudi was jailed and beaten numerous times. Never wavering, the resistance he encountered made him even more determined to eliminate the corruption that was rampant in the system.
Now civil service reform is a key priority for the Government of Iraq. Article 107 of the Iraqi Constitution requires the creation of a Federal Civil Service Commission. As a part of this obligation, the GoI made commitments to the international community to overhaul the current civil service system. The goal of this reform is to eliminate corruption and sectarian appointment, and institute a comprehensive federal civil service based on professionalism, integrity, and non-partisanship.
The USAID-funded Tatweer project (Arabic for development) is providing technical assistance with capacity building and institutional strengthening within the GoI. With Tatweer’s guidance and support, the GoI has begun reforming the civil service system in order to create a modern, transparent, and professional civil service in Iraq.
Tatweer worked closely with the Prime Minister’s office to form a Working Group dedicated to this important undertaking. Thamir Abbas Ghadban, Chairman of the Prime Minister’s Advisory Commission stated: “We highly appreciate your project’s efforts and support of administrative reform in Iraq.” The Prime Minister then issued an executive order formally establishing an Inter-Ministerial Civil Service Reform Committee (the Committee) comprised of representatives from the Prime Minister’s office, the Ministry of Justice (Shura Council), the Ministry of Planning, and the Ministry of Finance. In recognition of Tatweer’s efforts, Tatweer’s Advisor was appointed as a member of the committee.
As an important step toward creating the Federal Civil Service Commission, a draft law was finalized and sent to the Council of Ministers for approval. The Council of Ministers approved the draft and forwarded it to parliament, where it is being debated through a second reading prior to enactment. The Federal Civil Service Commission will be responsible for implementation and development of a professional civil service system based on merit and transparency according to the new legislation at the federal and provincial levels.
The Committee is working to introduce merit-based appointment and promotion; performance management, grading, and pay systems; human resource management, and new job descriptions and classifications. Important progress has been realized on this level. Once the draft law is finished, the Committee will distribute it to all ministries and government agencies for review before submission to the Council of Ministers for approval and presentation to parliament for enactment.
Tatweer’s civil service program will continue support the Commission’s goals by providing training and expert counsel in the areas of civil service and legislation. Public outreach and education interventions are planned for the near future, so that various public sectors and the public at large are kept informed about the progress of civil service reform efforts in Iraq.
“There will be no sustainable and lasting reform without a sound civil service reform. Iraq civil service reform has been neglected for decades, but now with USAID’s help we are rebuilding a new civil service system on solid ground,” said Dr. Ghazi Al-Abudi, Chairman of the Civil Service Reform Committee. The formation of the Committee marks a notable milestone in Iraq’s progress toward a new civil service system. The Committee is charged with establishing the Federal Civil Service Commission and is working on a new civil service law in accordance with international best practices in this field.
The current civil service system suffered thirty years of neglect, as an outspoken advocate for a better system under Saddam Hussein’s repressive regime; Dr. Ghazi Al-Abudi was jailed and beaten numerous times. Never wavering, the resistance he encountered made him even more determined to eliminate the corruption that was rampant in the system.
Now civil service reform is a key priority for the Government of Iraq. Article 107 of the Iraqi Constitution requires the creation of a Federal Civil Service Commission. As a part of this obligation, the GoI made commitments to the international community to overhaul the current civil service system. The goal of this reform is to eliminate corruption and sectarian appointment, and institute a comprehensive federal civil service based on professionalism, integrity, and non-partisanship.
The USAID-funded Tatweer project (Arabic for development) is providing technical assistance with capacity building and institutional strengthening within the GoI. With Tatweer’s guidance and support, the GoI has begun reforming the civil service system in order to create a modern, transparent, and professional civil service in Iraq.
Tatweer worked closely with the Prime Minister’s office to form a Working Group dedicated to this important undertaking. Thamir Abbas Ghadban, Chairman of the Prime Minister’s Advisory Commission stated: “We highly appreciate your project’s efforts and support of administrative reform in Iraq.” The Prime Minister then issued an executive order formally establishing an Inter-Ministerial Civil Service Reform Committee (the Committee) comprised of representatives from the Prime Minister’s office, the Ministry of Justice (Shura Council), the Ministry of Planning, and the Ministry of Finance. In recognition of Tatweer’s efforts, Tatweer’s Advisor was appointed as a member of the committee.
As an important step toward creating the Federal Civil Service Commission, a draft law was finalized and sent to the Council of Ministers for approval. The Council of Ministers approved the draft and forwarded it to parliament, where it is being debated through a second reading prior to enactment. The Federal Civil Service Commission will be responsible for implementation and development of a professional civil service system based on merit and transparency according to the new legislation at the federal and provincial levels.
The Committee is working to introduce merit-based appointment and promotion; performance management, grading, and pay systems; human resource management, and new job descriptions and classifications. Important progress has been realized on this level. Once the draft law is finished, the Committee will distribute it to all ministries and government agencies for review before submission to the Council of Ministers for approval and presentation to parliament for enactment.
Tatweer’s civil service program will continue support the Commission’s goals by providing training and expert counsel in the areas of civil service and legislation. Public outreach and education interventions are planned for the near future, so that various public sectors and the public at large are kept informed about the progress of civil service reform efforts in Iraq.
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