Effective policies are the cornerstone of development. They allow governments to meet most, if not all, of their stated objectives by the best use of resources available. When policies fail, the implications, be it monetary or otherwise, can be significant. In the fast-changing world, public policy making is becoming increasingly complex and unpredictable. For it to be fully effective, civil servants must have strong, forward-looking policy development capabilities, with a good understanding of the contexts within which they are working in addition to comprehending government priorities.

In November 2020, we introduced Analytical Skills for Executives – a hands-on training programme that aims to strengthen the ability of civil servants to apply logical thinking to solve complex problems, particularly in relation to public policy development. With the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and East African Cooperation (MoFAEAC) and UNDP as initial partners, we have offered this programme to 76 senior staff of the MoFAEAC.

“Generally, our programmes encourage active and practical learning. This programme is no different. It employs lectures, skill-building exercises, and real-life case studies to help participants learn how to find solutions to complex issues and communicate their solutions, or rather recommendations, to multiple audiences,”said Ms. Maria Kinyonge, Training Coordinator, UONGOZI Institute.

One of the participants, Mr. Albert Philipo – Economist, said the programme is ‘ground-breaking’ and ‘interactive’. He observed:

“For me, it fosters participation; you learn, make mistakes, and improve. It encourages us to become better communicators, critical thinkers, researchers, problem solvers, and innovators.”

This programme includes five courses (Personal Leadership; Emotional Intelligence; Problem Solving Skills; Writing Skills; and Presentation Skills) that run over the course of five days. To learn more about this programme and others offered by the Institute, visit our website or email info@uongozi.or.tz’