INVITATION FOR APPLICATIONS TOWARDS PARTICIPATION IN THE INNOVATIVE MANAGEMENT AWARDS (2022)

The Ministry of Public Service, through the African Association for Public Administration and Management (AAPAM), is pleased to extend an invite for participation in the Thirteenth Innovative Management Awards (IMA) 2022. The awards will be given away in December, 2022 at the 41^st AAPAM Roundtable Conference in the University of Western Cape, South Africa.

The AAPAM Innovative Management Award is a continent-wide award programme designed to recognize government ministries, departments and agencies; local governments; municipal authorities; institutions of higher learning in African countries; non-governmental organisations; civil society organisations; and international organisations which have developed and implemented creative managerial initiatives for improving the delivery of public services. Winners and other leading entries will be extensively publicised with their executive summaries and featured in the AAPAM Website, publications and other international networks.

HOW TO APPLY

To make submissions, applicants are requested to send their entries by e-mail to: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. or This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.. These are supposed to reach the AAPAM Secretariat by the 30^th June 2022. Organisations which were unsuccessful in previous years may resubmit applications on condition that no similar submissions have been entered in the competition on three (3) occasions. Applicants are requested to provide an executive summary of up to fifty (50) words which shall be subsequently posted on the AAPAM website.

ABOUT AAPAM

The African Association for Public Administration and Management (AAPAM) was established in 1971 as an international professional organisation that promotes best practice and excellence in public administration and management in Africa. The Office is located in UN Avenue, Nairobi Kenya. The key activities of the Association include research, publications, training, seminars, consultancy, conferences and awards. The AAPAM membership is comprised of African governments, private sector, civil society, international organizations, practitioners, academicians and young professionals. The innovative management concept emphasizes on the importance of service delivery in the public sector. It puts emphasis on continuous learning without necessarily having to attend formal training. It further promotes environments whereby employees are able to come up with solutions and new methods of providing service and dealing with customers. A pivotal way of executing this mandate is through research, which in turn allows employees to come up with solutions. The efforts of AAPAM date back to 1962, when a group of Permanent Secretaries in charge of Public Services from several African countries, met to discuss problems facing the African Public Services then. Such meetings continued and led to the culmination of the Association in 1971. The Government of the Kingdom of Eswatini is an official member of APAAM and therefore participates in their events, which include sitting in forums to exchange information and ideas with other African countries on pertinent issues affecting public sector performance. Other activities include participating in management awards, fellowship programmes and calls for research papers.

INNOVATIVE MANAGEMENT AWARDS (IMA)

The Innovative Management Awards were established in 2005 as one of AAPAM’s initiatives to enable African countries to participate and showcase innovations in service delivery which are contributing towards a high performing public service. AAPAM IMA is consistent with Agenda 2063 and the SDGs which promotes innovations, a key driver for the transformation and modernization of African public services as well as sustainable development. Similarly, the Eswatini Government’s Strategic Roadmap and the Ministry of Public Service Strategic Plan advocate for innovation in order to attain the culture of service excellence in the public service.  

 As per the Government In-Service Training Policy, the Department of Human Resource Development (HRD) also seeks to foster continuous learning through innovation in Government. Innovation enables the learning process to continue in the workplace, even post formal training. This culminates through the generation of creative ideas which address organizational challenges and improve performance.

PURPOSE AND OBJECTIVES OF THE INNOVATIVE MANAGEMENT AWARDS

• To recognize and publicize innovations in the public sector which are worthy of emulation.
• To enhance the image of the public sector in Africa.
• To promote innovation in the public sector by encouraging and recognizing organisations and people for the creative and effective ways of solving specific problems of administration and management.
• To facilitate the transfer of innovations and best practices as a way of improving the quality of Public Administration and Management in Africa.

TERMS AND CONDITIONS FOR AWARD APPLICATIONS

1. All entries shall be made by a Ministry/Organisation/Authority. Submissions can also be made by a division/branch within organisations.

2. The following entities are eligible to participate in the competition:

• All government ministries, departments and agencies;
• Public sector institutions;
• Local governments and municipal authorities;
• Institutions of higher learning in African countries;
• Non-governmental organisations;
• Civil society organisations; and
• International organisations.

3. All awards will be handed to organisations and not individuals.

4. All applications should be submitted using the specified application form and shall not exceed 1,500 words with an executive summary of not more than 50 words. All supporting materials and documents shall be attached to the completed application form.

5. Entities who have participated in the competition in previous years but did not receive an award are eligible to re-enter the competition for consideration by the Jury, provided that no submission shall be considered more than three (3) times.

6. The Jury shall be comprised of five (5) renowned and well-informed individuals with regards to public sector management.

7. The Jury will shortlist a final list of five (5) applicants who will thereafter be invited to appear before the Jury to present and defend their submissions. The Jury will then decide on the winners for the Gold, Silver and Bronze Awards.

8. The five (5) finalists will be required to present their entries at the Annual Roundtable Conference and the winners in the above stated categories will be announced and the Awards given.

9. The decisions of the Jury shall be final and also has the right to decline to award prizes if the submissions in any one (1) year are not up to standard.

10. The best three (3) entrants shall receive the Gold, Silver and Bronze Awards in order of merit. The other two (2) finalists may receive recognition trophies.

11. Entries may be made in English, French or Arabic.

12. All entries become the property of the African Association for Public Administration and Management (AAPAM).

CRITERIA FOR EVALUATION OF SUBMISSIONS

1. Innovativeness

Entries should be genuinely innovative and not have been carried out anywhere in Africa. Such innovations will include the following:

• A successful experiment;
• Effective implementation of organisational change;
• Translation of new ideas into practice; and
• Harnessing new technology.

2. Relevance

• The innovation should be relevant to core organisational functions;
• Clearly outlined motivation, purpose and objective for the change;
• Positive outlook for the future; and
• Implications for other organisations.

3. Significance

The benefits of the innovation, either actual or potential are significant at local and national level.

4. Sustainability

The innovation has been entrenched for a substantial period of time and has displayed evidence of being institutionalized and self-sustaining with local resources.

5. Replication

The innovation has the potential of universal appeal, replication and transfer. In other words, the innovation has components that can be applied to solve similar problems in similar organisations and/or countries.

Dr George Scott, AAPM Secretary General.

Ministry of Public Service Under Secretary (HRD), Senzakuthi Bhembe.

       Principal Secretary in the Ministry of Public Service, Sipho Tsabedze.

WE ARE PUBLIC SERVICE AND WE ARE AT YOUR SERVICE

CONTACT US AT:

Ministry of Public Service

Second Floor, Ministry of Finance Building

P.O. Box 170

MBABANE

TELEPHONE NO. : (+268) 2404 4438/9

                                     (+268) 2404 3521

FAX:                            (+268) 2404 5379

Download Entry Form                                                        

BE SAFE!!!!

Government of the Kingdom of Eswatini

MINISTRY OF PUBLIC  WORKS & TRANSPORT

DATE:  Sunday 29 March 2020

The Right Honourable Prime Minister of the Kingdom of Eswatini, under the command of His Majesty the King Mswati III; announced an escalated measure to counter and contain the COVID-19 Pandemic that has seen at positive cases confirmed in Eswatini. The measures direct that a Partial Lockdown is implemented effected in the country from 27 March 2020 up to 16 April 2020.

Transport shall operate in the following manner during the Partial Lockdown:

Rail Transport (Passenger and Freight)

Passenger Rail

• Cleaners clean Coaches; door handles and rails every 2 hours with sanitiser.
• Passengers spray sanitizers before they enter the train.
• Passengers must be 1m apart from each other.
• Immigration Protocols are to be followed at Mpaka where they disembark and tour the country. This includes the digital thermometer administered at the border gates. The disinfectant before boarding

Freight Rail

The Rail transport will bring essentials from the Republic of South Africa and Mozambique as described under the regulations during the Lockdown; those include fuel, wheat and containers.

Handover of trains at interchange points

• Train Driver and Train Assistant wear latex gloves to climb the locomotive steps and open the doors.
• They clean the cabin with a sanitiser/disinfectant
• They sanitise the door knobs too
• Train Driver and Train Assistant must be 1m apart

Civil Aviation

The following shall be observed in terms of safety measures:

Airport

• Quarantine Facilities for inbound or outbound passengers presenting COVID-19 symptoms are provided.
• There shall be constant coordination with MOH on the quarantine of suspected cases of passengers.

• Air Navigation and Service Provider (ANSP)

  • Information shall be relayed by aircraft whilst still airborne and inbound to an Eswatini Airport relating to number of passengers on board presenting COVID-19.
  • There shall also be dissemination of that information to Airport and Facilitation Team in particular MOH and Immigration.

  Airlines

  • Eswatini Airlink has suspended all flights for the duration of the partial lockdown. Normal flight schedule shall resume once the National Emergency has been lifted.

  For any aircraft that may for any purpose operate the following shall apply:

  • Cabin Announcements shall be made in cases referencing COVID-19 awareness and measures to be taken by passengers.
  • Contents of the Universal Precaution Kit shall be adhered to.
  • Aircraft Cabin Air Quality Brief to ensure the air is adequately ventilated.
  • In event of Bird Strike on the airport, aircraft precautionary measures to avoid contamination shall be engaged.
  • Ensure Maintenance Crew does not have contact with aircrew to avoid spread of COVID-19. Also disinfection of aircraft prescribed sanitation liquids to avoid surface contamination and spread.
  • Ensure Cargo & Baggage Handlers avoid contact with passengers, aircrew and maintenance personnel to avoid transmission of COVID-19.
  • Ensure Cabin Crew is required to be trained on COVID-19 symptoms in passengers and among themselves and the measures to be taken to avert transmission of COVID-19.
  • Ensure Cleaning Crew avoid contact with passengers, aircrew and maintenance personnel to avoid transmission of COVID-19.
  • Ensure Passenger Agents maintain prescribed distance and avoid contact with passengers, aircrew and maintenance personnel to avoid transmission of COVID-19.
  • Ensure Passenger Locator Form is current and passengers complete the forms.
  • Disseminate Flu Hygiene information by means of flyer.

  Road Transport

  Passenger transport

  1. To comply with the WHO recommendations of Social Distancing, Government has directed that the public transport passengers should observe a 1m distance apart. That would mean that the Public Transport must ferry people at reduced capacity. The carrying capacity for buses shall not be limited to the 20 people per gathering, but shall be guided by the social distancing noted.
  1. Government, particularly the Ministry, shall continue working with the National Road Transport Council and other key stakeholders to address matters involving the operation of public transport within the Partial Lockdown.
  2. 1. Public transport shall operate in the following manner to be in line with the partial lockdown:
     1. i. From 05h00 to 09h00 in the morning peak.
     2. ii. From 15h00 to 19h00 in the afternoon peak.
     • iii. No public transport shall operate between 09h00 to 15h00.
     1. iv. Public transport in this instance is considered an essential service.
     2. v. All passenger vehicles must be sanitised after every trip.
     3. vi. All bus and taxi ranks must be sanitised at regular intervals.
     1. All cross-border road passenger movements to any of our neighbouring countries will be prohibited for the duration of the partial lockdown.
     1. Safety of vehicles and passengers and the entire operation shall not be compromised on the basis of the partial lockdown.

     Freight transport

     • Freight transport shall be allowed to operate to support trade but to adhere to WHO guidelines on operating within the COVID-19 pandemic.
     • Cross-border freight movement for essential goods will continue to and from our neighbouring countries. 
     • Safety of vehicles and operation shall not be compromised on the basis of the partial lockdown.
     • All goods vehicles must be sanitised before and after every trip.
     • All places of loading or work for goods vehicles must be sanitised at regular intervals. Where possible, Government will provide assistance.

     Transport services

     • During the partial lockdown, certain services of the Ministry shall not operate at full optimum. The affected services include:
     1. Vehicle Roadworthiness Testing Station shall operate at minimal capacity but shall be reviewed with time.
     2. Driver Licensing Testing is suspended.
     3. Issuance of new driver licenses is suspended.
     • All public transport permits that expire within the period of the partial lockdown shall be deemed to be valid. However, the permits must be renewed within a period of 30 days after the partial lockdown.

GOVERNMENT OF THE KINGDOM OF ESWATINI

MINISTRY OF PUBLIC WORKS AND TRANSPORT

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

GRADUAL RELAXATION: COVID-19 TRANSPORTATION SERVICES AS REGULATED

The Government of the Kingdom of Eswatini has extended the partial lockdown for a further 21 days commencing today. This extension comes with gradual relaxation of the partial lockdown measures to allow certain low risk operations to continue.

The Ministry of Public Works and Transport would like to announce the following revised guidelines for operating of all transport modes during this period to cenable the fight against COVID-19.  The guidelines are issued in terms of Section 15 and 16 of The Coronavirus (COVID-19) Regulations 2020 (under Section 43 of The Disaster Management Act of 2006).

Road Transport

Passenger transport

1. The operation of public transport is considered essential. Bus, Taxi, Minibus and Midibus shall operate at 70% capacity on condition that ALL occupants in the vehicle wear face masks. Buses shall not have a standing capacity and must also be at 70% capacity and observe the wearing of masks.
2. All passengers boarding public transport must have their hands washed with water and soap or sanitised prior to boarding.
3. Public transport must be regularly disinfected and kept clean at all times.
4. It is the duty of the commuter or passenger of public transport to provide himself/herself with the face mask. The driver of public transport MUST NOT allow a commuter to board the vehicle without a face mask.
5. Operation hours of all public transport shall no longer be restricted but shall operate normal hours.

Cross Border Passenger Transport

1. All cross-border road passenger movements to any of our neighbouring countries remains prohibited for the duration of the partial lockdown.

Freight transport (Local and Cross border)

1. Freight transport shall be allowed to operate to support trade but to adhere to the WHO guidelines, SADC Protocol and Member States agreement on operating within the COVID-19 pandemic.
2. Cross-border freight movement for essential goods will continue to and from our neighboring countries. 
3. Safety of vehicles and operation shall not be compromised on the basis of the partial lockdown.
4. All goods vehicles must be disinfected before and after every trip.
5. All places of loading or work for goods vehicles must be disinfected at regular intervals.
6. Cross border Freight transport operators must ensure all documentation pertaining the adherence to the agreed principles and protocol especially certificate of Fitness before travel are valid and shall ensure  that they submit applications for Certificate of Fitness at least 7 days prior to expiry.

Private Vehicles

1. Private vehicles shall not exceed 70% carrying capacity and all shall be compelled to wear a mask during the course of travel.
2. Private vehicles shall not operate a taxi service or load passengers for gain.

Transport services

1. The following transport services can operate with strict observance to the WHO guidelines on sanitation and social distancing:

1. Driver Training: Driving Schools are allowed to operate as classified under Low Risk by the Ministry of Commerce Industry and Training.

1. Breakdown services are operating normal hours and their drivers are to have masks all the time when they attend to an accident scene or in a recovery basis.

CHIEF NDLALUHLAZA NDWANDWE

MINISTER FOR PUBLIC WORKS AND TRANSPORT

Thursday 16 April 2020

13 November 2019

The Government of Eswatini through the Ministry of Public Works & Transport has signed a Memorandum of Understanding with Crowne Aerospace to operate Inkwazi Airline, an investment of E15 Billion ($1.1 Billion) which will bring 600 permanent jobs in the aviation industry and 9000 indirectly linked jobs to Emaswati.

Minister of Public Works & Transport Chief Ndlaluhlaza Ndwandwe assured the nation that there will be a lot of activity within the aviation sector which will see Swazis trained in aviation employed.

The company will invest within the cargo terminal Eswatini with at least 180 different take offs from the King Mswati lll international airport to an array of destinations internationally within Africa, Europe, USA and Asia.

Minister of Commerce, Trade & Industry Manqoba Khumalo stated that at least 9000 Swazis will benefit directly & indirectly through the partnership. “This is truly exciting because it is in line with the King’s vision of attaining 1^st world status and will shape the outlook of the aviation industry bringing the economic activity that we need for Eswatini to carry out its mandate as an export driven economy in line with the strategic road map.”

The Minister of Commerce further extended his gratitude towards the Ministry of Public Works and Transport, Eswatini Civil Aviation Authority and Mduduzi Dlamini who orchestrated and spearheaded the investment.

Crowne Aerospace CEO, Douglas Berry expressed his excitement towards the imminent partnership with government and promised excellent service delivery on their part as a company.