OPC, PSRMU and UNDP undergo Leadership and Change Management Training

Officers from the Office of the President and Cabinet (OPC), Public Sector Reforms Management Unit (PSRMU), Cabinet Office and United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) have just undergone a one week Eastern and Southern African Management Institute (ESAMI) Training on Leadership and Change Management.

The team, which was led by the Chief Director for Reforms Mrs. Seodi V-R White, attended the training from 14^th to 18^th October, 2019 at International House in Nairobi Kenya to strengthen the capacity of OPC officers who are spearheading reforms in the Public Sector. UNDP, on the other hand, supports various initiatives under the Public Sector Reforms Programme.

The Malawi Public Sector Reforms Programme was launched in February 2015 under a new impetus for reforms by His Excellency President Professor Arthur Peter Mutharika and currently the reforms are being undertaken by all 18 Government Ministries and their Departments and Agencies, 35 local Councils, 56 Parastatal Organisations and 10 Constitutional Bodies.

During the training, the officers engaged on different management and leadership styles; as well as differences between leadership and management; qualities and values of successful leaders; leadership competencies; leadership theories; change management; models of change management; resistance to change and models for managing resistance to change; the change journey; personal change and institutionalizing change. 

In her remarks during the Training, Mary Azegele, the ESAMI Human Resource Management (HRM) Consultant who was facilitating the training said it was important for the OPC and PSRMU to undergo the training considering that reforms require excellent leadership and a lot of change management.

She noted that change is a difficult process which is usually met with resistance hence those in the forefront of bringing about change such as Public Sector Reforms should have the necessary skills and knowledge in leadership and change management.

Commenting on the training, Chief Director for Public Sector Reforms, Seodi V-R White said the Office of the President and Cabinet (OPC) saw it wise for its officers to undergo the training on leadership and change management commending ESAMI for its commitment and professionalism in training the staff.

She said the knowledge and skills gained in leadership and change management by the members of staff will be used for the successful implementation of the Malawi Public Sector Reforms Programme.

The training was undertaken with financial assistance from UNDP.