Ministers from 26 African countries concluded the 12th Conference of the Observatory of African Public Services (OFPA) in Bamako on August 23, 2025, with a series of recommendations aimed at modernizing the continent’s civil service and improving public administration efficiency.
Delegates emphasized the urgent need to accelerate the digitalization of administrative procedures, with the goal of reducing delays and improving citizens’ access to public services.
The conference also advocated for the widespread adoption of electronic systems for paying fees, taxes, and fines, aiming to curb fraud and strengthen national revenues.
“Integrated human resources management systems are essential to centralize employee files, ensure career transparency, and enhance mobility within public administrations,” the ministers stated in their closing communique.
They also recommended recruitment planning tools to align staffing levels with actual government needs, ensuring that civil service capacity matches demand.
Another key outcome of the Bamako conference was the call to harmonize performance monitoring and evaluation mechanisms across African administrations.
Officials argued that standardized metrics would facilitate regional comparisons and allow the dissemination of best practices to improve efficiency and accountability.
Malian Prime Minister Major General Abdoulaye Maïga highlighted his country’s recent reforms as a model for other states. “Mali has established an electronic platform for the payment of duties and taxes, integrated human resources management systems, and recruitment planning tools,” he noted in his closing remarks, emphasizing that these measures have enhanced transparency and administrative performance.
Founded in 1991 and headquartered in Ouagadougou, the OFPA serves as a platform for statistical observation of public services, supports administrative reforms, and facilitates the sharing of experiences among African states.
At the Bamako meeting, member countries approved the Observatory’s activity and financial reports for 2019–2024 and agreed to strengthen its mandate by gradually transforming it into a regional training center for civil service managers.
The 2025 conference marks the resumption of the OFPA ministerial cycle after a seven-year hiatus since the last meeting in Cotonou, Benin, in 2018.
Delegates placed particular emphasis on digital modernization and enhanced administrative performance as key priorities for the next phase of continental reforms.
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