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India’s efforts in capacity building for Maldivian civil servants reflect its broader commitment to strengthening governance in the region
The 33rd Capacity Building Programme (CBP) for Civil Servants of Maldives commenced at the National Centre for Good Governance (NCGG) in Mussoorie, India on Monday (September 9, 2024). This marks the beginning of the second phase of collaboration between the NCGG and the Civil Service Commission (CSC) of Maldives, following the renewal of a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) in August 2024. The two-week programme, running from September 9-20, 2024, is being attended by 34 Maldivian civil servants, representing key ministries and departments of the Maldivian government.
This CBP is the first under the new MoU, which aims to train 1,000 Maldivian civil servants over the next five years (2024-2029). The signing of the MoU by India’s External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar, and the Maldives' Foreign Minister Moosa Zameer, reaffirms India’s commitment to assisting its maritime neighbor in improving governance and administrative efficacy.
The Maldivian delegation includes officials from various government roles such as Assistant Directors, Senior Administrators, Council Officers, Faculties, and Community Health Officers. The programme aims to enhance their administrative capabilities through training, collaborative discussions, and knowledge sharing, furthering the bilateral relationship between India and the Maldives.
The inaugural session was presided over by V Srinivas, Director General of NCGG and Secretary of the Department of Administrative Reforms and Public Grievances (DARPG), Government of India. In his opening remarks, Srinivas welcomed the Maldivian participants and lauded the success of the first phase of the capacity-building initiatives, which trained over 1,000 Maldivian civil servants between 2019 and 2024.
Highlighting the significance of India's evolving governance model, particularly under the framework of "Amrit Kaal" or "Vision 2047," Srinivas elaborated on how India's approach to governance has transformed. The focus on transparency, accountability, and citizen-centric governance, supported by digitization, has ensured that India’s development reaches the last mile. Programs such as the Public Grievance Redressal Mechanism, Pensions Welfare, and various health and housing initiatives were cited as successful examples of improving citizen services in India.
Srinivas further encouraged the Maldivian officers to collaborate and present their insights on policies and programs from both nations, fostering an exchange of ideas and best practices.
Fathmath Inaya, Finance Executive of the Civil Service Commission, Maldives, and the Team Leader of the Maldivian delegation, expressed her gratitude to the Indian government and NCGG for hosting the programme. She emphasized her delegation’s eagerness to learn from India’s successful governance models and expressed optimism that the training would benefit the Maldivian civil service significantly. “This program is a unique opportunity to observe and absorb India’s experience in governance and administration, and we are keen to apply the lessons learned in our own context,” Inaya stated.
BS Bisht, Associate Professor at NCGG and Course Coordinator of the programme, provided a comprehensive overview of NCGG’s objectives, activities, and achievements. He emphasized the centre's role in enhancing governance practices and how it has evolved into a hub of knowledge and training excellence for civil servants, not just from India but from across the globe.
Bisht outlined how NCGG has successfully trained civil servants from 33 countries, including Bangladesh, Kenya, Tanzania, Seychelles, Sri Lanka, and Afghanistan, among others. He detailed the evolution of NCGG’s training programmes, highlighting its milestones in areas like field administration, public policy, and institutional reforms.
The capacity building initiatives between India and the Maldives have made significant strides since the first MoU was signed in 2019. The previous phase saw the training of Maldivian civil servants, including Permanent Secretaries, Secretary Generals, and high-ranking officials from key departments, including the Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC) and Information Commission Office of Maldives (ICOM).
The current programme marks the beginning of the second phase, which aims to train an additional 1,000 Maldivian civil servants by 2029. For the year 2024-25, five training programmes are planned, targeting a total of 175 civil servants from various sectors of the Maldivian government.
India’s efforts in capacity building for Maldivian civil servants reflect its broader commitment to strengthening governance in the region. The collaboration between NCGG and CSC, Maldives, aims to ensure that the island nation’s civil servants are well-equipped to tackle administrative challenges, enhance transparency, and improve the delivery of public services.
By focusing on digital governance, public service delivery, and institutional reforms, India is helping its neighbor build the administrative capacity needed for sustainable development. The training modules not only focus on the theoretical aspects of governance but also include practical insights into India’s experiences in addressing challenges in public administration.
Under the previous MoU, NCGG conducted 32 capacity-building programmes for Maldivian civil servants from 2019 to 2024. These programs focused on various aspects of governance, including public administration, policy-making, and anti-corruption measures.
The first phase also saw participation from high-level officials such as former presidents, members of the Civil Service Commission, and senior officials from ministries and departments. The training programmes have helped foster a deeper understanding of governance practices and built enduring professional ties between the two nations.
The second phase of the collaboration between NCGG and CSC, Maldives, is expected to further strengthen the administrative capacities of the Maldivian civil service. With the focus now on governance reforms, digitization, and efficient public service delivery, both nations are committed to ensuring that their collaboration yields tangible results.
Prisca Poly Mathew, Chief Administrative Officer at NCGG, emphasized the importance of these training programmes in building a stronger relationship between the two nations. The programme is being supervised and coordinated by a dedicated team led by BS Bisht, with support from Sanjeev Sharma, Brijesh Bisht, and other key NCGG personnel.
The 33rd Capacity Building Programme for Maldivian Civil Servants stands as a testament to the enduring partnership between India and the Maldives. Through this initiative, India continues to play a pivotal role in strengthening governance structures in the region, ensuring that Maldivian civil servants are equipped to deliver better services to their citizens. With the initiation of the second phase, both countries are poised to further enhance their collaboration, contributing to mutual prosperity and stability in the Indian Ocean region.
This CBP is the first under the new MoU, which aims to train 1,000 Maldivian civil servants over the next five years (2024-2029). The signing of the MoU by India’s External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar, and the Maldives' Foreign Minister Moosa Zameer, reaffirms India’s commitment to assisting its maritime neighbor in improving governance and administrative efficacy.
The Maldivian delegation includes officials from various government roles such as Assistant Directors, Senior Administrators, Council Officers, Faculties, and Community Health Officers. The programme aims to enhance their administrative capabilities through training, collaborative discussions, and knowledge sharing, furthering the bilateral relationship between India and the Maldives.
The inaugural session was presided over by V Srinivas, Director General of NCGG and Secretary of the Department of Administrative Reforms and Public Grievances (DARPG), Government of India. In his opening remarks, Srinivas welcomed the Maldivian participants and lauded the success of the first phase of the capacity-building initiatives, which trained over 1,000 Maldivian civil servants between 2019 and 2024.
Highlighting the significance of India's evolving governance model, particularly under the framework of "Amrit Kaal" or "Vision 2047," Srinivas elaborated on how India's approach to governance has transformed. The focus on transparency, accountability, and citizen-centric governance, supported by digitization, has ensured that India’s development reaches the last mile. Programs such as the Public Grievance Redressal Mechanism, Pensions Welfare, and various health and housing initiatives were cited as successful examples of improving citizen services in India.
Srinivas further encouraged the Maldivian officers to collaborate and present their insights on policies and programs from both nations, fostering an exchange of ideas and best practices.
Fathmath Inaya, Finance Executive of the Civil Service Commission, Maldives, and the Team Leader of the Maldivian delegation, expressed her gratitude to the Indian government and NCGG for hosting the programme. She emphasized her delegation’s eagerness to learn from India’s successful governance models and expressed optimism that the training would benefit the Maldivian civil service significantly. “This program is a unique opportunity to observe and absorb India’s experience in governance and administration, and we are keen to apply the lessons learned in our own context,” Inaya stated.
BS Bisht, Associate Professor at NCGG and Course Coordinator of the programme, provided a comprehensive overview of NCGG’s objectives, activities, and achievements. He emphasized the centre's role in enhancing governance practices and how it has evolved into a hub of knowledge and training excellence for civil servants, not just from India but from across the globe.
Bisht outlined how NCGG has successfully trained civil servants from 33 countries, including Bangladesh, Kenya, Tanzania, Seychelles, Sri Lanka, and Afghanistan, among others. He detailed the evolution of NCGG’s training programmes, highlighting its milestones in areas like field administration, public policy, and institutional reforms.
The capacity building initiatives between India and the Maldives have made significant strides since the first MoU was signed in 2019. The previous phase saw the training of Maldivian civil servants, including Permanent Secretaries, Secretary Generals, and high-ranking officials from key departments, including the Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC) and Information Commission Office of Maldives (ICOM).
The current programme marks the beginning of the second phase, which aims to train an additional 1,000 Maldivian civil servants by 2029. For the year 2024-25, five training programmes are planned, targeting a total of 175 civil servants from various sectors of the Maldivian government.
India’s efforts in capacity building for Maldivian civil servants reflect its broader commitment to strengthening governance in the region. The collaboration between NCGG and CSC, Maldives, aims to ensure that the island nation’s civil servants are well-equipped to tackle administrative challenges, enhance transparency, and improve the delivery of public services.
By focusing on digital governance, public service delivery, and institutional reforms, India is helping its neighbor build the administrative capacity needed for sustainable development. The training modules not only focus on the theoretical aspects of governance but also include practical insights into India’s experiences in addressing challenges in public administration.
Under the previous MoU, NCGG conducted 32 capacity-building programmes for Maldivian civil servants from 2019 to 2024. These programs focused on various aspects of governance, including public administration, policy-making, and anti-corruption measures.
The first phase also saw participation from high-level officials such as former presidents, members of the Civil Service Commission, and senior officials from ministries and departments. The training programmes have helped foster a deeper understanding of governance practices and built enduring professional ties between the two nations.
The second phase of the collaboration between NCGG and CSC, Maldives, is expected to further strengthen the administrative capacities of the Maldivian civil service. With the focus now on governance reforms, digitization, and efficient public service delivery, both nations are committed to ensuring that their collaboration yields tangible results.
Prisca Poly Mathew, Chief Administrative Officer at NCGG, emphasized the importance of these training programmes in building a stronger relationship between the two nations. The programme is being supervised and coordinated by a dedicated team led by BS Bisht, with support from Sanjeev Sharma, Brijesh Bisht, and other key NCGG personnel.
The 33rd Capacity Building Programme for Maldivian Civil Servants stands as a testament to the enduring partnership between India and the Maldives. Through this initiative, India continues to play a pivotal role in strengthening governance structures in the region, ensuring that Maldivian civil servants are equipped to deliver better services to their citizens. With the initiation of the second phase, both countries are poised to further enhance their collaboration, contributing to mutual prosperity and stability in the Indian Ocean region.
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