The Ministry of Public Administration (MPA) recently hosted the globally-recognised Commonwealth Advanced Training in Government Performance Management System (GPMS) T&T Edition from August 26 – September 6, 2024, at the Trinidad Hyatt Regency and Trinidad Hilton Hotel and Conference Centre. Professor Prajapati Trivedi, the Commonwealth Secretary-General’s Special Envoy for Sustainable Development Goal Implementation, facilitated the sessions. The acclaimed programme is among the strategic initiatives being implemented by the Ministry of Public Administration through its Modernization and Service Improvement Division (MSID). The training programme provided participants with the practical tools and techniques for improving systems of performance management in government.
Key Highlights
In Trinidad and Tobago, approximately two hundred and twenty (220) Permanent Secretaries, Deputy Permanent Secretaries, Heads of Departments, Directors, Monitoring and Evaluation Practitioners, Research Officers and Service Owners have taken part in this strategic training initiative that is a key component of the Public Sector Performance Management System (PSPMS). The PSPMS is the gateway to the systematic approach to the collection, measurement and benchmarking of organisational data across GoRTT. Each Ministry, Department and Agency in attendance has been trained in developing and tracking annual CFRs/Performance Agreements.
About This Training
The GPMS training has helped government entities across the globe and the region to be more effective, accountable and transparent in measuring and managing performance. The main instrument of the GPMS is the Commitment for Results (CFR) also called Performance Agreements. CFR is a document that clearly outlines the objectives of the government entity, proposed actions to achieve these objectives, and success indicators for measuring the achievements of the targets. Design and implementation of CFRs is supported by the Commonwealth Secretariat’s software platform called Strategic Management and Accountability for Results Toolkit (SMART). SMART software is a proprietary software of the Commonwealth Secretariat and is available at no-subscription cost for the first year, for whole-of-government application to all countries that adopt the GPMS. Subsequently, there is a modest charge for out-of-pocket expenses. It is currently in use by various countries across Africa, Asia, and the Pacific. In addition, the GPMS training by Professor Trivedi has covered over two thousand (2,000) senior public officers in various countries, including in the Caribbean.
For more in-depth information about the training programme and its goals, please access the Concept Note for the GPMS-SMART Training Programme for Trinidad and Tobago here.
Training Materials
Videos on the GPMS utilised during the training programme can be accessed via the following sources:
IBM Centre for The Business of Government | YouTube | The Commonwealth
Key reading material provided to participants can be accessed below:
1. Annex 1 – Guidelines for Group Work (Barbados Edition)
2. Annex 2 – SMART User Manual
3. Annex 3 – Guidelines – (SMART) Toolkit
4. Annex 4 – CFR Evaluation Methodology (CEM)
Various assignments participants were asked to complete either individually or in groups can be accessed below:
1. Quizzes: Problem Set 1 | Problem Set 2 | Problem Set 3
2. Question for Class Discussion – Paravia
3. Submission of Departmental CFR prepared on SMART
4. SMART Submissions by Mixed Groups for Class Discussion and Peer Review
5. Rubric utilised for peer review
Listen to Dr. Trivedi's interview with Business of Government Hour with host Michael Keegan and read his book, "Performance Management in Government".
Additional materials will be shared as they become available. Stay tuned!
For additional information, please contact the Modernization and Service Improvement Division at pspm.project@gov.tt
