The highly anticipated Public Service Annual Performance Evaluation for the 2023/24 financial year is set to begin on Monday, December 9th, 2024. This two-month-long exercise will involve all government ministries, state corporations, and tertiary institutions, marking a crucial milestone in the government’s commitment to ensuring accountability and effectiveness in public service delivery.
Announced on Wednesday by the Office of the Deputy Chief of Staff for Performance and Delivery Management, the performance evaluation serves as a key element of Kenya’s public sector management framework. The evaluation process is designed to assess the progress made by government entities in meeting the targets and objectives outlined in their Performance Contracts, with the goal of improving the efficiency and effectiveness of public service institutions.
The Role of Performance Contracting in Government Management
Performance contracting, which has been adopted by the government as the principal performance management tool, is an annual exercise aimed at driving socio-economic transformation. By setting clear targets and performance indicators for ministries, departments, and agencies (MDAs), the government ensures that public service entities are focused on achieving key national goals, including those outlined in Kenya Vision 2030 and the Bottom-Up Economic Transformation Agenda (BETA).
Performance contracting serves multiple purposes. First, it holds top-level managers accountable for the outcomes of their departments or organizations. These managers are also responsible for cascading performance expectations down to all levels of employees, thus embedding a performance-oriented culture across the entire public service. Furthermore, the exercise plays a pivotal role in ensuring that public resources are allocated in alignment with the achievement of national development priorities.
The contracts themselves are structured to include measurable performance indicators and targets that are agreed upon at the beginning of the financial year. At the close of the year, these indicators are reviewed to gauge whether the set objectives have been achieved, thereby fostering transparency and accountability in government operations.
Self-Evaluation and External Evaluation Process
The performance evaluation begins with mandatory self-evaluations, where MDAs assess their own achievements based on the performance indicators in their contracts. These self-assessments provide an internal review of progress and enable organizations to identify areas where they have excelled or where improvements are needed. By conducting these in-house evaluations, MDAs can prepare for the upcoming external evaluation and make any necessary adjustments to their strategies or operations.
Following the self-evaluation phase, the external evaluation will be carried out by the Public Service Performance Management Unit (PSPMU) in the Office of the Deputy Chief of Staff for Performance and Delivery Management. The external evaluation process is expected to be rigorous, involving physical verification of the quarterly and annual achievements as reported by the MDAs. This verification process ensures that the results of the evaluation are credible and accurate, thereby maintaining the integrity of the entire performance contracting exercise.
The external evaluation will assess how well each MDA has met its performance targets, offering an impartial analysis of government service delivery across all sectors. This comprehensive evaluation process is conducted through the Government Performance Management Information System (GPCIS), which facilitates the monitoring and reporting of progress throughout the financial year.
Impact on Public Service Efficiency and Accountability
The broader goal of the annual performance evaluation is to enhance service delivery to the public. By holding managers accountable for results, and ensuring that performance is continually assessed and improved, the government aims to reverse the decline in public service efficiency that has been a persistent challenge in some areas. Moreover, performance contracting ensures that rewards are directly tied to measurable outcomes, which encourages a results-oriented approach among public servants.
The evaluation exercise also strengthens the obligations of both the government and its employees in achieving the targets set at the beginning of the financial year. With increased emphasis on outcomes, the government expects improved service delivery across various sectors, ultimately contributing to the realization of Kenya’s long-term development goals.
Conclusion
As the Public Service Annual Performance Evaluation kicks off, all eyes will be on the results, which are expected to provide valuable insights into the performance of government entities during the 2023/24 financial year. With an emphasis on accountability, transparency, and measurable outcomes, the evaluation process is a vital tool in ensuring that the public service continues to serve the people efficiently and effectively, contributing to the broader goal of socio-economic transformation in Kenya.
