The signing ceremony of the bilateral agreement on cooperation between the Regional Hub of Civil Service in Astana and the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD) took place today, 4 April 2016, in Astana. The two organizations also held a joint seminar on “Professional civil service for sustainable development: Promoting OECD standards and principles among the emerging economies of the ACSH participating countries”.

At the end of the signing ceremony, the Director for Public Governance and Territorial Development of the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD), Rolf Alter; and the Chairman of the Steering Committee of the Regional Hub of Civil Service in Astana, Alikhan Baimenov, highlighted the importance and relevance of the OECD member states’ experience for promoting civil service excellence in the ACSH participating countries.

During the joint seminar, representatives of the authorized bodies of the ASCH participating countries were familiarized with the recommendations, standards and principles on civil service advocated by the OECD.

Edwin Lau, the Head of the Division for Reform of the Public Sector, Directorate for Public Governance and Territorial Development of the OECD; and Daniel Gerson, Project Manager, OECD Public Governance and Territorial Development Directorate presented the working methods of the OECD in public governance and civil service.

In their speeches, Caroline Krykwinski, Deputy Director of the Interministerial policies of HR, Directorate General on Public Administration and Civil Service, Ministry of Civil Service of France; and Krzysztof Banas, Councellor to the Prime Minister of Poland raised the issues of building a strong civil service using the OECD experience. Catherine Kardava, Director of the Civil Service Bureau of Georgia; and Kostiantyn Vashchenko, Head of National Agency for Civil Service of Ukraine participated in the discussion on the role of civil service and key reforms in the regional countries.

Furthermore, the Chairman of the Steering Committee of the Regional Hub of Civil Service in Astana, Alikhan Baimenov; and the Executive Director of the American Society for Public Administration (ASPA), William Shields signed a memorandum of Understanding.

ASPA is the largest and most well-known professional association in the field of public administration.