Issues on reforming civil service of Central Asia and the Caucasus were discussed in the framework of the visit of Astana Civil Service Hub participating countries to the headquarters of the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD).

In his opening remarks, Chairman of the Steering Committee of the Hub Alikhan Baimenov noted the importance and relevance of the experience of OECD member countries to improve the civil service system of the Hub’s participating countries. He emphasized that the countries in the region have implemented a number of reforms over the past decade aimed at improving the efficiency of public administration systems. "The pace, scope and depth of these reforms are determined by the cultural-historical and socio-economic context and the current priorities in these countries," - said Alikhan Baimenov.

During the seminar, Ms. Catherine Kardava , Director of the Civil Service Bureau of Georgia,  Mr. Nurkhanbek Momunaliev, Director of the State Personnel Service of the Kyrgyz Republic and Mr. Ganizhan Assanuly, Head of Civil Service Policy Division, Agency for Civil Service Affairs and Anti-Corruption of the Republic of Kazakhstan told about the main aspects of the reform of civil service in their country.

During the visit, the delegation met with Mr. Rolf Alter, Head of the OECD Public Governance and Territorial Development Directorate and considered issues of the development of civil service in the region and further ways of cooperation with the Hub’s participating countries. Heads of the authorized bodies of the Hub’s participating countries noted the assistance of the Hub in promotion of their cooperation with the OECD countries in the field of public administration.

During the visit, the meeting with Co-Director of the Effective Institution Platform Secretariat (EIP) Lisa Williams, who noted the contribution of the Hub in the development of exchange of experience among participating countries on "peer to peer" principle and work of the Hub’s Alliance of practitioners on public service delivery. She suggested the further advancement of the model of the Hub’s Alliance of practitioners work and the establishment of a new Alliance on combating corruption and to delegate the Hub’s representative as a member of EIP Advisory Board. Hub’s senior staff expressed its willingness to cooperate and promote the exchange of experiences among participating countries on issues of ethics, integrity in civil service, public procurement and transparency.

The management of the OECD Anti-Corruption Network also suggested that Astana Hub undertakes joint activities on anti-corruption and asset declarations.

The Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development is a co-founder and one of the main partners of the Regional Hub of Civil Service in Astana.