Ethiopia and South Sudan have signed a Memorandum of Understanding on Technical Assistance and Cooperation for the placement of sixty civil service support officers (CSSOs) from Ethiopia in South Sudan government offices. The agreement is part of IGAD’s Regional Initiative Project with the Republic of South Sudan. The placement of the CSSOs will be for a specific period of years and arranged according to guidelines to be issued by the South Sudan government for the placement of a total of 200 CSSOs from IGAD member states. The United Nations Development Program, with the support of the Government of Norway, will be providing the funds for implementation of the project.

The Memorandum of Understanding was signed at the beginning of the month by Ethiopia’s State Minister of Civil Service, Dr. Misrak Mekonnen, and South Sudan’s Minster of Labour, Public Service and Human Resource Development, Awut Deng Acuil. It was signed under the Framework Agreement on Technical, Economic and Cultural Co-operation between Ethiopia and the Government of South Sudan concluded in December 2007. The agreement will promote the already existing friendly relationship between the two countries by the deployment of 60 civil servant support officers (CSSOs), with the support of United Nations Development program. The support officers will be placed in strategic positions within various South Sudan government ministries and commissions as well as in different states and at local government levels. The aim is to provide for the direct transfer of skills through on-the-job monitoring and coaching.

The South Sudan Government has identified priority areas for short, medium and long term on-the-job training, monitoring and coaching, in accordance with the Framework Agreement. These areas include: the medical and public health sector, nursing and clinical health services, town planning and surveying, public finance management, public administration, public communication and information, public safety and security, human resource development, investment, legal services, labour and industrial relations and ICT.

The agreement is also expected to strengthen the institutional capacity of various South Sudanese government institutions to deliver effective administration through rapid capacity enhancement support. It will provide for the establishment of training programs and capacity building in various disciplines. It is also aimed at developing and facilitating socio-economic, cultural and political relations between the two countries, on the basis of equity and mutual benefit.

Source: A Week in the Horn of Africa, Oct. 28, 2011 issue.

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