Director General of the Cabinet, Nathaniel Kwabo, has says that there will be no excuses for underperforming government ministries and agencies moving forward, as results will now be linked to budgetary allocations.
In addressing a high-level engagement on the “Performance Management Compliance System” (PMCs), which focused on heads of institutions, ministers, and public entities, he highlighted the importance of setting targets for 2025. This will primarily emphasize the ARREST Agenda for Inclusive Development (AAID), President Joseph Boakai’s flagship development plan for the country over the next five years.
Kwabo urged heads of ministries and agencies to take ownership of their target-setting processes. He stated, “We know exactly what we’ve been doing over the last few months, and we must engage the technical personnel we train, who act as EMC focal persons. This collaboration is essential to provide the necessary support to ensure that the targets set can be achieved throughout the year.”
He further asserted, “If you’re not performing, you cannot ask for resources. We always want to ensure we get value for our money. We understand resource constraints exist; however, during the last cycle, many of the tasks we requested from heads of agencies or institutions required substantial funding. Of course, service delivery, charter adherence, and publishing are all constrained by funding issues. That is why we are working with the Ministry of Finance, Development Planning (MFDP), and the Liberia Revenue Authority to ensure that institutions receive the necessary resources going forward.”
This high-level engagement on the PMCS is crucial. Since the inception of the Boakai-Koung administration, President Boakai has emphasized that those appointed to government positions must perform and ensure that services are effectively delivered to the Liberian people.
Kwabo highlighted that the President expects his government to provide resourceful service delivery and to ensure that heads of institutions yield tangible results from their various agencies and entities.
“If you set targets for yourself for the year or a specific period, we expect you to accomplish them. While there will be constraints regarding resources, we expect you to do your utmost. Those who perform based on their targets will be recognized by the President, and there will be rewards determined by him. Conversely, those who do not perform adequately will face scrutiny and possible sanctions as decided by the President,” he said
He noted the support resources available to help achieve these goals. Accordingly, the 2024 cycle has established a foundation for developing service delivery charters and implementing internal systems.
However, the 2025 cycle will focus on several key areas: the implementation and operationalization of service delivery charters and systems, strategic alignment with the ARREST agenda, measurable improvements in service delivery, resource optimization, and accountability. These areas will guide our target-setting process.
He explained that the target-setting process will occur in three main phases: strategic alignment, which will take place between April 4 and 11; target development, from April 14 to 25; and approval and contracting, involving the approval of your targets and KPIs, followed by signing the contract.
He emphasized that during the strategic alignment phase, institutions will review their mandates and align with the ARREST agenda.
He further noted that the secretariat will collaborate with the MFDP to conduct a comprehensive review of decision-making and alignment with the AAID.
He explained that based on their work with the MMPP, that 13 institutions had no interventions under the AAID. These institutions have corresponded with and provided guidelines and tools to identify relevant outcomes within the AAID and the strategic policy areas to develop sector-specific interventions that enhance alignment and contribute to achieving National Development Plan goals. The process occurred between April 4 and 11 for the identified 13 institutions.
He said the results of this alignment will feed into the target-setting process. The next phase will involve target development, with President Boakai cooperating closely with these institutions to achieve the desired results.
“You will develop specific, measurable targets that are realistic yet ambitious, with clear time frames. You will also identify the human resources, financial requirements, and technical expertise necessary to achieve those targets. Subsequently, we expect you to implement standardized plans incorporating ARREST mitigation strategies and monitoring frameworks to track your progress,” Kwabo concluded.
