STATEMENT BY AMBASSADOR OMBENI SEFUE , CHIEF SECRETARY, AT THE BIG RESULTS NOW STRATEGIC LEADERSHIP RETREAT, DAR ES SALAAM, 23 JULY 2014

Honourable Mizengo Kayanza Peter Pinda (MP),

Prime Minister of the United Republic fo Tanzania,

Honourable Ministers and Deputy Ministers,

Permanent Secretaries and Deputy Permanent Secretaries,

The Chief Executive Officers, President’s Delivery Bureau and Uongozi Institute,

Mr. Chris Tan (representing Minister Idris Jala);

Ladies and Gentlemen.

Good Morning!

Honourable Prime Minister,

We are still in a state of profound shock over what happened to Malaysian Airline Flight MH 17 in Eastern Ukraine a few days ago, and the unnecessary, unacceptable and senseless death of almost 300 people, including 44 Malaysians. So I suggest that, before we begin, and even as we demand answers and accountability to this tragedy, we observe a minute of silence as we join those who lost their loved ones in mourning for the departed souls.

Honourable Prime Minister,

We thank you deeply for agreeing to spend a whole day chairing this retreat. Today’s session is an in-house one, involving colleagues that have jointly and collectively been instrumental in implementing the BRN programme. Together, we have come a long way over the past one year. Together we have much to accomplish in the year ahead. I take this opportunity to congratulate all those in the Ministries, LGAs and PDB who made it possible to achieve what only a year ago seemed a huge and impossible task. In the same vein, we must rededicate ourselves to meeting, and where possible exceeding, performance targets in all our National Key Results Areas.

I should like to highlight two specific elements of the experience that I have found particularly exhilarating and energizing, and which I hope we can permanently engrave in the fabric of our public service.

The first is that, together and individually, we have proved the sceptics wrong. We have proved that within an appropriate operational framework, it is possible to change the way we work and achieve big results in Tanzania. The experience of adopting the Big and Fast Results model from Malaysia and adapting it to our national context clearly demonstrates that our  leaders and the public service have the heart and mind for delivering big results in pursuit of our national development vision.

This is evident from the speed with which the model has been adopted, the enthusiasm with which the Lab programmes were developed and are being implemented, the interest demonstrated by the public in the results of implementation, and the big results already attained in all NKRAs within the first year of BRN implementation.

In order to achieve those results, we accepted fundamental changes in the way we organize ourselves, the way we work and the way we relate to each other and to the public. Most impressive, for me, is the eventual understanding by Permanent Secretaries that Ministerial Delivery Units have to report directly to Ministers and not to them, although they still have to be kept informed. This is necessary for the effectiveness of the model, by ensuring the Ministers’ full accountability for achieving the BRN Key Performance Indicators assigned to them. It is an understanding which we expect the Permanent Secretaries now joining the group to embrace and comply with.

Honourable Prime Minister,

Another experience I wish to share is the impact BRN is having beyond the institutions that are directly implementing the NKRA programmes. Many public institutions have adopted the methodology for their extra-NKRA activities, and the impact cannot be missed by any objective observer. With proper guidance, application and close monitoring, this should see us generate significant impacts, thereby creating the necessary traction for “business unusual” across the entire spectrum of public service delivery. Significantly, even successes and results attained in non-NKRA areas are still attributed to BRN by the implementers and the public.

As we embark on the second year of the BRN programme, I should like to see a much more collegial approach with all institutions working together for the common objectives of one government, knowing that in doing so we will serve our people better. The Swiss-British Philosopher, Allain de Botton, was quite right when he said,

“One of the great sources of satisfaction in work is the feeling that we are making a difference to people’s lives”.

I am sure this is how we all feel, and so let’s continue to perfect the BRN model and work together towards changing the lives of many Tanzanians.

Honourable Prime Minister, it is now my pleasure and privilege to invite you to address the audience, and formally launch the retreat.

Thank you.