Gelase Mutahaba

Chief Technical Advisor
Public Service Reform Progrem
Focus Area(s)
Civil Service
Critical Tasks
Inter-ministerial coordination
Performance management system
Training
Interviewers
Andrew Schalkwyk
Country of Reform
Tanzania
Town/City
Dar es Salaam
Country
Tanzania, United Republic of
Date of Interview
Thursday, November 20, 2008
Abstract
In this interview, Dr. Gelase Mutahaba discusses key initiatives undertaken during his tenure as Chief Technical Advisor for the Public Sector Reform Program. He commences by addressing the shifting focus of the Tanzanian civil service reform process post-1990s, from cost compression to restructuring, development, and training—essentially, from achieving a “small size” to attaining “the right size.” Muthaba describes his efforts in coordinating multiple civil service, public financial management, and legal sector reform efforts so as to prevent duplication of their efforts. He then describes the overarching effort, post-2000, to broaden the base of decision-makers involved in planning and implementation of reforms, which had previously been top-down and captured by the President’s Office Public Sector Management (POPSM) team. Mutahaba promoted an “MDA-led reform” which permitted ministries, departments and agencies to identify problems and constraints in terms of structures, processes, and procedures within their own ministries, and to then take their own initiative, working with POPSM, to tackle their issues.

Full Interview

48 MB
Dr. Gelase Mutahaba - Full Interview
Profile

At the time of this interview Dr. Gelase Mutahaba was a Professor of Political Science at the University of Dar es Salaam. He previously served as Chief Technical Advisor for the Public Service Reform Program in Tanzania, advising the government on the reform strategy. He has extensive experience working on public sector reform issues relating to civil services, financial management, and legal reforms. He has held a number of research, consultancy, and teaching positions in the United States and in several African countries. He has authored three books on public administration issues in Africa. Dr. Mutahaba holds a PhD in political science from the University of California, Berkeley.

Keywords
service delivery
Public Service Management
Public Service Reform Program
reform planning
broadening reforms
Not specified