ECA Update

Russia Civil Service Reform moves towards implementation

During the last two and a half years, the World Bank has been providing technical support to the Russian Federation authorities' reform team engaged in civil service reform. Recently, on 19 November 2002, President Putin signed a Decree approving a major Program and Action Plan for Civil Service Reform in the Russian Federation.

The Program is designed to support the rebuilding of the civil service system in Russia. Its overall aim is to (i) create a culture focused on performance and outcomes and on service to citizens and service users; (ii) introduce more competitive employment practices (including pay reform); (iii) strengthen external accountability and transparency. In addition, a draft Law on the State Service System has also been introduced into the State Duma; and a Code of Conduct and measures on conflict of interest have also recently been approved.

While this Program focuses on the Federal Civil Service, the President's Decree also exhorts each of the 89 subjects of the Russian Federation to come up with their own Civil Service Reform Program. Full-scale implementation of the Program begins on 1 January 2003, and Federal Budget resources have been allocated for this purpose in the Federal Budget for 2003, although in advance of this a number of pilots and experiments were launched in mid-2002.

The World Bank provided the Russian government with targeted analyses of international approaches in similar reform areas; undertook specific pieces of analytical work at the request of the Russian Federation authorities; and completed knowledge management activities such as the creation of a Russian-language public administration reform website, www.pareform.ru ).

At the request of the Russian Government, the Bank led the process of donor coordination in this area. The European Commission, CIDA, DFID, the French Government, SIDA, OECD and SIGMA are participating fully.

For more information, contact Neil Parison.