Heads of Public Services in Commonwealth Africa will be attending a three-day meeting in Maputo, Mozambique, from 8 to 10 July 2008 to discuss ways to improve public sector governance and efficiency in public service delivery.

The theme of the forum is 'Creating a value-based and ethical public service in Commonwealth Africa'. The topics for discussion include values, ethics and good governance in the public service; transparency and accountability; and institutions, systems and processes for promoting integrity in the African public service.

Around 40 delegates from 13 Commonwealth African countries will participate in the forum co-organised by the Commonwealth Secretariat and the Government of Mozambique, and sponsored by the Commonwealth Fund for Technical Co-operation. They comprise representatives from Cameroon, Ghana, The Gambia, Lesotho, Malawi, Mauritius, Mozambique, Namibia, Seychelles, South Africa, Swaziland, Tanzania and Zambia.

The forum will be officially opened by Mozambique's Minister of Public Service Dr. Vitoria Dias Diogo.

"Heads of public services in Africa will share experiences and strategies to create a value based public service that will better serve their citizens," said Jacqueline Wilson, Director of the Governance and Institutional Development Division of the Commonwealth Secretariat.

"It is important that the public services should be responsive to the needs of citizens in an efficient, effective and equitable manner," she added.

Ms Wilson stressed that the forum of African Heads of Public Services is important because it promotes networking and the opportunity to share ideas and experiences on ways to improve public sector performance in Commonwealth Africa. The forum also facilitates the development of bilateral arrangements for the sharing of knowledge and expertise in various aspects of public sector reforms through study visits.

This is the fifth forum in a series that was launched in 2004. Last year's forum was held in Magaliesburg, South Africa.