Liberia CSA: No Contract Renewal for Poor-Performing Consultants

• The Civil Service Agency (CSA) has overhauled Liberia's consultancy regime to strengthen accountability and value for money.
• Contract renewal will now be linked to measurable results, with poor performers risking contract termination.
• Consultants are being urged to pay closer attention to established performance indicators, continuous learning, and professional self-development.
• The government aims to reduce unnecessary duplication and excessive expenditure while increasing productivity in public service.

The CSA acknowledges and appreciates the quality of work you are doing at your various entities. You are doing a great job because you are qualified and you are doing your work professionally,

The Civil Service Agency (CSA) has initiated a comprehensive overhaul of Liberia's consultancy regime, aiming to strengthen accountability and ensure value for money. The reform effort is part of the government's centralized consultancy program, jointly managed by the CSA and the Ministry of Finance and Development Planning (MFDP). This move follows a thorough review of the previous consultancy system, which revealed significant expenditure on nearly 1,000 consultants in 2023, amounting to US$6.1 million. In contrast, the current regime has seen a substantial reduction in the number of consultants, with only around 100 professionals engaged through the centralized program, resulting in savings of approximately US$4.7 million. The government's goal is to eliminate unnecessary duplication and excessive expenditure while ensuring that specialized expertise recruited into the public service produces tangible results.

The CSA has warned consultants that poor performance will no longer be tolerated, as contract renewal will now be linked to measurable results. According to Dr. Josiah F. Joekai, Jr., the CSA Director-General and chair of the Consultancy Program Steering Committee, consultants are expected to demonstrate tangible outcomes throughout their contracts. The government will not renew contracts for individuals whose performance consistently falls below established standards. This development is a significant shift in the consultancy regime, as it emphasizes the importance of accountability and value for money. Consultants are being urged to pay closer attention to established performance indicators, continuous learning, and professional self-development to improve their chances of contract renewal.

The government's overhaul of the consultancy regime is designed to ensure that consultants are recruited based on clearly defined needs, qualifications, and expected deliverables. This approach aims to reduce unnecessary duplication and excessive expenditure while increasing productivity in public service. The CSA has restructured the entire Government of Liberia consultancy regime, reducing the number of consultants and the wage bill, but resulting in increased productivity. Dr. Joekai emphasized that reducing the number of consultants does not mean reducing the quality of expertise available to government. Instead, the new system is designed to ensure that consultants are recruited based on clearly defined needs and qualifications.

Lawyers and compliance officers in Liberia should note that the government's new centralized consultancy program will link contract renewals to measurable performance results, with poor performers risking contract termination. This development may require review of existing contracts and consideration of strategies for improving consultant performance.

Source: Original reporting via AllAfrica Liberia