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A Decade of Civil Service Reform in Sub-Saharan Africa
Author:
Mr. Ian Lienert
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Jitendra R. Modi null

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Series:
IMF Working Papers
Volume/Issue:
Volume 1997: Issue 179
Language:
English
Publication Date:
01 Dec 1997
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.5089/9781451858990.001
ISBN:
9781451858990
ISSN:
1018-5941
Pages:
47
Keywords:
WP; wage bill; private sector; CFA franc; revenue ratio; Civil Service; Reform; Employment; Salaries; promotion policy; Wages; Civil service reform; Real wages; Sub-Saharan Africa; Africa
Legal-disclaimer:
IMF Working Papers describe research in progress by the author(s) and are published to elicit comments and to encourage debate. The views expressed in IMF Working Papers are those of the author(s) and do not necessarily represent the views of the IMF, its Executive Board, or IMF management.
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This paper assesses a decade of experience in civil service reform in a sample of 32 sub-Saharan African countries. Many countries have made an important start towards reducing excessive staffing levels and the nominal wage bill, but less progress has been made in decompressing salary differentials in favor of higher-grade staff. In the CFA franc zone countries, real wages fell sharply after the 1994 devaluation, but the wage bill relative to tax revenue is still high in many countries. There is a need to consolidate quantitative first-generation reforms that contribute to macroeconomic stabilization. Equally important is the need to make progress on qualitative second-generation reforms, especially remuneration and promotion policies that reward performance and measures to improve civil service management. Such policies will require strong political commitment by governments.
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Cover IMF Working Papers
IMF Working Papers
ISSN:
1018-5941
Publisher:
International Monetary Fund