EU accelerates training efforts to support improved gov't performance

AMMAN — The European Union in Jordan, via its META Jo 2025 project, is scaling up training for the Government of Jordan (GoJ) to improve performance in delivering on its commitments to citizens, a EU statement said. 

The training, which comes as improving government performance has been identified as "an urgent priority" in the Letter of Designation issued by His Majesty King Abdullah to Prime Minister Omar Razzaz, is part of the EU supported META Jo Project,  which aims to contribute to Jordan’s economic growth by supporting government performance in improving its monitoring and evaluation (M&E) system in order to assist improved delivery. 

Over 70 officials have so far been trained in the essentials of performance management, which links the planning, budgeting, monitoring, evaluation and delivery processes within government, the statement said, adding that the officials, which come from a variety of government entities, are intended to be the "core group of change agents and performance management champions" to help the GoJ deliver on its priorities.

“Everything that the government is trying to achieve — economic growth, citizen welfare — is related to performance,” explained M&ETA project’s communications expert, Malcolm Toland, adding “this series of workshops is providing two things — the first is practical tools for immediate use on the job; the second is awareness and education of the broader idea of performance management and how its main elements fit together".

According to the statement, the trainings aim to contribute to the project's sustainability, by providing officials with the tools to address governmental priorities without relying on external assistance. Furthermore, the project directly impacts individual motivation levels as employees better understand how their work fits into the broader picture of what the GoJ is trying to do.

EU Ambassador in Jordan Andrea Matteo Fontana voiced his support for the EU-GoJ partnership, saying “the EU is proud to support the efforts of the GoJ to bolster performance via a continuous investment in the competencies and skills of its civil servants.  An improved performance management culture in government is all about people. The training of such a large number of officials shows the seriousness of the GoJ's attempt to invest in its people who stand at the core of efforts to deliver results to the citizens of Jordan”.

The certified trainings are being delivered by the Paris-based think tank, EuropaNova, in collaboration with some of the world’s best business schools and international experts, the statement read.