Martin Endjala
Prime Minister Saara Kuugongelwa-Amadhila launched the Pocket Guide 2.0 on Friday, targeting public servants in Namibia with the aim of enhancing their ability to address the needs of citizens.
This innovative initiative leverages technology to provide essential information.
The Prime Minister stated that the government has undertaken reforms to improve the responsiveness of the public sector to the demands of public service.
“The Public Sector Innovation Policy was developed with this objective in mind, serving as a framework to promote and nurture creativity and innovation within the Public Service. The ultimate goal is to enhance the effectiveness and efficiency of public service delivery to Namibian citizens,” she explained.
Kuugongelwa-Amadhila emphasized that one of the key targets of Vision 2030 is for Namibia to evolve into a knowledge-based economy and society, characterized by seamless access to information tailored to the preferences and needs of different users.
The launch of the digital version of the pocket guide, designed for Namibian public servants, is an integral part of the innovation ecosystem, aimed at expediting progress towards improved service delivery.
The government’s objective is to transition from entirely manual documents to e-documents or digital documents.
In pursuit of making digitalization a tool for enhancing public service and social justice, with a commitment to leaving no one behind, the Prime Minister acknowledged that embracing new approaches can be met with challenges and resistance, particularly due to fear of the unknown.
“We must, therefore, incorporate change management into our implementation strategies to mitigate resistance to change. We must also address challenges related to technology accessibility, its cost, and the capacity to operate digital systems,” she said.
Kuugongelwa-Amadhila emphasized the need to orient public servants on how to access the pocket guide through the newly developed platform and to highlight its usefulness as a handy and practical reference tool.
Recognizing that not all government officials and offices are equally equipped or possess the same level of digital literacy, which can lead to issues of accessibility bottlenecks, the Prime Minister stressed the importance of eliminating the digital divide. Failure to address these issues could undermine the government’s efforts to maximize the benefits of digitalization.
She called on public service institutions to ensure that all staff members have access to official digital platforms and information, emphasizing that no one should be left behind.
The upgraded version of the pocket guide is available online and can be accessed in PDF format on various downloadable platforms. The Prime Minister described this innovation as a significant milestone achievement that contributes to reducing the carbon footprint, aligning with environmental sustainability goals.
Kuugongelwa-Amadhila directed Public Relations Officers to take the lead in keeping institutional websites updated and relevant, in line with the dynamic and evolving nature of government services.
