A Decade of Civil Service Reform in Sub-Saharan Africa
IMF Working Papers, December 1, 1997
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- A Decade of Civil Service Reform in Sub-Saharan Africa
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Bibliographic details
- Authors: Ian Lienert, Jitendra R. Modi
- Published: December 1, 1997
- Series: IMF Working Papers
- DOI: https://doi.org/10.5089/9781451858990.001
Summary findings
- 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.
- 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.
Key statistics and publication metadata
- Sample: 32 sub-Saharan African countries
- Pages: 47
- Volume: 1997
- Issue: 179
- Series: Working Paper No. 1997/179
- DOI: https://doi.org/10.5089/9781451858990.001
- Stock No: WPIEA1791997
- ISBN: 9781451858990
- ISSN: 1018-5941
- Publication date: December 1, 1997
- Citation example provided: Ian Lienert, and Jitendra R. Modi "A Decade of Civil Service Reform in Sub-Saharan Africa", IMF Working Papers 1997, 179 (1997), accessed 9/17/2026, https://doi.org/10.5089/9781451858990.001
Policy recommendations and priorities
- Consolidate quantitative first-generation reforms that contribute to macroeconomic stabilization (for example, measures to reduce excessive staffing levels and the nominal wage bill).
- Advance qualitative second-generation reforms focused on:
- Remuneration policies that decompress salary differentials in favor of higher-grade staff and reward performance.
- Promotion policies that reward performance.
- Measures to improve civil service management.
- Secure strong political commitment by governments to implement and sustain these reforms.
Source: A Decade of Civil Service Reform in Sub-Saharan Africa, Ian Lienert and Jitendra R. Modi, IMF Working Paper No. 1997/179 (December 1, 1997).
Content in this bundle
- A Decade of Civil Service Reform in Sub-Saharan Africa - WP/97/179