Reform Management Units to guide govt ministries

The government moves to establish reform units in its ministries to act as think-tanks to help run the administration as per SDG-era requisites.
Officials said the prime minister's office (PMO) has asked the ministries and divisions to create such knowledge unit styled 'Reform Management Unit (RMU)'.
Research-based activities will be operated mostly through the think-tank units, they also said.
"The proposed unit in every ministry and division will be set up soon. We sent letters to the top officials concerned in this regard," a high official of the PMO told the FE Friday.
The prime minister has also given the go-ahead in principle, he added.
Such a unit consists of two joint/deputy secretaries led by an additional or joint secretary. The units will run on the basis of team approach instead of organisational structure, he mentioned.
"Time is changing, day by day. The government is to adapt to the times and cultures. Besides, it has to take up proper, demand-oriented works and innovative activities considering the changes in national and international contexts," said another official concerned.
On the other hand, Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)' recipe was adopted by the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) on September 25, 2015. The government has to be capable of achieving the UN-set goals.
Besides, some special activities for achieving the goals should be undertaken by the government as it has achieved MDGs (Millennium Development Goals) for 2000-15 successfully, he added.
Currently, the ministries/divisions are to create focal-point desks for reformation, innovation and implementation of their different other activities. Focal Point officials play a critical role in coordinating and facilitating the activities of various government ministries and divisions.
But, most of the time, the officials cannot do their duties efficiently. As a result, a good number of different important projects/activities/works have long been hampered, he also said.
Besides, activities of the focal point officials concerned are hampered always due to unexpected transfers.
"As such, it is an urgent need to establish RMUs. It will be better for ministries/divisions if it is finally created," he added.
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