Mon 13 May 2024
The Challenge
The General Secretariat of the Supreme Council of Planning and Development (GSSCPD) was looking to support the implementation of the Kuwait National Development Plan (KNDP), particularly to enhance the effectiveness of the fourth pillar “Effective Government Administration”.
To reach this objective, the GSSCPD recognised the need to develop national capacities of public officials in different areas. Cultivating leadership skills and capacities of emerging leaders was identified as essential to effect the transformational change leading to achievement of KNDP objectives on departmental level, and further the enhancement of public sector performance for future leaders.
Solution
UNDP Kuwait worked with Dods Training to help GSSCPD and CSB achieve this aim by designing and developing a programme of learning to enhance leadership capacities.
Consultations were carried out with GSSCPD and CSB counterparts to outline the objectives of the training. Pre-training questionnaires were completed by participants to determine their baseline knowledge and skills in leadership and management. From there, the two trainers, Dr Murat Daoudov and Dr Atef Rawahneh, designed the content and exercises for the four-day training and the one-day assessment process with each participant post training. Each trainer met with a participant to discuss their leadership self-assessment results, identify their strengths and gaps, and a plan of action to move themselves forward.
Results
Training was delivered to seventy staff in total. A comprehensive report summarised the individual development plans and provided a departmental analysis according to areas of strengths and development.
The training programme received high scores of mainly excellent and good, and a combined rating of 95% plus. The trainers were repeatedly described as thorough, knowledgeable, articulate, and engaging.
Participants found the group work and case studies most useful as a methodology. When asked which topics were most useful, many indicated all, but special mentions went to the topics of management, strategic planning, leadership approaches, management style, managing subordinates, managing change, knowing the difference between leading and managing, and decision-making. For a handful, the training was a refresher, while for most new learning was gained.
Testimonials:
‘I benefitted from knowing about methods followed in planning and the difference between leadership and management, as I had previously believed them to be the same thing, but I now know the difference and where I am at present’.
’The importance of making plans and knowledge of the most important characteristics of a manager, and the appropriate director, and management styles.’
‘The meaning of strategic planning and how to put strategy into the next plan, the meaning and methods of leadership and divisions and types of managers were useful.
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