NEW MOMENTUM FOR THE PROFESSIONAL GROWTH OF DEFENCE CIVIL STAFF

The Ministry of Defence (MoD) has intensified efforts to strengthen the professional growth of its civilian workforce through a four-day workshop held at the Defence Headquarters in partnership with the Defence Security Cooperation University (DSCU), formerly the Institute for Security Governance (ISG).

The workshop brought together Heads of Departments and their Deputies to review progress in the implementation of the Integrated Defence Civil Staff Management Policy (IDCSMP), approved in November 2025, while also aligning it with the next phase of the Defence Civilian Professional Development Strategy.

Speaking on behalf of the Defence Principal Secretary, Dr. Patrick Mariru, the Secretary Administration, Mr. Isaac Masinde, emphasized the importance of coordinated action across departments to ensure the successful rollout of the Professional Development Strategy for Defence civilian staff.

He further highlighted the critical role of structured change management, strategic communication, and active stakeholder engagement in ensuring institutional alignment and effective policy implementation. His sentiments were echoed by the Director of Human Resource Management and Development (HRM&D), Ms. Lillian Nzavi.

The DSCU team, led by Ton Benards, conducted one-on-one consultations with departmental heads to gain deeper insights into existing skills and competency gaps. The findings will help inform the design and curation of the next phase of professional development initiatives for Defence civil staff.

Discussions during the workshop also focused on capacity building initiatives and proposed exchange programmes aimed at strengthening skills development and enabling the adoption of international best practices.

Participants were encouraged to take an active role in driving the implementation of the strategy, with emphasis placed on enhancing efficiency, promoting professional growth, and improving staff welfare across the Ministry.

The HoD’s, expressed confidence that sustained collaboration, training, and institutional support will contribute to the successful realization of the professional development strategy and ultimately enhance service delivery within the Ministry.