Civil service organisations are among the largest, most complex in presence today. Complexity makes getting things done harder.
But in times of crisis, when bureaucrats say that something can’t be done quickly, other bureaucrats ask why not it becomes obvious that the force behind many rules is habit, not law. Those rules must be revised to provide for greater transparency and faster decision making.
Civil service organisations have shown they can be agile in a crisis. Focusing on promptness could help them keep pace with changing needs during challenges and beyond.
The outbreak of the COVID-19 pandemic has affected over 180 countries, infected more than 13 million people and killed more than 570, 000 (as of 14 July 2020).
The unforeseen and vicious disturbance by the COVID-19 pandemic has thrown the civil service and civil servants into a tumult, forcing them to not only deal with fighting its spread but trying to manage its associated socioeconomic effect.
In the response to the COVID-19 pandemic civil service and civil servants, many who were used to operating in routine and structured systems had to deploy quick thinking, instant creativity and innovation to counter the devastation caused by the pandemic in service delivery, particularly in critical areas such as healthcare.
Civil servants must turn the challenges posed by the COVID-19 pandemic into an opportunity for formulating strategies for resilience reinforcement, the efficiency and receptiveness of the civil service and the services they deliver, so as to be better prepared in future.
Civil servants who deliver services quick-wittedly, justifiably and with humanness help boost the credibility of the government, and as a result, foster trust amongst the people.
The civil servants strength to continue providing services in the face of the COVID-19 pandemic danger has contributed greatly to the government being seen as critical in and caring for the lives of the people.
The ongoing work of civil servants, therefore, has in many places elevated a sense of trust in government.
