Reply: As announced in the Government Programme 2025-2029, this Government has taken the firm commitment to make the Public Service become more efficient and effective whilst adopting a citizen-centric approach and providing the necessary support and training to its staff. My Ministry is responsible to assist in Government's transformation agenda and will, to that effect, come up with the following initiatives – (a) My Ministry is proposing to develop a Strategic Framework for Public Service and Administrative Reforms 2025-2029, which will aim at providing a cohesive and forward-looking framework to guide reform and transformation efforts across the Public Service. This Strategy will be conceived as a key enabler for aligning public sector reforms with the broader national development agenda, with a strong focus on innovation, digitalisation, accountability, and people- centric service delivery. Once finalised, the new Strategy will serve as a comprehensive roadmap for enhancing organisational performance, streamlining bureaucratic processes, and embedding a culture of continuous improvement and adaptability across Ministries and Departments;

135 (b) My Ministry will come up with a Public Sector Reforms Bill, to provide, inter alia, for reforms initiatives supported by appropriate legal framework with focus on good governance, transparency and accountability, thus paving the way for an Open Government Culture; (c) The introduction of a Public Service Reforms Scheme, which will provide, amongst others, for the establishment of Reforms and Innovation Units (RIUs) in all Ministries and Departments. These units will replace the existing Transformation Implementation Committees and will serve as dedicated transformation and innovation hubs to coordinate, manage, and drive reform initiatives. Each RIU will be composed of officers trained in change management, process innovation, and digital transformation, and will include the appointment of a Director of Reforms to lead change efforts within the institution. Monitoring and evaluating reform initiatives will also be carried out through Key Performance Indicators (KPIs) and evidence-based reporting, and (d) My Ministry is planning to review and digitalise the current Performance Management System (PMS), with a view to developing a more results-oriented, transparent, and measurable framework for performance evaluation and development planning. In its capacity-building efforts, the newly inaugurated Atal Bihari Vajpayee Institute of Public Service and Innovation will come up with tailor-made trainings on leadership and change management at all levels in the public service, as well as, introduce credit-based modules. One such area of focus will be the growing importance of Emerging and Disruptive Technologies, particularly Artificial Intelligence (AI), in transforming the delivery of public services. My Ministry will provide the necessary support for capacity building and development to the Rodrigues Regional Assembly Administration. This forward-thinking approach will support Rodrigues in staying abreast of technological advancements and building internal capabilities to lead digital transformation initiatives. The Sandbox Framework, which is spearheaded by the Public Sector Business Transformation Bureau of my Ministry, has provided a structured and low-risk environment for Public Bodies to experiment with and test innovative ideas and digital solutions before scaling them up.

136 The replication of the Sandbox Framework in Rodrigues would empower the regional administration to co-create solutions, accelerate the adoption of digital tools, and promote a culture of experimentation and innovation, thereby strengthening its service delivery mechanisms and institutional resilience. The following reform initiatives have already been implemented by my Ministry, amongst others – (a) The electronic Human Resource Management Information System (e-HR) on a full-scale basis; (b) The Digital Collaborative Platform and Document Management System for Scheme of Service (e-SOS Project), under the Sandbox Framework, on a pilot basis, and (c) The electronic Document Management System (EDMS), on a pilot basis. My Ministry is currently in the process of rolling out the e-SOS across the Public Service and scaling up of the EDMS within other units of my Ministry. Consideration will be given to extend these reform initiatives in Rodrigues. Consideration will also be given for a dedicated section to be included in the Strategic Framework for Public Service and Administrative Reforms 2025-2029 to address the specific reform and capacity-building needs of the Rodrigues Regional Assembly Administration. My Ministry stands ready to provide the necessary technical assistance to the Rodrigues Regional Assembly Administration for the successful implementation of public service reform initiatives, thereby ensuring that the benefits of a modernised and effective public service are equitably shared across the nation. CAMP THOREL – CUT-OFF DRAIN PROJECT – PHASE 2B