NCGG Concludes 1st Advanced Leadership Development Programme for Latin American and Caribbean Civil Servants

New Delhi: The National Centre for Good Governance (NCGG) successfully concluded its inaugural Advanced Leadership Development Programme on Public Policy and Governance, designed specifically for senior civil servants from Latin America and Caribbean nations. The two-week program, held from September 2 to 13, 2024, brought together 22 participants from 10 countries, including Argentina, Costa Rica, El Salvador, Guyana, Honduras, Jamaica, Paraguay, Peru, St. Kitts & Nevis, and Suriname.

The programme aimed to foster knowledge exchange and introduce participants to India’s best practices in governance, public policy, and sustainable development.

Valedictory Session Highlights: During the valedictory session, Shri V. Srinivas, Secretary of the Department of Administrative Reforms and Public Grievances (DARPG) and Director General of NCGG, delivered a keynote address. He emphasized the importance of strengthening bilateral relations between India and the Latin American and Caribbean nations through shared governance strategies. He highlighted key Indian initiatives such as “Maximum Governance, Minimum Government”, Digital India, and India’s holistic approach to good governance, suggesting these could be adapted to address governance challenges in the participants’ home countries.

Participant Presentations: The participants, divided into four groups, presented detailed analyses of critical governance topics during the session. These topics included:

• Ethics and Accountability in Leadership and Governance
• Smart Cities and Urban Governance
• Improving Public Service Delivery
• Women-Centric Governance

These presentations not only showcased the governance initiatives from the participants’ respective countries but also reflected their learnings from India’s governance models.

Programme Overview: The first phase of the program included interactive sessions on a wide range of governance topics, providing participants with theoretical knowledge and practical insights. In the second phase, participants visited key institutions demonstrating India’s governance practices, such as:

• The Indira Gandhi National Forest Academy for environmental governance insights.
• The Cyber Security Cell, which highlighted India’s approach to digital security and data protection.
• The National Institute of Solar Energy and International Solar Alliance, showcasing India’s leadership in renewable energy and sustainable development.

Participants also enjoyed a visit to the Taj Mahal, experiencing India’s cultural heritage firsthand.

Organizing Team: The programme was coordinated and supervised by a team of experts led by Dr. Himanshi Rastogi, supported by Dr. M.K. Bhandari, Dr. Zaid Fakhar, and a dedicated team including Ms. Megha Tomar, Shri Sanjay Dutt Pant, and Shri Brijesh Bisht.