Progress made by the Department of International Relations and Cooperation in addressing and resolving the lack of experienced, qualified and skilled staff within the department
NATIONAL COUNCIL OF PROVINCES
FOR ORAL REPLY
QUESTION NO: 38 (CO73E) AS APPEARED IN INTERNAL QUESTION PAPER 1-2014 OF 11 MARCH 2014
MS L MABIJA (ANC-LIMPOPO) TO ASK THE MINISTER OF INTERNATIONAL RELATIONS AND COOPERATION:
Whether her department has made any progress in addressing and resolving the lack of experienced, qualified and skilled staff in the her department; if not, (a) why not and (b) what are her department’s plans and strategies in this regard; if so, (i) what progress and (ii) what are the further relevant details? CO73E
REPLY:
DIRCO has skilled, qualified and experienced officials.
The Department ensures that people with the required skills, experience and qualifications are appointed. These appointments are made in line with the requirements of the posts as per the
Job Descriptions.
The Department furthermore ensures the enhancement of employees’ skills and competencies through the following training programmes:
DIPLOMATIC TRAINING
- Diplomatic and Cadet Training
- Heads of Mission (HoM) Orientation
- Economic Diplomacy
- Mission Preparation for Counsellors, Partner Departments and Spouses of Officials
- Bursaries, post-graduate studies and short courses in the related fields of Diplomacy
MISSION ADMINISTRATION
- Mission Administration Course: for Corporate Service Managers
- Foreign Affairs Attaché Course: 3rd Secretaries - Administration
- Computer Application Training
- Secretarial Course
- Refresher Course for Corporate Service Managers and Attachés
- Refresher Course on Financial Systems Training
- Consular Management System (CMS) Training
- Financial Fitness
GENERIC SKILLS DEVELOPMENT (GSD)
i) Leadership and Management Programmes
a. Executive Development Programme (EDP)
b. Advanced Management Development Programme (AMDP)
c. Emerging Management Development Programme (EMDP)
ii) Foundation Course, now called the Compulsory Induction Programme (CIP)
iii) Adult Basic Education and Training (ABET), for general workers
iv) Short courses, such as:
a. Speech Writing
b. Report Writing
c. Labour Relations:
d. Mentoring and Coaching:
e. Supply Chain Management:
f. Communication Skills:
g. Emotional Intelligence:
h. In-house Secretarial Course:
i. Targeted Selection:
j. Time Management
k. Training of Trainers:
l. Diversity Management
m. Finance for Non-Financial Managers (Practitioners):
v) Protocol and Etiquette Training, also provided to all government departments, provincial and local governments
FOREIGN LANGUAGE TRAINING
- Foreign Language Training, in all working / official languages of countries of accreditation, for all South Africa diplomats
- English for Diplomats for all employees of the department.
In conclusion, with regard to Specialist Skills, the Department is providing and will continue to improve and provide additional Knowledge and Specialist Skills around areas such as;
- Preparation of Multilateral Statements, Political Reports, UN Resolutions,
- Cyber Security / E-Diplomacy / E-learning
- Environmental & Multilateral Diplomacy (Understanding Tracks Negotiations), Energy, Water Security, etc.
- Economic Intelligence / Economic Diplomacy
- Strategic Options and Futures Analysis
- Advanced Foreign and Complex Language Skills
- Mediation Toolkit
- Regional Integration / Global Governance
- BRICS;
- PCRD (Post Conflict Reconstruction and Development), Election observation, Mediation, Constitution Building;
- Terrorism and Counter Terrorism Courses
|
