About DPSM

The origins of DPSM can be traced as far back as the pre-independence era during the British colonial rule. It began originally as the Public Service Commission (PSC), headed by the Establishments Secretary. The Secretary reported directly to the Resident Commissioner who was based in Mafikeng, the then administrative capital of the present day Botswana.

When Botswana gained independence from Britain in 1966, the PSC was given executive powers over appointments, promotions, transfers and disciplinary matters - these were originally done by the Resident Commissioner's office. In 1969, the PSC was reorganised into PSC and Establishments Division. Then in 1970, as an act of parliament, the Establishments Division became the Directorate of Personnel, headed by Director of Personnel. The PSC continued to exist, but mainly as an appeals body against decisions made by the Directorate on the appointments, promotions, transfers, dismissals and discipline of public servants.

Then later in 1986, the Directorate of Personnel became the Directorate of Public Service Management (DPSM) headed by the Director of Public Service Management.

Botswana needs an efficient public service. If our national development goals are to be achieved, the well being of our people maximised, we must have a sensibly organised public service staffed by dedicated and competent officers. These are challenging goals, which the Directorate has a special role in their achievement. Its task includes ensuring that public officers maintain the highest standards of behavior, commitment and efficiency, and that they serve Botswana well. These can be achieved through:

DPSM as mandated by the Constitution, and the Public Service Act, 1998, Part II, Section 5, is responsible for the following matters:

 

	Conditions of appointment and terms of service;
	The administration of General Orders (HR Policies);
	The recruitment of public officers, including volunteers and technical assistance personnel;
	Staff complement and grading;
	The administration, structure and assessment of salaries;
	Public service training policy;
	Discipline, staff training and welfare;
	Localization and staff development programmes;
	Staff inspections and organizations and methods;
	The approval and administration of schemes of service;
	Allowances and policy with regard to pensions and gratuities;
	Personnel statistics; and
	Such other matters as may be prescribed.

The overall objectives of the Directorate are as follows:

 

	to uphold and enhance the lofty national principles and objectives, and to provide a stable, reliable and impartial public service to the government of the day.
	to increase the effectiveness of the government by providing human resource input so that the government's multifarious services to the public and national development activities are carried out, and national objectives attained.
	to effectively manage the Public Service within the framework of effective service to the public, concern for the welfare of the employee, adherence to the Public Service Act, and attainment of the national socio-economic development objectives.

In order for the Directorate to achieve its mission statement, the following specific objectives will be performed:

 

	to provide national leadership and serve as the government's focal point for all national policies and operational matters relating to the public service and management of human resources within the public service;
	to ensure provision of a stable, adequate, competent and effective public service which will serve the government;
	to maintain the Public Service of the Republic of Botswana which has unequalled ethical standards, high integrity, morale and competency to discharge effectively all responsibilities at all levels of its operations;
	to provide manpower resources to carry out the numerous services and development related functions of the government;
	to objectively assess the medium and long-term public service manpower needs in terms of skills, number, service areas and priorities. Also to regularly assess the short-term (annual) public service manpower needs by critically examining the requirements in terms of the deployment of the existing manpower;
	to maintain a comprehensive and up-to-date public service manpower inventory in terms of skills, experience, deployment, etc. for purposes of manpower planning, utilization and development;
	to ensure that entry, retention and advancement in the public service is determined primarily on the basis of merit (relative ability, knowledge and attitudes) and with primary regard to the efficiency of the public service;
	to ensure optimal utilization of the public service human resources which will be reflected through organizational performance and effective attainment of the national socio-economic service and development goals;
	to administer public service related regulations and terms of service with due regard to the national principles of democracy, development, social justice and harmony, and on the basis of sound concepts and practice of human resources management;
	to attain complete self-sufficiency in the public service manpower needs. in this respect, administer systematic programmes of public service manpower training and development to develop national capabilities. The training should also result in developing individual potential, improvement in overall public service performance and attaining localization objectives; and
	to ensure that the public service continuously remain effective and efficient at all levels and is capable of adapting to the national development needs and priorities. In this regard, introduce effective measures to combat inefficiency and wastage, promote efficiency and productivity, and achieve optimal utilization of resources allocated to the government.
	responsible for promoting and coordinating the implementation of the public service reforms by ministries and departments.

 

DPSM Organisational Structure

The Directorate is functionally structured into the following Divisions and a Unit:

• Departmental Management Division

• Personnel Administration Division

• Management Services Division

• Manpower Planning, Budgeting and Research Division

• Manpower Training Division

• Industrial Class and Personnel Relations Division

• Compensation and Terminal Benefits Division

• Recruitment and Placement Division

• Information Technology Unit, and

• Botswana Institute of Administration and Commerce

The Directorate  is headed by a Director, who is assisted by two Deputy Directors.  One Deputy Director is responsible for productivity and development functions, and the other is responsible for personnel administration and recruitment functions. There is also a Coordinator responsible for the Public service reforms initiative unit. The Director reports to the Permanent Secretary to the President (PSP), who is the head of the public service.

To view the current Functional Structure for DPSM, click here...

 

DPSM Overall Staffing

The Directorate has an overall establishment of 309 staff, and  the table below shows overall staffing per Division/Unit of DPSM:

 

DIVISION	TOTAL ESTABLISHMENT
Personnel Administration	12
Recruitment &Placement	17
Management Services	21
Manpower Planning, Budgeting & Research	18
Manpower Training & Development	17
Industrial Class & Personnel Relations	14
Departmental Management	66
Compensation and Terminal Benefits	14
Information Technology	18
Botswana Institute of Administration and Commerce	112
Total	309

 

Relationship with Ministries and Departments

DPSM as a Department responsible for public service management which includes among others, human resource management and productivity improvement , has direct relationship with all ministries. Prior to 1998, DPSM was responsible for HRM policy formulation and implementation. With decentralisation however, some of the HRM functions have been devolved to ministries and departments thus widening the previous relationship and linkages with ministries. As a result, a number of management mechanisms has been instituted to assure quality service delivery such as:

 

	the Appointment Boards which assist ministries and departments in the recruitment and appointment process on which DPSM is represented as an advisor;
	the facilitation of the productivity improvement initiatives through the Public Service Reforms Unit, Management Services Division, and the Computerised Personnel Management Systems (CPMS); and
	the Training Boards which assist ministries and departments in the training process on which DPSM is represented as an advisor.

The Directorate also collaborates with ministries and departments in areas of external recruitment, administration of external training, organisational reviews, schemes of service, grading of jobs, personnel information management systems, staff inspection as well as manpower planning.