Guinea's Minister of Modernization of Administration and Public Service, Faya François Bourouno, led the country's delegation at the UN Summit on Innovation in Governance in Baku, Azerbaijan, on November 5, 2026. The summit provided a platform for Guinea to showcase its public administration reform efforts. Bourouno presented the "Simandou 2040" program, which aims to overhaul Guinea's public administration. The program is built around 122 large-scale projects and 36 strategic reforms.
The "Simandou 2040" program seeks to translate economic growth into tangible improvements in public services for citizens. Bourouno emphasized that the program's ambition is to create a more accessible, efficient, and citizen-centric administration. To achieve this, the government has initiated several projects, including the Guichet Unique des Services Publics (GUSP), a one-stop shop for public services. This platform aims to interconnect various administrations and simplify user procedures.
Another key initiative under the "Simandou 2040" program is the Répertoire national des emplois et des compétences, a national registry of employment and competencies. This tool is designed to optimize the state's workforce and harmonize administrative management with payroll. Additionally, the government has introduced the Baromètre national des services publics, a national barometer to continuously evaluate the quality and effectiveness of public services.
These reforms are part of a broader effort to gradually digitize administrative procedures. Bourouno highlighted that the program aims to enhance transparency and efficiency in public administration. The Guinean delegation also engaged in bilateral discussions with Gabon's Minister of Public Service and Capacity Building, Laurence Ndong, to exchange experiences on public administration reform.
The meeting with Gabon's delegation focused on comparing their public administration models. Gabon shared its progress in regularizing careers, evaluating employee performance, and deploying an e-Public Service portal. The discussions also touched on Gabon's retirement reform, which transfers administrative burdens from citizens to the administration.
To solidify the exchange of experiences, Bourouno proposed a working visit to Guinea for Gabon's delegation. The invitation was reportedly well-received, paving the way for a technical partnership between the two administrations. This potential collaboration could facilitate the sharing of best practices in public administration reform.
The "Simandou 2040" program represents a significant effort by Guinea to modernize its public administration. With its focus on accessibility, efficiency, and citizen-centricity, the program has the potential to improve public services for Guinean citizens. The exchange with Gabon and other international partnerships may further enhance Guinea's reform efforts.
Key points
- The "Simandou 2040" program aims to reform Guinea's public administration through 122 large-scale projects and 36 strategic reforms.
- The program focuses on creating a more accessible, efficient, and citizen-centric administration.
- Guinea and Gabon are exploring a technical partnership to share experiences on public administration reform.
