Guinea's Minister of Modernization of Administration and Public Service, Faya François Bourouno, led the country's delegation to the UN Summit on Innovation in Governance held in Baku, Azerbaijan, on November 5, 2026. The summit provided a platform for Guinea to showcase its efforts in modernizing its public administration. Bourouno presented the country's vision for reforming its public administration, highlighting the Simandou 2040 program as the guiding framework.
The Simandou 2040 program is a comprehensive initiative that aims to transform the Guinean state by translating economic growth into concrete improvements in public services. The program is built around 122 megaprojects and 36 strategic reforms. Bourouno emphasized that the program's goal is to create a more accessible, efficient, and citizen-centric administration. He also highlighted several initiatives undertaken by the government to rationalize the management of public agents and increase administrative transparency.
Some of the key initiatives mentioned by Bourouno include the Guichet Unique des Services Publics (GUSP), a one-stop shop for public services that aims to interconnect administrations and simplify user procedures. Another initiative is the Répertoire national des emplois et des compétences, a national registry of jobs and competencies that aims to improve the management of state personnel and harmonize administrative management with payroll. Additionally, the Baromètre national des services publics, a national barometer of public services, was cited as a mechanism for continuously evaluating the quality and effectiveness of public services.
Bourouno's presentation at the summit attracted interest from other countries, and he engaged in bilateral discussions with his counterparts from Gabon, Chad, Madagascar, Guinea-Bissau, and Djibouti, as well as with representatives of the African Peer Review Mechanism (APRM). These discussions focused on sharing experiences in governance and modernizing public administration. The Guinean model appears to be inspiring other countries, with Gabon's Minister of Public Service and Capacity Building, Laurence Ndong, expressing interest in Guinea's reforms.
The Chadian Minister of Public Service, Abdoulaye Mboudou, also praised Guinea's expertise in modernizing its public service, particularly in digitalization and career management. Bourouno noted that Guinea is making progress in strategic areas, including controlling the size of its public service and digitalizing its personnel management system. He expressed satisfaction that many countries consider Guinea to be ahead in these areas and willing to learn from its experiences.
The Guinean delegation's participation in the summit provided an opportunity for the country to engage in dialogue with other nations on the transformation of public services. Bourouno's presentation of the Simandou 2040 program highlighted Guinea's commitment to reforming its public administration and improving the delivery of public services. The program's focus on citizen-centricity and efficiency aligns with the goals of the UN Summit on Innovation in Governance.
The outcome of the summit and the bilateral discussions suggests that Guinea's efforts in modernizing its public administration are being recognized and admired by other countries. As Bourouno noted, Guinea still has much work to do, but the country's progress in areas such as controlling its public service and digitalizing personnel management has earned it a reputation as a leader in public administration reform in the region.
Key points
- Guinea's Minister of Modernization of Administration and Public Service, Faya François Bourouno, presents the country's progress in modernizing its public administration at the UN Summit on Innovation in Governance in Baku, Azerbaijan.
