How to Govern: Lessons from experience

Sir Michael Barber, founder and chairman of global advisory firm, Delivery Associates, is a well-known global expert on policy implementation and large-scale system change. In November 2023, he visited South Africa for a series of discussions with government and business leaders, hosted by CDE. This report pulls together his insights and advice on how to turn a government around from an ineffective failure to one that delivers for the whole country. He explained that when you start implementing big reforms, things will almost certainly get worse before they get better. You may create chaos and there will be a lot of opposition and noise in the media. “Stick to your guns,” was his message. Real change will only come from the effective implementation of strong goals. This is where the establishment of an effective delivery unit is vital. This should be a small unit in government that maintains a constant focus on established priorities and ensures the ongoing implementation of policies.

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