Heads of human resources and employees from litigation departments in public institutions are undergoing a three-day training programme on the general principles of professional ethics.

The training organised by the Ministry of Public Service in partnership with Rwanda Millennium Challenge Corporation (MCC) threshold programme, aims at equipping the civil servants with basic principles governing professional ethics.

Speaking to The New Times yesterday, Fred Rwagasana, the Director of Human Resources at Rwanda Social Security Board, said that training will enhance his professional code of conduct.

"Although we do have ethics as public administrators, we need this kind of training to improve our sense of responsibility for the people we lead,” added Rwagasana.

According to the trainer, Angela Scott, public servants are the face of the government. If they do not carry out their jobs in an ethical manner, the government will fail to fulfil its citizens’ expectations.

"It’s of great importance for you as civil servants to fully understand the ethical behaviour to create enabling conditions that promote professional and ethical standards in public service,” she said.

Alloys Niyonsaba, the official in charge of Public Servants and Career Management at the ministry, said the civil servants needed the professional ethics course prior to the drafting of the code of professional ethics decree for public servants.

"We want these public administrators to be equipped with work ethics so that they can improve on their service delivery,” he said.

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