Montenegro’s Ministry of Public Administration Gets CAF Certificate – Is It Really a Big Deal?
What is the CAF Certificate? In case you didn’t know, CAF (Common Assessment Framework) is a European model for quality management in public administration. Montenegro’s Ministry of Public Administration proudly announced that it became the first institution in the country to receive this prestigious certificate as an “efficient user.” Officially, this means they introduced a system of self-assessment and quality improvement, part of the public administration reform strategy.
How did they achieve this? At the beginning of last year, they formed a working group, conducted self-assessment, created an action plan, and carried out numerous activities. The result? This year, they received the CAF certificate, confirming they apply the highest European standards of quality management. The Director of the Regional School of Public Administration and Minister Maraš Dukaj ceremoniously accepted the recognition.
Why does it matter? The Ministry claims the certificate is not just recognition but a strong driver for further development of internal capacities and efficiency in the public sector. The goal is for other institutions to follow their example and for the entire public administration of Montenegro to reach European quality standards.
But is it really a reason to celebrate? While the Ministry celebrates, citizens and employees in other sectors, like healthcare, still face problems. For example, nurses and technicians in healthcare earn 10% less than the national average, which sparked plans for a protest on July 3rd. So, while the public administration boasts certificates, fundamental issues in other public services remain unresolved.
Is this just another bureaucratic game? Many would say that getting the certificate is a nice PR move, but real reform and improvements are yet to be seen. Will this CAF certificate truly bring the changes citizens expect, or will it remain just a piece of paper? Time will tell.
Conclusion Montenegro’s Ministry of Public Administration has taken a step towards European standards with the CAF certificate. But while they boast, other sectors scream for help. Maybe it’s time to shift focus from certificates to real changes that will improve the lives of all citizens.
What do you think? Is this certificate just an empty diploma or a real sign of progress? Drop a comment, let’s see who’s cheering and who’s skeptical about this “reform”!
