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The Narrow Window for Civil Service Reform

Institutional trust depends on whether recruitment and promotion systems can be made more merit-based.

Sadia QuadirFebruary 27, 20269 min read
The Narrow Window for Civil Service Reform

Civil service reform is often announced as a technical exercise, but its implications are political. Competitive recruitment, transparent scoring, and appeals mechanisms redistribute influence inside the state.

Policy drafts in recent years included strong design elements, yet execution stalled due to fragmented ownership. Ministries accepted headline goals but resisted unified monitoring tools.

Sequencing matters. Reform should begin with auditable recruitment pipelines and digital vacancy disclosure before moving to compensation and promotion frameworks.

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