The project, funded with €6.5 million from the Italian Cooperation fund, represents one of the first concrete initiatives under the “Training and Human Capital” pillar of the Mattei Plan. The training model combines in-person modules in partner countries, distance learning, and final sessions at the SNA headquarters in Caserta.
The international project entitled “Strengthening the capacities, skills and knowledge of senior public officials of Côte d’Ivoire, Ethiopia, Kenya and Tunisia” was inaugurated today at the Reggia di Caserta. The initiative is funded by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation (MAECI) and implemented by the National High School for Administration (SNA), in coordination with the Department of Public Function and Italian Agency for Development Cooperation (AICS).
SNA will organize and deliver training courses for 1,320 senior managers and high-ranking officials from the four participating African countries. The three-year project falls within the framework of the Mattei Plan for Africa and aims to strengthen African public administrations through integrated training pathways and the creation of lasting institutional partnerships.
The event opened with remarks by the Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation, Hon. Edmondo Cirielli, who stated: “Investing in public administration training means strengthening institutions and creating the conditions for sustainable and long-term development. With this initiative, which I strongly promoted together with President Severino starting from the G7 Education event held on October 1, 2024, at the SNA in Caserta, Italy reaffirms its commitment to building solid partnerships with African countries based on skills development and knowledge exchange. In line with the Mattei Plan, the goal is to transform the SNA headquarters in Caserta into a training hub for African public managers.”
“Investing in the training of our people means enhancing the quality of institutions. At a time marked by continuous and profound transformations reshaping geopolitical balances, it is essential to strengthen synergies among national and international administrations. The program involving senior officials from Côte d’Ivoire, Ethiopia, Kenya and Tunisia is the result of joint efforts by the Department of Public Function, MAECI, SNA and AICS. It is a concrete example of international cooperation grounded in the sharing of expertise and the building of solid and lasting partnerships,” emphasized the Minister for Public Administration, Senator Paolo Zangrillo.
“Focusing on the skills of public managers means investing in States’ ability to govern change, translate policies into tangible results, and effectively respond to citizens’ expectations. As the program now enters its operational phase, it contributes to strengthening public leadership characterized by vision, responsibility and cooperation, in line with the shared priorities between Italy and its African partner countries. It will be a mutual exchange aimed at reinforcing institutional ecosystems, managerial networks and professional communities that will continue to grow beyond the duration of the initiative,” said SNA President, Professor Paola Severino.
The project, funded with €6.5 million from the Italian Cooperation fund, is one of the first tangible initiatives under the “Training and Human Capital” axis of the Mattei Plan. The training model includes a combination of in-person modules in partner countries, distance learning, and final sessions at the SNA headquarters in Caserta. The curriculum was jointly defined with the institutions of the participating countries and covers topics such as public leadership, regulatory simplification, digitalization, debt management and procurement. Particular emphasis is placed on training trainers, with the aim of establishing permanent local training structures.
Among those attending the ceremony at the Reggia di Caserta were representatives of public administration schools and training institutions from the African partner countries, as well as senior representatives of the main Italian administrations involved in the project, including the Deputy Diplomatic Advisor to the President of the Council of Ministers, Pietro Sferra Carini; the Director of the Italian Agency for Development Cooperation, Marco Riccardo Rusconi; the Diplomatic Advisor to the Minister for Public Administration, Francesco Leone; and the Deputy Director General of the Directorate-General for Development Cooperation at MAECI, Stefania Fancello.
