A training seminar introducing modern human resource management took place in Minsk on 12-14 December 2017 within the framework of bilateral co-operation under the Partnership for Good Governance between the European Union and the Council of Europe. The event gathered the heads and top human resource managers of local and regional administrations, representatives of academia and of the central authorities.

The event was designed to share with the participants the best European practices in human resource management at local level implemented on the basis of the Council of Europe Human Resource Management Toolkit as well as to share experience from the other Eastern Partnership countries and the best practice from within Belarus. The discussions focused on importance of the improvement, modernisation and efficient management of resources at local level including human resources as a part and parcel of a larger public administration reform. Concrete examples of legislation, regulations and instructions relevant to transparent and efficient human resource management were brought forward.

Gennadiy Kosyak, Deputy Head of Council of Europe’s Good Governance Division highlighted the importance of reforms at local level as a pre-condition to improved well-being of citizens and stressed that any public administration reform should take due account of the improved functioning of local administrations, better and more efficient management of resources at local level and strengthening good governance at all levels.

The participants were also presented with the e-learning tool on the Council of Europe Twelve Principles of Good Governance, in particular, Principle 6 which is relevant to fighting against corruption, improving transparency and ethics. The instrument raised enthusiasm of the Belorussian human resource managers and officials, who assessed it as a very promising tool which could lead to a shift in understanding and implementation of the good democratic governance principles in daily work. The opportunity was used to gather feedback whilst the e-learning tool is still under development.

The event was organised under the Programme "Strengthening Institutional Frameworks for Local Governance in the Eastern Partnership countries" under the Partnership for Good Governance funded by the European Union and co-funded by the Council of Europe.