July 21, 2011 (JUBA) - The Republic of South Sudan (RSS) government has, in partnership with the African Development Bank (AfDB), officially launched a Curriculum Vitae (CV) registry that seeks to assist its citizens in their quest for employment opportunities in Africa’s newest nation.

Under the new arrangement, the Ministry of Human Resource Development and other government ministries will review CVs received through the registry, thus matching them with appropriate openings within the public sector, if available.

“South Sudan requires a skilled and dedicated workforce in order to implement its national development plan and other goals effectively. The country needs qualified professionals to help it address challenges and who can share in the nation building process,” said AfDB in a statement.

The new initiative, which comes less than two weeks after South Sudan attained its independence comes in response to the brain-drain the region has suffered after more than two decades of civil war. There is also a high level of unemployment in South Sudan.

The recently launched CV registry, further say the statement, is widely expected to address the “human capacity gaps” in the civil service in both federal and local government agencies.

Last week, a senior official in the Public Service ministry warned civil servants in government institutions against permitting unnecessary visits, describing it as a major setback to effective service delivery by government to its citizens.

Daniel Aroyeun, the ministry’s board secretary for recruitment took a swipe at friends, relatives and in laws of these government officials, who have allegedly rely upon a culture of regular, unnecessary visits.

“We need to discourage these unnecessary visits to ministries. It disrupts our civil servants from following their work schedules since they instead have to turn attention to these relatives, friends and in laws,” Aroyeun told delegates at a workshop in Juba, the capital of South Sudan.

While speaking during the 9 July independence occasion, South Sudan’s president, Salva Kiir pledged zero tolerance for corruption.

"Transparency and accountability," he said, shall form the basic foundation of the new leadership, adding that effective service delivery in the public interest will be an obligation to all civil servants and that those who are hesitant to comply will cease to be part of the new government.

“In order to move this country forward, sacrifices have to be made in public service. Those who are not ready to make this kind of sacrifice will not be part of the new government,” said Kiir.

(ST)