CSA Kicks Off Transformative Retreat: Charting a Path for Strategic Alignment & Innovative Governance

The Civil Service Agency (CSA) commenced its highly anticipated two-day strategic planning retreat on March 27, 2025, signaling a collective commitment to reinvigorate public service delivery across Liberia. This vital event, under the overarching theme of “Strategic Alignment, Accountability, and Innovation”, brought together key leaders and stakeholders with a shared vision of fostering efficiency, collaboration, and progress in governance.

The retreat began with an engaging opening ceremony, where Hon. Nathaniel Kwabo, Director-General of the Cabinet, served as the keynote speaker. His thought-provoking address emphasized the importance of aligning governmental goals with actionable strategies to create a transparent, accountable, and innovative public sector. He underscored the pivotal role of teamwork and urged attendees to view the retreat as an opportunity to forge new paths toward excellence in service delivery.

His message was further echoed by Hon. Nee-Alah Varpilah, Director-General of the Liberia Institute of Public Administration (LIPA), and a proxy representative of Prof. Alaric Tokpah, Acting Chairman of the Governance Commission. Both speakers shared laudatory remarks, acknowledging the CSA’s leadership and the retreat’s objectives. They reiterated the significance of fostering team cohesion and underscored that meaningful progress stems from collective effort and shared accountability.

Following the keynote speeches, the Director-General of the CSA, Dr. Josiah F. Joekai, Jr.  officially declared the retreat open, addressing the senior management team with an inspiring call to action. His speech highlighted the retreat’s objective as not merely an exercise in planning but as a transformative journey to build a service-oriented public sector. He urged participants to be forward-thinking, innovative, and committed to achieving sustainable impact

The morning and early afternoon sessions of day one were packed with interactive workshops designed to align participants’ understanding of key priorities. Facilitators guided the team through comprehensive discussions on critical topics, including: The identification and refinement of key matrices and performance indicators to measure success effectively. The review of existing strategic plans, emphasizing areas that require recalibration to address evolving challenges. The incorporation of innovative strategies of the current state of the Agency.

Through these sessions, participants gained clarity on their roles and responsibilities, as well as the expectations for achieving measurable outcomes.

In the latter part of the day, attendees transitioned into breakout groups to delve deeper into specific aspects of the strategic plan. Each group was tasked with analyzing and refining particular sections of the plan, ensuring alignment with overarching goals. The discussions were highly participatory, fostering a collaborative atmosphere where diverse perspectives were valued and integrated.

The energy in the room was palpable as teams worked diligently to propose actionable solutions and strategies. These breakout sessions not only facilitated teamwork but also encouraged creative problem-solving and a renewed sense of ownership among participants.

Day one concluded with a reflection session, where participants shared their insights and takeaways from the day’s activities. The tone was optimistic, with a collective acknowledgment of the strides made toward building a cohesive and actionable strategic plan. Participants expressed their excitement for Day two, which promised to build upon the momentum and delve further into the path of transformation.

The Deputy Director-General for Administration and Finance, Hon. Dahnu Miayen, Chairperson of the Retreat Committee, ably coordinated the proceeding to its resounding conclusion on the day one.