“THE NEW FACE OF MANAGEMENT”: BORDER GUARDS PRESENTED THE IMPLEMENTATION OF BEST PRACTICES IN BORDER MANAGEMENT TO PARLIAMENTARIANS

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26 of November 2020 08:00

On November 18, during a sitting of the Verkhovna Rada Committee on National Security, Défense and Intelligence, the State Border Guard Service of Ukraine presented the implementation of best border management practices, primarily related to the human res

On November 18, during a sitting of the Verkhovna Rada Committee on National Security, Défense and Intelligence, the State Border Guard Service of Ukraine presented the implementation of best border management practices, primarily related to the human resources management system.

It was devoted to the international project “The New Face of Management” launched by the border agency. Currently, 5 stages of selection of candidates for the positions of chiefs of border detachments, aviation and naval units of the State Border Guard Service, as well as their first deputies and deputies have already been carried out. They were attended by 162 participants. As a result of transparent and objective assessment, a rating was formed, of which 33 participants with the highest scores have already been appointed to management positions, 113 -were included in the personnel reserve.

The presentation was joined online by partners who helped implement the project, such as the US Embassy in Ukraine and the International Organization for Migration.

In particular, Sarah Langenkamp, Director of the Technical Assistance Department for Law Enforcement Authorities of Ukraine at the US Embassy, noted that the State Border Guard Service is a leader among Ukrainian law enforcement agencies in terms of institutional reforms and, in particular, expanding the scope of competitive selection, and she emphasized that the border guards did so on their own initiative.

The “New Face of the Border” selection program has proven to be an effective tool for high-quality selection of motivated employees, as well as for the best changes in the service. In addition, the constant improvement of personnel quality improves the work of the agency as a whole and increases the level of citizens' satisfaction with the service, "she said, adding that they will be happy to work with Verkhovna Rada Committees to support initiatives and reforms similar to those implemented in SBGS.

Franz Pruch, Head of the Migration and Border Management Program of the International Organization for Migration in Ukraine, noted that the State Border Guard Service of Ukraine continues to move by the way of reforms and is working hard to introduce transparent procedures for appointing its command staff.

He said that they wanted to express their appreciation to the agency as a true flagship of reforms and positive changes in the security sector of Ukraine.

The partners helped border guards to form the mechanism and selection criteria on the basis of the most modern practices of work with human resources of developed countries and companies.

In turn, the Chairman of the Committee Oleksandr Zavitnevych noted that he personally also had the opportunity to get acquainted with the selection process in the SBGS for this project and evaluates it positively.

During the discussion, the participants actively asked questions about the assessment of the functioning of such a selection system and the interest of personnel to participate in it.

First Deputy Head of the State Border Guard Service Volodymyr Nikiforenko emphasized that earlier the career growth of promising officers was restrained by direct commanders, because they did not want to lose good specialists. Instead, there have been cases where the highest positions were occupied on the basis of personal relationships or unfair lobbying.  And the NFM project enabled to study the level of each candidate for a high position objectively.

“We have established clear rules that make it impossible to get on the list of candidates with insufficient level of training, low morale and leadership skills. And if we had some reservations as to the chastity and corruption risks - candidates were not allowed to be selected at all,” Volodymyr Nikiforenko said.

He noted that the agency conducted a broad information campaign, which encouraged promising officers to participate in the competition and formed confidence in such promotions.

Deputy Pavlo Sushko, who was present at the event, noted that the SBGS leadership had clearly defined the task for the agency to develop a transparent and motivated system of appointments to senior positions in border guards, which was done then.

The reform will contribute to the creation of a modern and effective law enforcement agency and increase confidence in it," the Deputy (member of the SBGS board) said.

Also, within the framework of selection there are special commissions, which in addition to competent specialists of the Border Guard of Ukraine, representatives of the Polish Border Guard, IOM Representation in Ukraine, include representatives of the public organization.

In particular, Iryna Sushko, Executive Director of Europe Without Barriers Public Association, noted that the presented project was a quiet revolution towards qualitative changes in the field of the State Border Guard Service when it came to human potential.

“The selection procedure is structured in such a way that it is almost impossible for the members of the tender commission to make a subjective assessment. This selection is a confirmation of the fact that today the State Border Guard Service demonstrates a high level of openness, transparency and fully complies with the principles of the strategy for the development of integrated border management implementation,” she added.

During the discussion, the Committee members stressed that that was a ready-made package of reforms that could be considered for adaptation and extension to other ministries and agencies of the security and defence sector.

 “I am convinced that the implementation of a new leader formation and the selection of the best candidates for key positions will strengthen the Service's position on the path to creating a modern law enforcement agency and increase the confidence of Ukrainian society in the State Border Guard Service of Ukraine,” Volodymyr Nikiforenko said.

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