Sustainable Training Programs Can Scale - the Tony Blair Institute for Global Change’s Collaboration with Panoply Digital

In a rapidly evolving digital landscape, the ability to harness technology for economic growth and social development has become a critical factor for nations across the globe. Adopting a digital-first culture for data-driven decision-making and upskilling civil servants to foster better collaboration remains a key priority for developing countries. For this reason, the Tony Blair Institute introduced its Digital Academy,co-implemented by Panoply Digital, to support the development of digital transformation leaders within the civil service.

Civil servants from Ghana, Malawi, and Senegal recently completed the first-of-its-kind six-month training programme to build digital skills and digital transformation expertise. The training included modules centred around Introduction to IT fundamentals, Information and Data Literacy, Problem Solving, Digital Safety and Security, Digital Communication and Collaboration, and Digital Content Creation. The expertly developed curriculum was curated to equip civil servants with the skills to empower them to become digital transformation leaders. 

Giving us an insight into how they found the Digital Academy pilot, civil servants commended the training for being informative, educational and interesting.  For one participant, their newly acquired skills have transformed their daily tasks, streamlining time-consuming, admin-heavy work using AI-powered tools.  Other participants acknowledged that following the training, they have enhanced their productivity, become more efficient, and achieved higher output levels daily.

“We gained much more autonomy, much more pragmatism and that increases our performance and improves delivery times”. 

Others mentioned an improved ability to visualise data for decision-making, develop relevant strategies and policies, and even reduce costs within their ministry or department. Put yourself in the shoes of a participant traversing the complicated world of budget, where the essence of your role is to deal with vast amounts of data. Amidst this flood of data, a glimmer of hope shines through — a revolutionary approach that promises to streamline processes and boost productivity to unprecedented heights. As one participant explained,

“Given that I work in Budget and often deal with huge volumes of data, the ability to analyze and present this data in a way that informs decisions will greatly improve productivity.” 

Participants are also applying what they’ve learned to improve the quality of services and deliver solutions that add value to their citizens - from agriculture to education and beyond. One participant said,

“We are trying different ways of delivering secondary education. So, we'll also be using this knowledge to see how best we can expand secondary education using digitalisation.”

The training empowered and inspired participants, motivating them to put their newly acquired knowledge into practice. They expressed their intention to apply this newfound knowledge and share it with their colleagues within their respective government departments, emphasising their commitment to knowledge dissemination.

Five lessons learned from developing and delivering the training programme

In addition to the participant learning, there are also lessons to be gleaned regarding developing and providing these training programmes. 

1. A mix of theory and practice is critical

Practising with practical application is imperative to embed the learning, bring it to life, and drive usage in the real world. The programme deliberately used an activity-based approach to help participants apply their knowledge to daily work. The following participant expressed appreciation for this approach, stating: 

“I like the blend of theory and practical because when you just focus on the theory, you learn about these things, and you forget. But we are able to say, okay, how do we apply that to everyday work experiences?”

2. Blended learning improves commitment and course completion rates  

Enabling civil servants to enrol in online and face-to-face training is crucial for continual learning efforts that accommodate the often complex working schedules of civil servants. Online learning is a valuable mechanism for resolving scheduling conflicts, ensuring that individuals unable to attend face-to-face training due to scheduling conflicts can bridge the gap and take full advantage of the training. This approach advocates for a more inclusive and equitable learning environment and ensures no one is left behind in pursuing knowledge and skills development.  Ultimately, it redefines the traditional boundaries of learning and makes education a genuinely adaptable and empowering experience for individuals with different work commitments.

3. Bringing together governments from different countries accelerates learning and fosters collaboration

The programme concluded with a two-day masterclass event in Rwanda, attended by government representatives from Ghana, Malawi, and Senegal. The event provided a unique platform for participants from each country to come together, engage with experts, network with one another across government sectors, and explore innovative solutions to advance digital transformation. A valuable outcome of the masterclass was the creation of enduring networks - bonds that will undoubtedly transcend borders and foster collaboration on future digital initiatives. 

“I was sitting with someone from Ghana and another one from Rwanda. We are already beginning to share experiences… When we go back home, we are going to improve on some of the things we are trying to do.”

4. Initial apprehension can transform into infectious enthusiasm

The pilot training programme was met with understandable apprehension as civil servants grappled with packed schedules and official duties to complete the required training. However, the programme’s relevant, cutting-edge topics, activity-based learning, and practical application transformed initial apprehension into enthusiasm, which spread throughout the workplace as participants discussed and applied their learnings. As one participant explained:

 “To be honest, when the programme came in, not everyone was enthusiastic to participate in the training because it was quite a long time. Six months is no joke... But after the graduation, everyone has heard about it... Now people are quite inquisitive. They want to understand what is happening, where did the training come from, what it is doing, and how they can join it.”

5. External factors can impact training schedules and availability 

Political instability in Senegal significantly disrupted the learning schedules of government officials, posing a substantial challenge to the successful delivery of the training programme. The scheduling conflicts arising from political instability impeded the regular flow of training sessions and led to the unfortunate cancellation of classes, which had to be rescheduled. This disruption not only hampers the continuity of the learning process but also jeopardizes the overall success of the training programme.

One of the primary obstacles encountered during the training delivery was scheduling conflicts between in-person training sessions and government officials' numerous concurrent work commitments. Some participants suggested consolidating the training into a shorter intensive burst, while others preferred more in-person sessions, citing too few training days. Therefore, a more detailed examination of potential formats and schedules is needed to determine the best fit for government participants, which may vary by country. 

“I think that next time, for this type of training of very interesting initiative, we should reduce the curriculum and densify it. Compact more information in person with two or three sessions where we will absorb a maximum of knowledge and can also benefit from the interactions of each other between ministries to renew this magic that we had this year.”

The journey continues

The digital skills training programme in Ghana, Malawi, and Senegal is part of a continuous journey towards digital transformation. The participating officials have been equipped with the knowledge and skills to drive their nations forward, harnessing the power of technology for the betterment of their citizens. As a result, governments can expect improved accountability and citizen engagement, which are fundamental elements of good governance.

The impact transcends borders, echoes in the corridors of power and is shaped by the aspirations of nations. It is a story of resilience, adaptability and empowerment — where investment in digital skills becomes an investment in the prosperity and progress of entire societies.

The digital skills training programme is more than a series of lessons; it is a testament to the indomitable spirit of nations charting their course in the digital age. The journey has only begun, and the promise of a digitally empowered future beckons. In this future, the intersection of knowledge and technology paves the way for unprecedented progress and a legacy of excellence for generations to come.

The Ministry of ICT in Ghana is currently leading the scale up of the DigSmart programme for civil servants nationwide, a testament to the pilot programme’s success, owed in part to Panoply Digital’s end-to-end training design with sustainability, particularly social sustainability, in mind. If you’d like to learn how Panoply Digital can support you with similar work, please get in touch with theteam@panoplydigital.com.