Eight months after taking office, the Walloon Government and that of the Wallonia-Brussels Federation are moving to the second stage of their civil service reform. On a proposal by Minister Jacqueline Galant, a new management model for the administration has been approved, aiming for a more efficient and results-driven civil service.
A break with old practices
This new model is based on five major pillars:
- Recruitment of top managers from the private sector: the civil service is opening up to external talent to bring in new skills.
- End of the Public Management Certificate (CMP): recruitment of managers will no longer be conditional on this qualification, ensuring wider access for the best profiles.
- Variable, performance-based pay: top managers will be assessed on their results and will benefit from a dynamic pay package.
- Evaluation and sanctioning of underperformers: regular reviews will be introduced, and ineffective managers can be more easily removed.
- Streamlining of management posts: the number of top managers will be reduced to lighten the decision-making structure and improve efficiency.
A profound cultural shift
“We are moving from a culture of excuses to a culture of results. It is no longer about justifying delays and obstacles, but about establishing an administration that achieves its goals effectively,” says Jacqueline Galant.
With this reform, the Walloon Government and that of the Wallonia-Brussels Federation are demonstrating their determination to thoroughly transform the public administration to make it more modern and efficient. The first measures are expected to come into force as early as October 2025.