Introduction

Public service institutions around the world are under increasing pressure to strengthen institutional resilience and ensure leadership continuity in a rapidly changing environment. Talent management and succession planning have become mission-critical functions for governments seeking to retain top talent, cultivate future leaders, and sustain institutional excellence. As older generations retire and digital transformation accelerates, public institutions must build agile talent pipelines aligned with evolving public sector demands.

This Talent Management and Succession Planning in Public Service Training Course empowers human resource professionals, administrators, and policy leaders with evidence-based tools to design, implement, and optimize strategies for identifying, developing, and retaining high-potential individuals. The course provides practical approaches to succession frameworks, competency mapping, mentorship, career pathing, and diversity-driven workforce planning tailored to the public sector’s unique challenges.

Target Audience

• Public sector HR managers and personnel officers
• Government department heads and directors
• Strategic workforce planners and talent specialists
• Public service training and development officers
• Institutional reform and governance advisors
• Civil service commission executives
• Public policy leaders overseeing human capital strategy

Course Objectives

• Understand the strategic role of talent management in public service performance
• Design inclusive succession planning frameworks aligned with public sector values
• Identify and assess high-potential employees using competency-based models
• Build leadership pipelines through career pathing and targeted development
• Apply workforce analytics to inform talent strategies and succession priorities
• Establish mentorship and coaching programs to nurture institutional knowledge
• Integrate diversity, equity, and inclusion into talent planning processes
• Align succession plans with institutional transformation and service delivery goals
• Mitigate talent risks and ensure continuity in critical government roles

Duration

5 Days

Course Outline

Module 1: Foundations of Talent Management in Public Institutions

• Strategic workforce planning and its impact on public value
• Key components of public sector talent ecosystems
• Challenges in retaining and motivating public sector talent
• Global best practices in talent management
• Aligning talent with mission and institutional priorities

Module 2: Succession Planning Frameworks and Models

• Types of succession strategies: planned, emergency, and developmental
• Identifying mission-critical roles and future leadership needs
• Institutionalizing succession practices in public sector entities
• Balancing transparency, merit, and readiness
• Tools for succession diagnostics and benchmarking

Module 3: Competency Mapping and Talent Assessment

• Competency-based frameworks for public leadership
• Tools for assessing leadership potential and performance
• Designing customized career pathways
• Conducting talent reviews and development audits
• Linking competency data to workforce planning

Module 4: High-Potential Identification and Pipeline Development

• Strategies for spotting and supporting emerging talent
• Building inclusive high-potential development programs
• Rotational assignments and leadership stretch opportunities
• Aligning learning with leadership trajectories
• Tracking pipeline progress with digital tools

Module 5: Mentorship, Coaching, and Knowledge Transfer

• Structured mentorship models for public service
• Coaching techniques for leadership development
• Creating institutional memory repositories
• Intergenerational learning and reverse mentoring
• Leveraging alumni and retirees in knowledge retention

Module 6: Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion in Talent Planning

• Embedding DEI principles in succession and talent pipelines
• Removing structural barriers to advancement
• Designing inclusive promotion and mobility policies
• Supporting gender parity and underrepresented groups
• Equity audits and cultural assessments

Module 7: Data-Driven Talent and Workforce Analytics

• Metrics for evaluating talent readiness and gaps
• Predictive analytics for succession risk mitigation
• Integrating HR systems with strategic dashboards
• Using data to drive talent decisions and reporting
• Ensuring data integrity and ethical considerations

Module 8: Implementing and Sustaining Succession Plans

• Change management for public workforce transformation
• Embedding succession into strategic planning cycles
• Continuous evaluation and agility in planning
• Securing executive sponsorship and institutional buy-in
• Aligning succession with digital government strategies

Training Approach

This course will be delivered by our skilled trainers who have vast knowledge and experience as expert professionals in the fields. The course is taught in English and through a mix of theory, practical activities, group discussion and case studies. Course manuals and additional training materials will be provided to the participants upon completion of the training.

Tailor-Made Course

This course can also be tailor-made to meet organization requirement. For further inquiries, please contact us on: Email: info@skillsforafrica.org, training@skillsforafrica.org  Tel: +254 702 249 449

Training Venue

The training will be held at our Skills for Africa Training Institute Training Centre. We also offer training for a group at requested location all over the world. The course fee covers the course tuition, training materials, two break refreshments, and buffet lunch.

Visa application, travel expenses, airport transfers, dinners, accommodation, insurance, and other personal expenses are catered by the participant

Certification

Participants will be issued with Skills for Africa Training Institute certificate upon completion of this course.

Airport Pickup and Accommodation

Airport pickup and accommodation is arranged upon request. For booking contact our Training Coordinator through Email: info@skillsforafrica.org, training@skillsforafrica.org  Tel: +254 702 249 449

Terms of Payment: Unless otherwise agreed between the two parties’ payment of the course fee should be done 10 working days before commencement of the training.