3 October 3 2024, Ljubljana, Slovenia

The Regional Thematic Group on Human Resources Management and Professional Development (HRMPD) and gathered representatives from public administrations across the Western Balkans gathered to exchange insights, share achievements, and align their strategic objectives in the evolving field of HRM.

Held during the High-Level Conference on Innovative HR of the Future-Ready Public Administration, the meeting focused on fostering collaboration, highlighting the latest achievements in HRM, and discussing professional development initiatives across the region.

Key objectives of the meeting included sharing best practices, confirming the strategic direction as outlined in the new ReSPA Strategy, and finalizing the Programme of Work (PoW) for 2025. Additionally, participants explored potential improvements to ReSPA's instruments, such as mobility schemes and on-demand services, aimed at enhancing professional development.

Key Highlights from the Meeting:

• Presentation of Achievements and Challenges: Each ReSPA Member presented their HRM successes and challenges in adapting to modern governance demands. The seven-minute presentations facilitated a collaborative exchange of strategies, allowing participants to gain insights into each administration’s progress;
• ReSPA’s Strategic Presentation: Gentian Xhaxhiu, ReSPA Programme Coordinator, presented the monitoring results from 2023 activities and outlined planned initiatives for 2024. The presentation also highlighted ReSPA’s strategic orientation for the coming years and specific activities scheduled for 2025, ensuring alignment with ReSPA’s long-term vision for improving public administration.
• Collaborative Discussions: Following the presentations, participants engaged in an in-depth discussion on the proposed 2025 Programme of Work and potential areas for improvement. Suggestions were made to enhance current initiatives and introduce new activity types to support regional HRM and professional development.

The meeting concluded with a strong commitment to regional cooperation, with participants expressing their readiness to implement the proposed improvements and continue working together to advance HRM practices.

ReSPA continues to play a crucial role in fostering regional collaboration and supporting professional development in the Western Balkans, working closely with its member administrations to build resilient and forward-thinking public administrations.