20-21 February 2025, Podgorica, Montenegro

Held back-to-back with the Meeting of the Human Resources Management and Professional Development (HRMPD) Working Group, the workshop underscored ReSPA’s ongoing commitment to supporting the professionalisation of public administrations by promoting the exchange of good practices, aligning regional HR initiatives with EU standards, and addressing the emerging needs of HR professionals.

Key representatives from public administrations across the region delved into the crucial topic of monitoring human resources as a strategic aspect of HR management. Through case studies and practical examples from Western Balkan administrations and EU Member States, they explored methodologies that provided actionable insights into workforce trends, resource allocation, and organisational performance

The first day of the event featured engaging presentations from the Western Balkan administrations, each highlighting their current state of play in HR monitoring, alongside the challenges they faced and solutions they had implemented. The session allowed for a Q&A exchange, fostering an environment of peer learning and collaboration. The afternoon continued with insightful contributions from Estonia and France, where Merilin Truuväärt from the Estonian Ministry of Finance and Stéphanie Juban and Marie Ollivier from DGAFP shared valuable perspectives on HR monitoring practices in EU member states.

The second day focused on SIGMA’s Monitoring 2024 findings and the presentation of the Strategic Orientation of ReSPA 2025 - 2030, which set the stage for group discussions aimed at identifying priority activities and topics for the development of a new EC-funded project proposal. Participants worked together to refine their proposals, ensuring they addressed the concrete needs of Western Balkan administrations and contributed to the region’s continuous improvement in HR management.

Key outcomes of the event included an increased understanding of good practices in HR management and professional development across Western Balkan administrations and a prioritised list of topics and proposed activities for a new EC-funded project. Participants left with practical insights into HR monitoring methodologies and a clear follow-up plan to continue their collaborative efforts.

In conclusion, the workshop highlighted the growing importance of monitoring human resources as a strategic element of HR management. It is essential to develop monitoring methodologies, refine monitoring tools and approaches, and regularly run monitoring to ensure valuable insights that help shape the future of public administrations. Through transparent HR monitoring, governments can, among others, improve resource allocation, enhance organisational performance in the years to come and strengthen public trust.