Why Mission-Driven Bureaucrats Matter Now More Than Ever
Washington, D.C. - As we reflect on our progress and set our sights on 2025, the task ahead is clear: we must continue the critical work of empowering young public servants, equipping them with the tools and support they need to navigate the complexities of government.
Last week our founder, Betsy Williams, hosted a fireside chat to celebrate Dan Honig, a long-time champion of Emerging Public Leaders and the author of “Mission Driven Bureaucrats: Empowering People to Help Governments Do Better.” We were honored to be joined by EPL’s Chair Emeritus, President Ellen Johnson Sirleaf, along with our US-based staff and supporters. The conversation was heartfelt and focused on the role of government and its bureaucracy, particularly relevant as the outcome of the US elections was on everyone's minds.
Over the course of an hour, this fireside chat (in front of a real fire at Betsy’s home) reflected on the challenges and opportunities for career government public servants, and their critical role as the backbone of effective governance and a stabilizing force for the public during times of political transition.
No matter where you live - Washington, DC, Accra, Ghana, or Lilongwe, Malawi, we all strive for the same things—access to healthcare, quality education, and effective social programs. As highlighted in Mission Driven Bureaucrats, "the best way to achieve these aims is to attract, retain, and engage public servants with a desire to care for citizens.”
We have witnessed firsthand, through EPL’s young public leaders programs, how empowered civil servants make a difference in Liberia, Ghana, and Kenya. And we look forward to seeing similar progress in Malawi, where we recently launched.
Pictured above are the champions and colleagues gathered by the fireside to chat with Honig about his book. H.E. Former President of Liberia and Nobel Laureate Ellen Johnson Sirleaf picture with Dan Honig and former Deputy Managing Director of the IMF Antoinette Monsio Sayeh shared her congratulations following the conversation.
Mission-driven bureaucrats are individuals who are not simply fulfilling a job description, but who are genuinely dedicated to serving the public good. These are the leaders who have the potential to transform institutions. Yet, too often, they find themselves in rigid, compliance-focused environments that stifle creativity and initiative. When the emphasis is on following rules at the expense of outcomes, it discourages the very qualities that make these individuals effective.
Young professionals entering the public sector bring innovative perspectives and a willingness to address longstanding problems. Mission Driven Bureaucrats presents compelling evidence of the impact of EPL fellows and alumni. After gathering data on fellows, their supervisors, and colleagues, these were the findings: In Liberia, supervisors consistently noted the positive contributions of fellows—75 percent rated fellows as higher-performing than their coworkers, 85 percent identified them as team leaders, and 100 percent believed fellows and the program improved organizational culture.
Ghana revealed similarly encouraging outcomes, with 74 percent of supervisors rating fellows’ performance as superior to their peers and 82 percent agreeing that fellows strengthened public service delivery. Honig concludes:
"The results from Liberia and Ghana ultimately suggest that the civil service can be improved, even in difficult circumstances. Fast-stream programs alter the composition of civil servants by bringing in employees who are both talented and passionate about their jobs,"
His observations from our work in Liberia and Ghana are clear evidence that one passionate, empowered, individual can catalyze meaningful change within an organization, reshaping both culture and practices.
As Honig aptly stated, “I think mission driven bureaucrats matter all the more when we think political leadership may not be aligned with the fundamental principles of the state, and/or with (some) citizens' welfare.” In this context, EPL’s work is vital—as public servants act as neutral buffers, helping to ease the impact of policy changes during transitions in an increasingly polarized global election landscape.
In Liberia, fellows and alumni have been instrumental in facilitating smoother political transitions over the past 15 years. With Ghana’s upcoming elections, we are confident that, regardless of the outcome, our fellows and their colleagues will help ensure a stable and seamless transition to maintain continuity and trust in government.
EPL aims to recruit, place, and train 1,000 Fellows by 2027—ensuring at least 55% are women—and we remain committed to creating pathways for these young leaders to succeed. Your support can help us continue this mission—invest in the future of Africa’s public sector by donating today.
