Dominican Republic advances public administration restructuring

The Ministry of Public Administration (MAP) in the Dominican Republic held a forum titled “Functional Review and State Restructuring: Evidence, Methodology and Institutional Sustainability” to present the progress of the country’s state reform.

Minister of Public Administration Sigmund Freund reported that since September 2024, MAP has completed 21 reorganisations – including suppressions, mergers, functional restructurings and new creations – all backed by published legal bases. The most extensive merger combined the Ministry of Economy, Planning and Development with the Ministry of Finance, creating a single authority for fiscal policy and national planning.

Panel discussions highlighted the need for efficient use of existing resources, with Vice‑Minister Sheyla Castillo, President’s Minister José Ignacio Paliza and Budget Director José Rijo Presbot emphasizing that institutional effectiveness is measured by service improvements, not by the number of agencies. Commissioner Darío Castillo Lugo noted that the macro‑reform should be followed by sector‑specific reforms to continue rationalising the state. Experts from the National Institute of Public Administration and international consultants presented the methodology and evidence behind the functional review, stressing capacity‑building for public servants. The forum concluded with MAP’s coordination director Laura Díaz urging a people‑centred approach to every redesign.