Rafael Leite

Research Fellow

Rafael Leite is a specialist in public administration and currently holds a German Chancellor Fellowship from the Humboldt Foundation. Through this program, he is serving as a visiting researcher at the German Research Institute for Public Administration (Deutsches Forschungsinstitut für öffentliche Verwaltung Speyer – FÖV), where he is conducting a project on senior civil service reform in Germany.

He is also a research fellow at Instituto Millenium (Brazil) and the New South Institute (South Africa). Rafael holds a degree in Public Administration from FGV/EAESP and has worked with organizations such as the Lemann Foundation, Vetor Brasil, Comunitas, and the Inter-American Development Bank (IDB). His professional experience includes roles in the Government of Chile and the Municipality of São Paulo. His research interests focus on State Modernization and Reform.

Publications

Scholarly Articles

1. Teixeira, M. A. C., Fernandes, G. A. A., & Leite, R. (2016). When striving more and not spending more makes all the difference: The case of public health in municipalities of the state of São Paulo. Enfoque: Reflexão Contábil, 8(1). https://doi.org/10.4025/enfoque.v36i1.32467 (In Portuguese)

Book Publications

1. Leite, R., & Cerqueira, M. (2023). Institutional erosion in Brazil: Mechanisms for safeguarding merit-based systems at Funai, Ibama and Incra. In V. C. da S. Barros & G. S. Lotta (Eds.), República em notas. Cobogó Publishing. Retrieved from https://www.cobogo.com.br/produto/republica-em-notas-734 (In Portuguese)

2. Leite, R., & Cerqueira, M. (2023). Recommendations for Strengthening the Civil Service Merit System. In V. C. da S. Barros & G. S. Lotta (Eds.), República em notas. Cobogó Publishing. Retrieved from https://www.cobogo.com.br/produto/republica-em-notas-734 (In Portuguese)

3. Leite, R. (2022). Leaders that Transform Program: An Experimental Contribution by ENAP to the Professionalization of Senior Public Management in Brazil. In B. Santos (Ed.), Paths of innovation in the public sector (pp. 63-111). ENAP. Retrieved from https://repositorio.enap.gov.br/bitstream/1/7420/1/caminhos_da_inovacao_no_setor_publico.pdf (In Portuguese) 

Policy Documents

1. Leite, R. O., & Chipkin, I. (2024). Beyond political discretion: Reforming South Africa’s senior civil service (NSI White Paper). New South Institute. Retrieved from https://nsi.org.za/wp-content/uploads/2024/06/Reforming-South-Africas-Senior-Civil-Service.pdf 

2. Leite, R. O., & Chipkin, I. (2024). Towards a merit-based senior civil service: Strategies for reform in South Africa (NSI Policy Brief). New South Institute. Retrieved from https://nsi.org.za/wp-content/uploads/2024/06/Policy-Brief-Towards-a-Merit-Based-Senior-Civil-Service.pdf 

3. Chipkin, I., & Leite, R. (2023). The five Cs of the contemporary crisis of government and how to overcome them. NSI Working Paper. New South Institute. Retrieved from https://nsi.org.za/publications/south-african-public-service-reform-insights/

4. Chipkin, I., Le Roux, M., & Leite, R. (2022). Personalising and De-Personalising Power: The Appointment of Executive Officers in Key State Institutions. Policy Brief. Johannesburg: New South Institute (NSI). Retrieved from https://nsi.org.za/publications/personalising-and-de-personalising-power-the-appointment-of-executive-officers-in-key-state-institutions/

5. Leite, R., & Chipkin, I. (2021). The Paradox of Reform: A response to the Ramaphosa government’s proposal for professionalising the public service. GAPP Working Paper, 1(5), 1-34. Retrieved from https://nsi.org.za/publications/the-paradox-of-reform-a-response-to-the-ramaphosa-governments-proposal-for-professionalising-the-public-service/

6. Lafuente, M., Leite, R., Porrúa, M., & Valenti, P. (2021). Digital transformation of Brazilian governments: Trends in digital transformation in state governments and the Federal District of Brazil (Working Paper). Inter-American Development Bank. Retrieved from http://dx.doi.org/10.18235/0003009 (In Portuguese)

7. Lafuente, M., Leite, R., Porrúa, M., & Valenti, P. (2021). Digital transformation of Brazilian governments: Citizen satisfaction with digital public services in the states and the Federal District (Working Paper). Inter-American Development Bank. Retrieved from http://dx.doi.org/10.18235/0003088 (In Portuguese)

8. Lafuente, M., Leite, R., Porrúa, M., & Valenti, P. (2021). Digital transformation of Brazilian governments: Citizen satisfaction with digital public services (Working Paper). Inter-American Development Bank. Retrieved from http://dx.doi.org/10.18235/0003058 (In Portuguese)

Additional Works

1. Franzese, C., Leite, R. O., & Cerqueira de Oliveira, M. (forthcoming, 2024). O dirigente público como categoria analítica: uma mesma posição, diferentes abordagens [The public manager as an analytical category: identical role, diverse conceptual frameworks]. In International Congress of CLAD on the Reform of the State and Public Administration (XXIX: 2024: Brasília, Brazil). [Article in Portuguese].

2. United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC). (2024). Taking action against corruption: A step-by-step guide by youth for youth. Edited by Johnny Morgan. Co-drafted by the members of the UNODC YouthLED Integrity Advisory Board. Retrieved from https://grace.unodc.org/grace/uploads/documents/Youthled_toolkit-optimized.pdf 

3. Leite, R. (2024). Beyond screen time: A review of scientific literature and public policy proposals on the well-being of children and adolescents on social media. Conselho Digital. Public Policy Note 01. Brasília, DF. Retrieved from https://conselhodigital.org.br/2024/05/novo-estudo-tempo-de-tela-e-apenas-um-entre-15-fatores-que-influenciam-a-saude-mental-dos-jovens-nas-redes-diz-estudo/ [Article in Portuguese].

4. Cerqueira, M., & Leite, R. (2023). Motivation and innovation dynamics in Brazilian subnational governments: A comparative study between structures with different degrees of bureaucratization in the City of Caruaru and the State Government of São Paulo. In International Congress of CLAD on the Reform of the State and Public Administration (XXVIII: 2023: La Habana, Cuba). Retrieved from https://clad.org/wp-content/themes/clad/pendrive-congreso-XXVIII/pdfs/cerqumic.pdf 

5. Leite, R., & Cerqueira, M. (2023). Recommendations for Strengthening the Civil Service Merit System (Working paper). República.org. Retrieved from https://republica.org/emnotas/conteudo/recomendacoes-para-fortalecer-o-sistema-de-merito-do-servico-publico/

6. Leite, R., & Cerqueira, M. (2023). Merit systems in Brazil and around the world (Working paper). República.org. Retrieved from https://republica.org/emnotas/conteudo/o-sistema-de-merito-no-brasil-e-no-mundo/

7. Leite, R., & Cerqueira, M. (2023). Institutional erosion in Brazil: Mechanisms for safeguarding merit-based systems at Funai, Ibama and Incra (Working paper). República.org. Retrieved from https://republica.org/emnotas/conteudo/erosao-institucional-brasileira-mecanismos-de-protecao-do-merito-na-funai-no-ibama-e-no-incra/

8. Leite, R., & Jellema-Butler, J. (Eds.). (2022). Architecture of Government: Conference Proceedings. Johannesburg: Government and Public Policy (GAPP). Retrieved from https://nsi.org.za/publications/architecture-of-government-conference-proceedings

9. Leite, R. (2021). No return to normal: Civil service reform trends in Latin America in times of COVID-19. In International Congress of CLAD on the Reform of the State and Public Administration (XXVI: 2021: Online). Retrieved from https://drive.google.com/file/d/1W-e_8UmYNbJl0rVjpvLVm8mK1gcxc1F7/view (In Portuguese)

10. Leite, R. (2020). Administration of public sector career paths in the United Kingdom and Portugal: Historical reform and hybrid experiences (Working paper). Movimento Pessoas a Frente. Retrieved from https://movimentopessoasafrente.org.br/wp-content/uploads/2021/09/201013-Reformas-no-Reino-Unido-e-em-Portugal-versao-para-o-site.pdf (In Portuguese)

11. Leite, R. (2020). A roadmap for public service changes? A review of international civil service reform experiences (Working paper). Movimento Pessoas à Frente. Retrieved from https://movimentopessoasafrente.org.br/wp-content/uploads/2021/09/200525-Roadmap-para-Reformas-em-GPSP-versao-para-o-site.pdf (In Portuguese)

12. Leite, R. (2020). Governance of central people management units: Comparative analysis of national and international experiences (Working paper). Movimento Pessoas a Frente. Retrieved from https://movimentopessoasafrente.org.br/wp-content/uploads/2021/09/200515-_-Governanca-em-Gestao-de-Pessoas-versao-para-o-site.pdf (In Portuguese)

13. Leite, R. (2020). Innovative mechanisms for the selection of public professionals: Review of national and international experiences (Working paper). Movimento Pessoas a Frente. Retrieved from https://movimentopessoasafrente.org.br/wp-content/uploads/2021/09/200904-Iniciativas-inovadoras-de-selecao-de-profissionais-publicos-versao-para-o-site.pdf (In Portuguese)

14. Leite, R. (2020). Non-conventional models of personnel employment in the public sector: A review of national and international experiences (Working paper). Movimento Pessoas a Frente. Retrieved from https://movimentopessoasafrente.org.br/wp-content/uploads/2021/09/200816-Modelos-nao-convencionais-de-contratacao-de-pessoal-no-setor-publico-versao-para-o-site.pdf (In Portuguese)

15. Leite, R. (2020). Classification of public employment systems: Career-based models, position-based models, and hybrid experiences (Working paper). Movimento Pessoas a Frente. Retrieved from https://movimentopessoasafrente.org.br/wp-content/uploads/2021/09/200923-Pre-leitura-sobre-sistemas-de-emprego-publico-versao-para-o-site.pdf (In Portuguese)

16. Leite, R., Lima, L. B., & Camargo, M. A. S. (2019). The management of young talent as a human resources innovation laboratory in governments: the case of the Public Management Trainee Program. In International Congress of CLAD on the Reform of the State and Public Administration (XXIV: 2019: Buenos Aires, Argentina). Retrieved from https://drive.google.com/file/d/1iFSFJKO_8dim-_l65wGO9XzThdT5rLIR/view (In Portuguese)

17. Rojas Wettig, M., & Leite, R. (2016). Public function challenges in the framework of work with the OECD: Chilean experience. In International Congress of CLAD on the Reform of the State and Public Administration (XXI: 2016: Santiago, Chile). Retrieved from https://drive.google.com/file/d/0B9b8OtLsgz6aRFNSMEo0cE81UHM/view?resourcekey=0-ROYYGfgUdso5CRu6gRB8Xg (In Spanish)

18. Rojas Wettig, M., Belmar, F., & Leite, R. (2016). The state of the art of people’s information management systems in public administration in Chile: Diagnosis and main gaps. In International Congress of CLAD on the Reform of the State and Public Administration (XXI: 2016: Santiago, Chile). Retrieved from https://drive.google.com/file/d/0B9b8OtLsgz6ab2U0WThIVEUySW8/view?resourcekey=0-f3yVHs4DAxRify53pHA2vA (In Spanish)

Editorials

1. Leite, R. (2023, October 6). The challenges of a centralized civil service examination. Instituto Millennium. Retrieved from https://exame.com/colunistas/instituto-millenium/os-desafios-do-enem-dos-concursos/ (In Portuguese)

2. Leite, R. (2023, September 19). Rethinking the role of local governments in Brazil. Instituto Millennium. Retrieved from https://exame.com/colunistas/instituto-millenium/repensando-o-papel-dos-governos-locais-no-brasil/ (In Portuguese)

3. Leite, R. (2023, August 25). Merit and political trust in the appointment of regulatory agencies’ boards. Instituto Millennium. Retrieved from https://exame.com/colunistas/instituto-millenium/merito-e-confianca-na-nomeacao-de-diretores-de-agencias-reguladoras/ (In Portuguese)

4. Leite, R. (2023, August 3). Hidden State: The challenge of determining the number of public servants. Instituto Millennium. Retrieved from https://exame.com/colunistas/instituto-millenium/estado-oculto-o-desafio-de-determinar-a-quantidade-de-servidores-publicos/ (In Portuguese)

5. Leite, R. (2023, July 20). Education for productivity: Lessons from California and France for Brazil. Instituto Millennium. Retrieved from https://exame.com/colunistas/instituto-millenium/educacao-para-a-produtividade-licoes-da-california-e-da-franca-para-o-brasil/ (In Portuguese)

6. Leite, R. (2023, July 4). Learning from global experiences: transforming public administration through senior civil service reforms. Global Government Forum. Retrieved from https://www.globalgovernmentforum.com/learning-from-global-experiences-transforming-public-administration-through-senior-civil-service-reforms/

7. Leite, R. (2023, June 30). Facing demographic decline: The urgency of better migration policies in Brazil. Instituto Millennium. Retrieved from https://exame.com/colunistas/instituto-millenium/encarando-o-declinio-demografico-a-urgencia-de-melhores-politicas-migratorias-no-brasil/ (In Portuguese)

8. Leite, R., & Chipkin, I. (2023, April 12). Political influence or merit-based appointments? How South Africa can resolve the tension over top public service jobs. Global Government Forum. Retrieved from https://www.globalgovernmentforum.com/political-influence-or-merit-based-appointments-how-south-africa-can-resolve-the-tension-over-top-public-service-jobs/

9. Chipkin, I., & Leite, R. (2023, March 26). Can public administration be professionalised? An ingenious plan, put on ice, needs to be renewed. Sunday Times. Retrieved from https://www.timeslive.co.za/sunday-times/opinion-and-analysis/opinion/2023-03-26-can-public-administration-be-professionalised/

10. Ribeiro, A., & Leite, R. (2023, Feb 19). 2022 Census, a sunk cost? O Estado de São Paulo. Retrieved from https://www.estadao.com.br/opiniao/espaco-aberto/censo-2022-um-custo-afundado/ (In Portuguese)

11. Leite, R., & Chipkin, I. (2023, January 4). Building blocks: lessons from the global south on reforming the architecture of government. Global Government Forum. Retrieved from https://www.globalgovernmentforum.com/building-blocks-lessons-from-the-global-south-on-reforming-the-architecture-of-government/

12. Toyota, J., & Leite, R. (2022, December 22). State-Owned Enterprises Accountability Act: Why Change?. Brazil Journal. Retrieved from https://braziljournal.com/lei-das-estatais-mudar-para-que/ (In Portuguese)

13. Gaetani, F., Leite, R., & Amaral, T. (2022, October 27). The construction of a Brazilian-style secularism. Poder 360. Retrieved from https://www.poder360.com.br/opiniao/a-construcao-de-um-secularismo-brasileiro/ (In Portuguese)

14. Chipkin, I., & Leite, R. (2022, October 25). After state capture: How to reform the South African state. PoliticsWeb. Retrieved from https://www.politicsweb.co.za/opinion/its-time-to-rebuild

15. Chipkin, I., & Leite, R. (2021, November 07). The ANC years: Democracy suffers when there’s a disconnect between the head and the body. Daily Maverick. Retrieved from https://www.dailymaverick.co.za/article/2021-11-07-the-anc-years-democracy-suffers-when-theres-a-disconnect-between-the-head-and-the-body/