Rafael Leite
Research Fellow

location
São Paulo, Brazil
rafaell@nsi.org.za
projects
Rafael Leite is a specialist in public management. He is graduated in public administration at FGV/EAESP, with academic exchange at Pontificia Universidad Católica de Chile (UC). He is a research fellow at the think tank New South Institute (NSI). He was a consultant at the Lemann Foundation, Leader of Institutional Relations at Vetor Brasil, Project Coordinator at Comunitas and Consultant in Public Management at the Inter-American Development Bank (IDB). He had work experience in the Government of Chile (National Directorate of Civil Service) and in the Municipality of São Paulo (Office of the Comptroller General). He also developed academic research projects (Center for Studies in Public Administration and Government/GVceapg and Management and Public Policy Laboratory/GPPlab), receiving awards and participating in national and international conferences. He is interested in State Modernization and Reform issues.
Publications
- 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)
- 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)
- 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/
- 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/
- 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)
- 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)
- 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)
- Leite, R., & Cerqueira, M. (2023). Recommendations for strengthening merit systems in the civil service (Working paper). República.org. Retrieved from https://republica.org/emnotas/conteudo/recomendacoes-para-fortalecer-o-sistema-de-merito-do-servico-publico/
- 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/
- 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/
- 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/
- 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)
- 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/2021/09/200525-Roadmap-para-Reformas-em-GPSP-versao-para-o-site.pdf (In Portuguese)
- 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)
- 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)
- 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)
- 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)
- 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)
- 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)
- 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)
- 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/
- 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/
- 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/
- 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)
- 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/
- Gaetani, F., Leite, R., & Amaral, T. (2022, October 27). The construction of Brazilian secularism. Poder 360. Retrieved from https://www.poder360.com.br/opiniao/a-construcao-de-um-secularismo-brasileiro/ (In Portuguese)
- 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
- 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/
Scholarly Articles
Book Publications
Policy Documents
Additional Works
Editorials
