Workshop on Strengthening Institutional Capacities in Africa for Effective Implementation of the 2030 Agenda and Agenda 2063: Follow-up to the 2023 SDG Summit
The United Nations’ Department of Economic and Social Affairs (UN DESA) and the African Peer Review Mechanism (APRM) are organizing a continental workshop entitled ‘Strengthening Institutional capacities in Africa for effective implementation of the 2030 Agenda and Agenda 2063: Follow-up to the 2023 Summit’ to be held in Cape Town, South Africa, from 26 to 28 October 2023. This is the fourth in a series jointly organized in support of building effective, accountable and inclusive institutions in Africa at all levels. At the midpoint of the 2030 Agenda, the workshop will also examine the outcome of the 2023 SDG Summit and its implications for Africa. More information is available here.
18th Internet Governance Forum
The 18th annual meeting of the Internet Governance Forum (IGF), a global, multistakeholder platform on digital public policy convened by the Secretary-General, will take place from 8 to 12 October in Kyoto, Japan. More than 8,000 registered participants from over 170 countries will gather on the theme, “The Internet We Want - Empowering All People”, recalling the need for an equitable, sustainable and people-centred digital transformation that meets our shared aspirations and values. Among the 300-plus sessions under the IGF umbrella, its dedicated high-level, parliamentary and youth tracks mean that key stakeholders - decisionmakers, legislators and young people from around the world - will be present to exchange views and develop critical recommendations on the future of digital governance. The strong presence of UN entities like OHCHR, UNESCO, UNDP, ITU and others, will further coherence around the Secretary-General’s proposed Global Digital Compact. All can access the 18th IGF online and via livestream.
The World Public Sector Report 2023, entitled “Transforming institutions to achieve the Sustainable Development Goals after the pandemic”, is now available here
The World Public Sector Report 2023 examines the role that national institutional and governance innovations and changes that emerged during the COVID-19 pandemic can play in advancing progress towards the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development. The report focuses on three main questions: How can Governments reshape their relationship with people and other actors to enhance trust and promote the changes required for more sustainable and peaceful societies? How can Governments assess competing priorities and address difficult policy trade-offs that have emerged since 2020? What assets and innovations can Governments mobilize to transform the public sector and achieve the SDGs? The report addresses them in chapters composed of short overviews followed by a set of in-depth contributions (23 in total) from a wide range of experts which examine institutional changes observed in different contexts, sectors and policy processes and explore the potential of those with a positive impact on the achievement of the SDGs to be sustained beyond the pandemic. The report aims to draw attention to institutional change as a key component of the societal transformations required to realize the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development.
SDG 16 Conference 2023 – SDG 16 as a compass for navigating intersecting crises – conference report
The report of the SDG 16 Conference 2023 is now available. The conference took place from 30 May to 1 June 2023 in Rome, Italy. It brought together representatives of governments, international organizations, civil society, youth and academia to identify solutions to accelerate progress towards SDG 16 and promote its role in supporting the transition to a more sustainable world. The Conference reviewed progress and challenges related to SDG 16, focusing on conflict and shrinking trust in public institutions. The event also explored SDG 16’s catalytic role in responding to food systems and climate change crises. See key messages from the conference here. More information is available here.
2023 HLPF Side event on Strengthening VNR reports and processes: Recommendations for a new approach (19 July 2023, 1:15-2:30 pm EDT, Conference room 12)
The Committee of Experts on Public Administration and the Committee for Development Policy will share their findings and recommendations on how the VNRs could be improved with the aim to provide points for consideration by Governments and other stakeholders and propose a new and revised approach – VNR v2.0 - ahead of the upcoming 2023 SDG summit and HLPF review. Member States and civil society organizations will be offer reflections share their own perspectives on how the VNRs can be improved to support accelerated SDG implementation. The side event will be held with live webcast. More information can be found here.
2023 HLPF VNR Lab on Principles of effective governance in VNRs: Enhancing policy coherence for sustainable development (18 July 2023, 8-9 am EDT, Conference room 11)
This VNR Lab is intended to facilitate peer-to-peer learning on how to enhance policy coherence aimed at accelerating full implementation of the 2030 Agenda. Countries will be invited to share concrete examples of measures undertaken to foster and track policy coherence, including challenges, success stories and progress made in this area since their last VNR presentation. Given their active engagement in promoting policy coherence at the regional level, the OECD and AU/APRM will also share insights and elaborate on good practices from a regional perspective. More information can be found here.
2024 United Nations Public Service Awards
Applications are now open for the 2024 United Nations Public Service Awards (UNPSA), which recognizes excellence in public service at the national, sub-national and local level. UNPSA rewards the creative achievements and contributions of public service institutions that lead to a more effective and responsive public administration worldwide. It promotes the role, professionalism and visibility of public service. Nominations for the 2024 UNPSA are invited in three categories: 1) Innovation in Public Institutions; 2) Gender-Responsive Public Services; and 3) Special category on Tackling Climate Change. Applications must be submitted before 31 October 2023 through the UNPSA portal here.
Celebrating 20 years of the United Nations Public Service Awards
In a significant milestone, the United Nations Public Service Awards (UNPSA) program is celebrating its 20th anniversary in 2023. The UNPSA, established in 2003, aims to recognize and promote innovation and excellence in public service for the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development. Over the 20 years, the UNPSA has recognised nearly 200 innovative public service initiatives from around the world, highlighting their crucial role in promoting sustainable development and inclusivity. The 2024 UNPSA will call for nominations on 30 June. Nominations for the 2024 UNPSA are invited in three categories: 1) Special category on Tackling Climate Change; 2) Gender-Responsive Public Services; 3) Innovation in Public Institutions. More information is available here.
SDG 16 Conference 2023 – SDG 16 as a compass for navigating intersecting crises
At a time when intersecting global crises are posing unprecedented challenges to advancing the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development, the United Nations Department of Economic and Social Affairs, the International Development Law Organization and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation of Italy aorganised the SDG 16 Conference that took place from 30 May to 1 June 2023 in Rome, Italy. The Conference reviewed progress and challenges related to SDG 16, focusing on conflict and shrinking trust in public institutions. The event also explored SDG 16’s catalytic role in responding to food systems and climate change crises. Key messages from the conference are now available. The outcomes from the conference will contribute to the 2023 SDG Summit and High-Level Political Forum as well as other intergovernmental processes. The Conference brought together representatives of governments, international organizations, civil society, and academia to identify solutions to accelerate progress towards SDG 16 and promote its role in supporting the transition to a more sustainable world. More information is available here.
Regional Symposium on Mainstreaming the Sustainable Development Goals in the Curricula of Schools of Public Administration in Africa
UN DESA/DPIDG, the African Management Development Institutes’ Network (AMDIN), the International Association of Schools and Institutes of Administration (IASIA), the Kenya School of Government (KSG), and the United Cities and Local Governments of Africa (UCLG-Africa)/African Local Government Academy (ALGA) are co-organizing an online Regional Symposium on Mainstreaming the Sustainable Development Goals in the Curricula of Schools of Public Administration in Africa. The Symposium will bring together experts from schools of public administration, and institutes of training in Africa to discuss the importance of mainstreaming the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) into their curricula. The Symposium will also provide an opportunity to explore the challenges and successes in addressing the SDGs within the curricula of these institutions and help to identify innovative practices and lessons learned. It will create a platform for discussing ways to strengthen the capacity of African public administration schools and training institutes to effectively implement the SDGs. The Symposium will be held from 2 to 3 May 2023. More information is available here.
22nd session of the Committee of Experts on Public Administration (CEPA)
In its forthcoming 22nd session held from 27 to 31 March at UN Headquarters in New York, the UN Committee of Experts on Public Administration (CEPA) will discuss key aspects of the theme “Urgently transforming institutions for a greener, more inclusive and more resilient world at a time of multiple crises”. The session will focus on institutional mechanisms for providing support to address climate change; ways to respond to the effects of climate change in institution-building efforts in fragile countries and countries emerging from conflict; the application of the UN principles of effective governance for sustainable development for the achievement of the SDGs; ways to reinvent public sector workforce training and institutional learning towards changing mindsets in the public sector; public financial management in times of emergency and implications for budget credibility; and ways to stimulate public sector innovation through digital technology and measure the impact of digital government. The Committee will also engage in a dialogue with voluntary national review countries and voluntary local review cities to promote peer exchange on experiences and promising practices in implementing SDG 16 – Peace, justice and strong institutions and SDG 17 – Partnerships for the Goals. CEPA also plans to hold a dedicated consultation with observers. The Committee will adopt an input to the High-Level Political Forum in July and a draft resolution for ECOSOC. The 22nd Session of CEPA will be streamed live via UN Web TV. More information is available here.
Transforming Public Service Delivery through Human-Centered Design and Collaborative Governance
This side event, at the margins of the 22nd Session of the Committee of Experts on Public Administration (CEPA), will focus on transforming public service delivery through a human-centered design and collaborative governance. It will showcase the innovative practice of the ASAN Service Centers and the ASAN Public Service Assessment Frameworks of the Republic of Azerbaijan. The objective of ASAN is to ensure that public services are delivered in a uniformed and coordinated manner across Azerbaijan. ASAN Service Centers are designed to guarantee citizens’ satisfaction and to enhance the quality of the relationship between public servants an citizens. The Side Event will include presentations and a panel discussion. It will be held on 29 March 2023. More information is available here.
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Presidential Summit on Mainstreaming the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) in the Curricula of Schools of Public Administration
UN DESA/DPIDG will organize a Presidential Summit on Mainstreaming the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) in the Curricula of Schools of Public Administration. The Presidential Summit will build on meetings of the Global Network of Schools of Public Administration spearheaded by DPIDG as part of the Global Initiative on Building Capacities of Public Servants for the implementation of the SDGs. The Summit is intended for Presidents of Associations of schools of public administration who can play a critical role in ensuring that schools of public administration and institutes of public management teach the SDGs to public servants. It will provide an opportunity for Presidents of Associations of schools of public administration and development management institutes to present the progress they have made in mainstreaming the SDGs in their curricula. The key recommendations from the Presidential Summit will be presented as an input to the SDG Summit to be held at UN Headquarters in September 2023. The Summit will be held on 27 February 2023. More information is available here.
Capacity Development Training Workshop on Changing Mindsets in Public Institutions to Realize the 2030 Agenda in Pakistan
UN DESA/DPIDG and UNPOG, in collaboration with UNRCO in Pakistan and the Civil Services Academy (CSA) Lahore, are co-organizing a hybrid two-day Capacity Development Training Workshop on Changing Mindsets in Public Institutions to Realize the 2030 Agenda in Pakistan (26-27 January). The Training Workshop is being organized for the Officers of the Pakistan Administrative Service (PAS) of the CSA. It aims to explore ways of changing the mindsets in institutions to align them with the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development. The workshop will also offer a platform to discuss emerging challenges, opportunities, and the need to create innovative solutions to ensure the successful implementation of the 2030 Agenda in Pakistan. More information is available here.
National Workshop on “Youth Engagement in Institution Building and Public Services Delivery for Sustainable Development After the Pandemic”
The workshop is organized by UN DESA/DPIDG in collaboration with the Ministry for Youth, Professional Insertion, and Civic Engagement, the National Youth Council, as well as UNDP and UNFPA in Côte d’Ivoire on 7-9 December 2022. It will also involve other relevant national stakeholders in the government, NGO sector, civil society, and academia. This workshop is part of a pilot to a large initiative that aims to build on, and consolidate, previous work undertaken by UN DESA on “Youth Citizenship and Civic Engagement in Times of Pandemic” in this country (2021). It also builds on the activities undertaken by DPIDG, in cooperation with the APRM, on enhancing the integration of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development into national policy frameworks, including the operationalization of the 11 principles of effective governance for sustainable development. More information is available here.
Open Forum on Adopting National Data Governance Framework: From Silos to Ecosystem
UN DESA/DPIDG is organizing an Open Forum on Adopting Data Governance Framework: From Silos to Ecosystem as part of the Internet Governance Forum 2022. The Open Forum seeks to address existing challenges and gaps in digital data governance, data management and cooperation, focusing on enhancing the institutional capacities of countries to utilize, manage and govern data in a comprehensive, objective and evidence-based manner, through regional and global cooperation. The aim is to build the awareness about the institutional capacities of government officials and stakeholders in countries, especially those in Africa and the Asia Pacific region. Hybrid interaction will be facilitated, including through in-person and/or virtual participation of national/local government and non-government stakeholders from selected countries in Africa and Asia Pacific. The Open Forum will take place on 1 December in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, and online from 7.45 to 8.45am UTC. More information is available here.
Capacity Building Workshop on Implementing New Approaches to E-government for SDG Implementation
UN DESA/DPIDG and the D-8 Organization will organize a Capacity Building Workshop on Implementing New Approaches to E-government for SDG Implementation. This Workshop will serve as a continuation of the online Workshop conducted in March, particularly to address the challenges presented during that Workshop. The workshop is designed to build the capacity of relevant officials, who are responsible for shaping the digital transformation policy, for answering to the ever-growing challenges they face in implementing their respective digital transformation agendas. It also aims to enhance the capacity of public officials in digital government skills, strengthening collaboration between government agencies, and promoting of production of indigenous ICT access for public officials and the educational sector. The workshop will take place in a face-to-face setting in Istanbul, Türkiye, from 17 to 18 November 2022. More information is available here.
Effective Governance for Transformational Change: Strengthening capacities, mindsets, and competencies of public institutions to build the next generation of public servants in the Arab Region
The Webinar on Effective Governance for Transformational Change: Strengthening capacities, mindsets, and competencies of public institutions to build the next generation of public servants in the Arab Region aims to inform the Resident Coordinators Offices and UN Country Teams in the Arab region about: (1) why mainstreaming the SDGs in the curricula of schools of public administration is critical to the implementation of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development and what new competencies are needed to promote transformational change; (2) how the Curriculum on Governance for the SDGs can be adapted to the region’s needs; and (3) possible avenues of collaboration in the design and implementation of a project on the same topic. The webinar will also seek feedback and advice from the RCs/RCOs on the most pressing needs in the region and key entry points for accelerating the implementation of the SDGs. The webinar is organized by UN DESA/DPIDG in collaboration with the Economic and Social Commission for Western Asia (ESCWA). It is intended for Resident Coordinator Offices and UN Country Teams in the Arab region. It will be held online (via Zoom) on 16 November 2022 from 8:30 to 10:00 AM (EST) and will be conducted in English. More information is available
here.
17th Internet Governance Forum
Stakeholders from the technical community, private sector, civil society as well as Governments and international organizations will meet at the 17th annual Internet Governance Forum (IGF) from 28 November to 2 December in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia to determine concrete steps for advancing global Internet governance and achieving universal and meaningful Internet connectivity. The IGF, convened annually by the UN Secretary-General, is a critical platform for enabling open and engaging discussions on Internet governance, including the Internet’s sustainability, robustness, security, stability and development. Under the overall theme of Resilient Internet for a Shared Sustainable and Common Future the discussions will focus on five key areas: (1) connecting all people and safeguarding human rights; (2) avoiding Internet fragmentation; (3) governing data and protecting privacy; (4) enabling safety, security and accountability; and (5) addressing advanced digital technologies. In addition to the opening and closing ceremonies, a Parliamentary Track and a Youth Global Summit, there will also be three High-level sessions on Universal, affordable and meaningful connectivity (28 November), Digital Rights (28 November) and Digital Trust and Security (29 November). Hosted by the Government of Ethiopia and supported by the UN Department of Economic and Social Affairs, in collaboration with the UN Economic Commission for Africa, the Forum will be in a hybrid format. More information is available here.
Regional Symposium on Effective Governance and Digital Transformation for Accelerating Implementation of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development and Addressing Global Challenges
UN DESA/DPIDG, with support from its Project Office on Governance (UNPOG) and the Ministry of the Interior and Safety (MOIS) of the Republic of Korea, is co-organizing the Regional Symposium on Effective Governance and Digital Transformation for Accelerating Implementation of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development and Addressing Global Challenges. The Regional Symposium aims to raise awareness of critical public governance issues, examine current and future trends and provide new approaches and methodologies to support the United Nations Member States in developing their capacities toward achieving the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development. It also promotes peer-to-peer learning by allowing participants to share knowledge and exchange innovative practices. The Regional Symposium will be held in a hybrid format in Songdo, Incheon, the Republic of Korea, from 22-24 November 2022. The Regional Symposium will offer ample opportunities for online engagement to ensure wide-ranging participation. More information is available here.
Effective governance for transformational change: Strengthening capacities, mindsets and competencies of public institutions to build the next generation of public servants in Latin America & Caribbean
UN DESA/DPIDG, in collaboration with the United Nations Economic Commission for Latin American and the Caribbean (ECLAC), is organizing a regional capacity development webinar on Effective governance for transformational change: Strengthening capacities, mindsets and competencies of public institutions to build the next generation of public servants in Latin America & Caribbean. The webinar launches the Curriculum on Governance for the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) in the Latin American and Caribbean region. Among its objectives, the Webinar aims to enhance a common understanding of the capacity gaps and opportunities in governance and public administration in the Latin American and Caribbean region and raise awareness of the 11 Principles of Effective Governance for Sustainable Development, the Curriculum and the Competency Framework for the SDGs developed by UN DESA. The event will be held in Spanish. The event will take place on 12 October 2022 from 10 am to 12.30 pm EST. More information is available here. Registration is available here.
Global Launch of the UN E-Government Survey 2022
The UN E-Government Survey 2022 was launched on 28 September 2022. The theme of the 12th edition of the Survey is “The Future of Digital Government”. The Survey looks at how digital government can facilitate integrated policies and services across the 193 United Nations Member States. It supports countries’ efforts to provide effective, accountable and inclusive digital services to all and to bridge the digital divide and leave no one behind. The Survey includes digital government ranking of the 193 UN Member States. The 2022 Survey also marks the first study to incorporate an assessment of e-government in the most populous city in each of UN Member State. Following the global launch, webinars and regional information sessions will be held to share further insights and key findings at the global, regional and local levels. The English edition is now available to downlaod here. The Survey will also be made available later on in Arabic, Chinese, French, Russian and Spanish. The Survey launch was streamed live via UN Web TV. More information on the Survey is available here.
2023 United Nations Public Service Awards takes a break
As the UNPSA programme marks its 20th anniversary in 2023 and at the midway point to the year 2030, a comprehensive review of the UNPSA has been undertaken to assess the effectiveness of the programme and make necessary adjustments to better promote and disseminate innovations in the public sector. Therefore, the 2023 UNPS Awards will take a break this year while recommendations from the review are implemented and will NOT accept applications. More information on the new UNPSA programme is expected to be available in June 2023. To help us improve the programme, please take few minutes to participate in the UNPSA User survey.
United Nations E-Government Survey Local Online Service Index (LOSI) Webinar Series Episode 1 – Jordan
The first LOSI webinar series organized by the Digital Government Branch (DGB) of the DPIDG / UN DESA will focus on the application of LOSI methodology in Jordan. This one-hour webinar will host researchers who conducted the study in 19 cities in the country. The webinar will also highlight opportunities and challenges in e-government at city level while aiming at information sharing and capacity building. More information is available here.
National Workshop on Transparency, Accountability and Ethics in Public Institutions
UN DESA/DPIDG, through its Project Office on Governance (UNPOG), in collaboration with the Office of the Ombudsman of Malawi with the support of the UN Resident Coordinator Office in Malawi and the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) in Malawi, is organizing a 3-day National Workshop on “Transparency, Accountability and Ethics in Public Institutions”, which will be held from 2 to 4 August 2022 in Malawi. The Workshop aims to strengthen public institutions to facilitate a more coherent implementation of SDGs. The Workshop will be conducted in a hybrid format where participants from Malawi will attend in person and invited speakers will virtually participate via the Zoom platform. More information is available here.
Training Workshop on Enhancing National to Local Institutional Coordination and Monitoring Mechanisms for NSDP/SDG Implementation in Vanuatu
UN DESA/DPIDG, and with the support of its project office on governance (UNPOG) and DSDG, and in collaboration with the Department of Strategic Policy, Planning and Aid Coordination (DSPPAC) within the Prime Minister’s office of the Government of the Republic of Vanuatu, the UN Resident Coordinator’s Office and UNDP, is organizing a Workshop on “Enhancing National to Local Institutional Coordination and Monitoring Mechanisms for NSDP/SDG Implementation in Vanuatu”, which will be held from 20 to 22 July 2022. The objective of this workshop is to convene Key Provincial Officials and officials in ministries in Port Vila to develop recommendations for improving national and local coordination in delivering the NSDP and SDGs in collaboration with national government officials and international experts. More information is available here.
HLPF side event: transforming institutions to build back greener: the case for natural capital accounting
The Committee of Experts on Public Administration (CEPA) and Committee of Experts on Environmental Economic Accounting organized this side event, held on 12 July 2022, on the occasion of the high-level political forum. The event examined how natural capital accounting (NCA) can help to measure and track climate change and biodiversity, thus providing all institutions with a “common denominator” in the effort to address climate change and biodiversity. It focused on NCA according to the international statistical standard, the System of Environmental-Economic Accounting (SEEA). The event showed how using the tools and measures developed from the SEEA and recommended by CEPA as a basis for building the capacity of the public sector in natural capital accounting to promote better partnerships and inter-institutional collaboration and help provide the kind of integrated data needed to build back greener from the pandemic, in support of Agenda 2030, the post-2020 global biodiversity framework and the Paris Agreement. Details of the event, presentations and a video recording can be found here
SDG 16 Conference 2022 report and recordings now available
The report of the 2022 SDG 16 Conference on people-centred governance in a post-pandemic world is now available. The Conference, co-organized by UN DESA, the International Development Law Organization and the Government of Italy and held in April 2022, explored how a people-centred approach to governance can help rebuild trust, accelerate progress towards sustainable development and tackle the challenges facing a post-COVID world.
The Conference brought together a range of experts from governments, the UN system, civil society, academia and other stakeholders through a hybrid format to address the following themes:
- Preventing conflict and sustaining peace in an increasingly fragile world
- Building institutional resilience and enhancing the effectiveness, accountability and responsiveness of institutions
- A new vision for the rule of law to address global challenges
- Leaving no one behind: ensuring inclusion, protection and participation
In addition, the Conference included a dedicated civil society track, which resulted in the elaboration of the 2022 Rome Civil Society Declaration on SDG16+. The video recordings of the Conference are now available here.
Implementing a Multi-Pronged Strategy for Digital Transformation: Lessons from Asia
UN DESA/DPIDG, in collaboration with China National Academy of Governance (CNAG) and Shanghai Academy of Social Sciences (SASS), is organizing a capacity building webinar on strengthening digital transformation through investing in digital infrastructure, fostering a digital workforce, improving digital government services, building a dynamic digital economy, and developing national digital data policies and strategies for ensuring data quality, access, security, privacy and usage. The webinar, drawing from experience in several countries in Asia, is supported by the 2030 Agenda Sub-Fund of the UN Peace and Security Fund. The objective of the 2-hour webinar is to discuss challenges and share lessons learned at the country and municipal levels on how to accelerate digital transformation by developing a funding partnership for investing in digital infrastructure, by improving digital government services and digital economy, and by strengthening data governance. Several Asian countries with recent progress in these areas will be invited to highlight national and local experiences, share lessons learned and identify ways forward. The webinar will be held on 7 July 2022, 8am EDT. More information and registration is available here.
2022 UN Public Service Awards recognize 10 innovations to help world recover better from COVID-19
Ten initiatives have been recognized for their innovative public service delivery with the prestigious UN Public Service Awards at a virtual celebration organized by the UN DESA today. The UN Public Service Awards recognize excellence in public service delivery that promotes effectiveness, transparency, and inclusiveness to achieve the Sustainable Development Goals. The 2022 UN Public Service Award winners were announced by Mr. Liu Zhenmin, United Nations Under-Secretary-General for Economic and Social Affairs, during a virtual event to commemorate the United Nations Public Service Day. The 2022 UN Public Service Award Winners are: Community Peace Center (COMPAZ), City Hall of Recife – Brazil; Mise en oeuvre de la Loi sur l'équité salariale au Québec, Commission des normes, de l'équité, de la santé et de la sécurité du travail – Québec, Canada ; Mo Bus, Capital Region Urban Transport – India ; The Social Inclusion and Community Activation Programme (SICAP), Department of Rural and Community Development – Ireland ; Sistema de Informacion de Vacunacion Contra la Covid-19 / Panavac19, Autoridad Nacional para la Innovacion Gubernamental de Panama – Panama ; Science for Change Program (S4CP), Department of Science and Technology – Philippines; The System of Records of the State Sanitary Inspection (“SEPIS”), Chief Sanitary Inspectorate – Poland; Tawakkalna Application, Saudi Data and AI Authority – Saudi Arabia; Koh Libong Community: Digital Transformation for Smart Environment, Digital Economy Promotion Agency – Thailand; and Prozorro.Sale – world’s most transparent e-auction system for public assets management, State-owned enterprise Prozorro – Sale, Ukraine. More information on the UNPSA Winners is available here.
2022 United Nations Public Service Day Virtual Celebration
To celebrate the 2022 United Nations Public Service Day, a virtual event will be held on the theme of “Building back better from COVID-19: Enhancing innovative partnerships to meet the Sustainable Development Goals”. Taking its lead from the 2022 theme of the United Nations High-level Political Forum (HLPF), the main body for reviewing implementation of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development, the 2022 UN Public Service Day commemoration will focus on the role of public institutions and public servants in building back better from COVID-19 as they work to meet the 2030 deadline for implementing the Sustainable Development Goals. It will bring together key stakeholders, public servants and United Nations officials. The virtual event will be held on the 22 June, 9:00 - 10:30 AM (EDT). You can follow it live at UN WebTV. More information is available here.
Webinar on Promoting Independent External Audits on Credibility of Government Budgets: How Supreme Audit Institutions assess and address budget credibility
UN DESA/DPIDG and the International Budget Partnership will hold a webinar on “Promoting Independent External Audits on Credibility of Government Budgets: How Supreme Audit Institutions assess and address budget credibility” on 16 June (8.30-9.30 am EDT). The interactive event will invite discussion of the results of a survey distributed to the members of the International Organization of Supreme Audit Institutions (INTOSAI) to learn about their experiences in auditing budget credibility. As we strive to build back better from global crises, strong oversight of government spending is more important than ever. External audits have a critical role in ensuring a government’s budget is credible, meaning that the government collects and spends funds according to the approved budget. More information and the registration link are available here.
CEPA 21st session findings and recommendations move forward
The report of the 21st session of the Committee of Experts on Public Administration (CEPA), held in April 2022, is now available in the six official UN languages. A key message of the session was that to build forward from the COVID-19 pandemic and advance the implementation of the 2030 Agenda, governments should strengthen their public institutions and their social, physical, and technological infrastructure, while making their economies more resilient and agile to be better prepared to manage potential future economic, social, and environmental shocks. Another key message was that climate change mitigation and adaptation called for technical and programmatic shifts as well as reform of institutional structures, cultures, and capacities. The Committee stressed that building strong institutions for sustainable development remained a crucial challenge in conflict-affected settings. These and other matters are reflected in a resolution adopted by the Economic and Social Council at its Management Segment on 8 June 2022, as well as in the Committee’s input to the 2022 high-level political forum. More information is available here.
The 21st Session of the UN Committee of Experts on Public Administration
The Committee of Experts on Public Administration (CEPA) will hold its twenty-first session at UN Headquarters in New York from 4 to 8 April 2022. The overall theme of the session is “Transforming institutions and governance to build forward better towards 2030”. Topics discussed in this year’s session include governance and public administration aspects of the theme of the 2022 ECOSOC session and the 2022 High-level political forum on sustainable development; building strong institutions to combat climate change and its impacts and for the sustainable management, protection and restoration of natural resources; governance and institution-building in conflict-affected countries; the application of the Principles of effective governance for sustainable development at the subnational level; public financial management and budgeting for the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs); public sector workforce; and digital government. There will also be a dialogue with voluntary national review countries on institutional aspects of SDG 16 and a dedicated observer consultation will allow for an in-depth exchange with different observers, including youth organizations. The Committee will adopt an input to the HLPF and a draft resolution for ECOSOC. More information and live webcast of the session is available here
Innovation, Digital Government and Changing Mindset for Public Sector Transformation in Guyana to Achieve the SDGs
UN DESA/DPIDG, the Ministry of Public Service of Guyana, the Caribbean Centre for Development Administration (CARICAD) and the Caribbean Community (CARICOM), with the support of the Resident Coordinator Office, are co-organizing a Training Workshop on Innovation, Digital Government and Changing Mindset for Public Sector Transformation in Guyana to Achieve the SDGs. The course will be attended by Permanent and Deputy Permanent Secretaries, Regional Executive Officers, Chief Executive Officers of Guyana. The Training Workshop will take place from 22 to 31 March 2022. More information is available here
Peer-to-Peer Learning International Workshop on Public Service Training Assessment Framework for Strengthening Capacities of Public Servants to Support SDG Implementation
The Royal Civil Service Commission (RCSC) of the Government of Bhutan, in collaboration with UN DESA/DPIDG and its Project Office on Governance (UNPOG), and with the support of the UN Resident Coordinator Office in Bhutan, is organizing a virtual peer-to-peer learning international workshop on public service training assessment framework for strengthening capacities of public servants to support the implementation of the SDGs. The workshop is a follow-up activity to UN DESA’s Development Account Project on Institutional arrangements for policy integration, coordination and stakeholder engagement in SDG implementation and reviews in Asia & the Pacific. The workshop aims to promote a learning journey of peers that would help strengthen civil service capacity building in Bhutan and develop a partnership among the Workshop participating countries, leading to the development of a framework for learning outcome assessment for the Royal Government of Bhutan. The Workshop will provide a platform for practitioners and decision-makers of the RCSC, Bhutan and its affiliated institutes to learn lessons from international good practices. Panelists will share knowledge about various frameworks and approaches to enhance training effectiveness through assessment of learning outcomes while focusing on implementing the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development. The workshop will take place from 16 to 17 March 2022. More information is available here
Proceedings of the 25th UN/INTOSAI Symposium
The United Nations Department of Economic and Social Affairs and the General Secretariat of INTOSAI are pleased to announce the publication of the proceedings of the 25th UN/INTOSAI Symposium. This compilation contains valuable insights on SAIs' approaches to tackling the challenges imposed by the pandemic as well as lessons learned for the future. The report can be accessed here
New approaches to e-government for SDG implementation
UN DESA/DPIDG in collaboration with the D-8 Organization for Economic Cooperation, is organizing a capacity building workshop on new approaches to e-government for SDG implementation. The objective of the workshop is to raise awareness on innovative approaches in e-government policies and implementation strategies and increase participants' capacities on how to use them for the achievement of the Sustainable Development Goals. Innovation and continuous transformation in the area of ICTs are critical for improving efficiency and effectiveness of public sector interventions and achieving the SDGs. During the workshop, a training toolkit on Innovation and Digital Government for Public Service Delivery will be presented. The training toolkit is part of the Curriculum on Governance of the Sustainable Development recently launched by UN DESA/DPIDG. The workshop will be held from 15 to 16 March 2022. More information is available here
SDG 16 Conference 2022 - People-centred governance in a post-pandemic world
UN DESA, the International Development Law Organization (IDLO), and the Government of Italy are organizing the SDG 16 Conference 2022. Building on the outcomes of the 2019 and 2021 editions and drawing on the insights of participants from government, international organizations, civil society, academia and youth, the Conference will explore how a people-centred approach to governance can help rebuild trust, accelerate progress towards sustainable development and tackle the challenges facing a post-COVID world. The Conference will examine how COVID-19 has contributed to the root causes and drivers of conflict and instability, challenged the delivery of public services, threatened the rule of law and increased inequality and exclusion. It will highlight innovations made in response to the pandemic, including approaches to build and sustain development in conflict-affected contexts, strengthen institutional resilience, promote people-centred justice, and address inequalities while leaving no one behind. The Conference will be held from 21 to 22 April in a hybrid format. More information is available here.
Promotion of Intergenerational Equity for Sustainable Development
UN DESA/DPIDG is organizing a virtual workshop on the promotion of intergenerational equity for sustainable development. The workshop forms part of a series to launch the Strategy Guidance Notes to operationalize the principles of effective governance for sustainable development which were developed by the Committee of Experts on Public Administration (CEPA) and endorsed by the Economic and Social Council. One of the principles is on intergenerational equity to ensure inclusiveness. The 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development and the principle of intergenerational equity requires countries to be engaged with and aware of the various dimensions of impact assessment, long-term public debt management, long-term territorial planning and spatial development and ecosystem management. The virtual workshop will discuss these strategies for pursuing intergenerational equity and will attempt to share knowledge, raise awareness and provide a platform to connect participants with partners in other countries, the UN system and other organizations to take further concrete action-oriented activities. It will be held on 8 March 2022. More information is available here.
Institutional Arrangements for Coherent Policy Formulation in the Areas of Climate, Land, Energy and Water System (CLEWS) in Namibia
UN DESA/DPIDG and EAPD, the Namibia Resident Coordinator’s Office, UNECA, UNDP, FAO and the Namibian National Planning Commission will hold a hybrid capacity development workshop on Institutional Arrangements for Coherent Policy Formulation in the Areas of Climate, Land, Energy and Water System (CLEWS) in Namibia. Participants will discuss how to develop, transfer and apply the Climate, Land, Energy and Water systems (CLEWs) framework and how to strengthen the institutional arrangements to support integrated approaches to policy formulation and coherence. The workshop will take place from 7-9 February 2022 in Swakopmund, Namibia. More information is available here
Changing Mindsets in Public Institutions to Realize the 2030 Agenda in Pakistan
UN DESA/DPIDG and the National School of Public Policy (NSPP) of Pakistan, in collaboration with the UN Resident Coordinator Office in Pakistan, are co-organizing a five-days Capacity Development Training Workshop on Changing Mindsets in Public Institutions to Realize the 2030 Agenda in Pakistan. The Training Workshop is being organized as a segment of the NSPP - National Management Course (NMC) for the senior ranking government officials. The objective of the present workshop is to equip public servants with innovative mindsets and behaviors to better address current and future challenges. The Workshop is based on the Curriculum on Governance for the SDGs - Training of Trainers Toolkit on Changing Mindsets in Public Institutions to Implement the Agenda 2030 for Sustainable Development which was developed by UN DESA/DPIDG. The Workshop will be held from 24 to 28 January 2022 from 9.00 a.m. to 5.00 p.m. (Pakistan Standard Time). More information is available here.