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.
Strengthening Capacities, Mindsets, and Competencies of Public Institutions to Build the Next Generation of Public Servants in the Asia-Pacific Region
UN DESA, through its Division for Public Institutions and Digital Government (DPIDG) with support from its Project Office on Governance (UNPOG), and in collaboration with the United Nations Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific (UN ESCAP), are organizing a capacity development webinar to launch the Curriculum on Governance for the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) in the Asia-Pacific region. The Curriculum, developed by UN DESA, will be launched through regional events in cooperation with the regional commissions, the UN Resident Coordinator system, and relevant partners. The Webinar will be held on 24 January 2022 at 10:00 PM EST. More information is available here.
Policy Coherence in Africa in Response to COVID-19
A Regional Webinar for Africa, organized by UN DESA/DPIDG, Resident Coordinators Offices and the African Peer Review Mechanism, will be held on the theme of Resilience and Recovery from COVID-19 through sound policymaking, with a particular focus on policy coherence. The webinar aims to share knowledge on the strategies and guidance notes on the 11 Principles on Effective Governance for the Implementation of the SDGs. The Webinar is also aimed at increasing understanding on how to utilize the strategies for COVID-19 response measures, link participants through peer-to-peer learning and assist African countries in identifying concrete activities and capacity building initiatives that can be undertaken by the UN. The webinar will be held on 17 January 2022 8AM EST. More information and registration is available here.
United Nations Public Service Awards Ceremony 2021
The United Nations Public Service Awards Ceremony 2021 is being organized by UN DESA/DPIDG and hosted by the Government of the United Arab Emirates. The winning initiatives from the 2020 and 20201 editions of the UN Public Service Awards (UNPSA) programme, which highlights excellence in public service delivery to achieve the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), will be recognized. The Awards Ceremony is held in Dubai, the United Arab Emirates on 13 December 2021 from 9-11 AM (GMT+4), 12:00 (mid night) – 2 AM EST. You can follow it live at UN WebTV. More information is available here.
Strategic Planning and Foresight in Africa in Response to COVID-19
A Regional Webinar for Africa, organized by UN DESA/DPIDG, Resident Coordinators Offices and the African Peer Review Mechanism, will be held on the theme of Resilience and Recovery from COVID-19 through sound policymaking, more in specific on strategic foresight and planning. The webinar aims to share knowledge on the strategies and guidance notes on the 11 Principles on Effective Governance for the Implementation of the SDGs. The Webinar is also aimed at increasing understanding on how to utilize the strategies for COVID-19 response measures, link participants through peer-to-peer learning and assist African countries in identifying concrete activities and capacity building initiatives that can be undertaken by the UN. The webinar will be held on 8 December 8AM EST. More information and registration is available here.
Strengthening Capacities, Mindsets, and Competencies of Public Institutions to build the next generation of public servants in the Arab Region
UN DESA, through its Division for Public Institutions and Digital Government (DPIDG), and in collaboration with the United Nations Economic Commission for Western Asia (UN ESCWA) and the Arab Administrative Development Organization (ARADO), are organizing a capacity development webinar to launch the Curriculum on Governance for the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) (the “Curriculum”) in the Arab region. The Curriculum, developed by UN DESA, will be launched through regional events in cooperation with the regional commissions and relevant partners. ARADO will complement the adaptation of the training material in its 22 member states. UN ESCWA will present its Common Arab Regional Job Competencies Framework for Senior Public Servants within the Context of Agenda 2030 developed by UN ESCWA. More information is here.
Inter-Ministerial Policy Workshop on One-Door-Service Centers in Lao People’s Democratic Republic
UN DESA/DPIDG and the Ministry of Home Affairs (MOHA), Lao People’s Democratic Republic, in collaboration with the Resident Coordinator Office in Lao PDR and UNDP, is organizing on 22 November 2021 a virtual Inter-Ministerial Policy Workshop on One-Door-Service Centers (ODCSs) as a follow-up to the Inter-Ministerial Technical Workshop, which was attended by senior officials from 18 ministries, including the Prime Minister’s Office, and was held on 28 October 2021. The objective of this Policy Workshop is to provide a platform for deputy ministers to discuss and review the recommendations that emanated from the Inter-Ministerial Technical Workshop. The technical workshop was a follow-up to the peer-to-peer learning international workshop on One-Door-Service Centers (ODCSs), which was held back-to-back with a national workshop on lessons learned and next steps in implementing the One-Door-Service Centers in Lao PDR organized on 4 August 2021 by UN DESA, in cooperation with the RCO and UNDP in Lao. The workshop was attended by officials of the Ministry of Home Affairs (MOHA) of Lao People’s Democratic Republic (Lao PDR) and by the representatives of MOHA and all 44 One Door Service Centers (ODSCs). The objective was to promote a learning journey of peers that would help improve ODSCs reforms in Lao PDR as well as to understand next steps required. More information is available here.
Regional Symposium on Effective Governance and Digital Transformation for Building Back Better and Accelerating the Implementation of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development
The Regional Symposium on Effective Governance and Digital Transformation for Building Back Better and Accelerating the Implementation of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development will be held on 15 - 17 November 2001 (09:00 PM – 00:00 AM, New York GMT-5). The annual 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. The Symposium is organised by the UN DESA/DPIDG through its Project Office on Governance (UNPOG) and the Ministry of the Interior and Safety of the Government of the Republic of Korea. More information is available here and registration is available here.
Curriculum on Governance for the Sustainable Development Goals
The Curriculum on Governance for the Sustainable Development Goals launched by UN DESA/DPIDG aims to promote critical understanding of sustainable development issues, enhance governance capacity, and strengthen public servants' awareness of their active role in contributing to the achievement of the SDGs. The Curriculum is a comprehensive set of Training of Trainers Capacity Development Toolkits, which contain ready-to-use and customizable training material on key governance dimensions needed to advance the implementation of the SDGs. The Curriculum provides methodologies and approaches to advance knowledge and assist governments in developing capacities at the individual, organizational, and institutional/societal level, to drive the transformational change needed to implement the 2030 Agenda. The Curriculum consists of the following Toolkits: Changing Mindsets in Public Institutions to Implement the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development;Transparency, Accountability and Ethics in Public Institutions; Institutional Arrangements and Governance Capacities for Policy Coherence; Effective National to Local Public Governance for SDG Implementation; Government Innovation for Social Inclusion of Vulnerable Groups; Risk-informed Governance and Innovative Technology for Disaster Risk Reduction and Resilience; Innovation and Digital Government for Public Service Delivery; DiGIT4SD: Digital Government Implementation; E-Government for Women’s Empowerment and Integrated Policies and Policy Coherence for the SDGs. The Curriculum can be accessed here
Regional Webinars in Africa - Resilience And Recovery From Covid-19 Through Sound Policymaking
UN DESA/DPIDG, the Resident Coordinators Offices and the African Peer Review Mechanism will hold a series of webinars on how to promote resilience and recovery from the COVID-19 pandemic in Africa through sound policymaking. The first webinar (16 November 2021) will be on risk management in Africa in response to COVID-19, the second (8 December 2021) on strategic planning and foresight in Africa in response to COVID-19, and the third one (17 January 2022) on policy coherence in Africa in response to COVID-19. The webinars aim at developing the capacities of national governments to promote sound policymaking, with a particular focus on policy coherence, strategic planning and foresight and risk management. More information and registration link for the first webinar is available here, for the second webinar here and for the third webinar here.
Implementing One-Door-Service Centers in Lao People’s Democratic Republic
UN DESA/DPIDG and the Ministry of Home Affairs (MOHA), Lao People’s Democratic Republic ,in collaboration with the Resident Coordinator Office in Lao PDR and UNDP, is organizing a virtual inter-ministerial technical workshop on One-Door-Service Centers (ODCSs). The Workshop aims to promote an action-oriented learning journey for critical stakeholders on how to achieve an effective, inclusive and accountable ODSC system in Lao PDR and strengthen collaboration among the participating ministries, leading to the development of an inter-ministerial policy, planning and coordination mechanism for ODSCs in the country. The workshop will provide a platform for decision-makers and officials of Lao PDR to learn lessons on promoting effective, inclusive, and accountable ODSCs to mitigate current and future challenges in public service delivery. Panelists will share knowledge about various mechanisms to modernize ODSCs to achieve higher citizen satisfaction while focusing on implementing the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development. More information is available here.
The World Public Sector Report 2021, entitled “National institutional arrangements for implementation of the Sustainable Development Goals: A five-year stocktaking”, is now available here
Five years after the start of the implementation of the 2030 Agenda, governance issues remain at the forefront. The COVID-19 pandemic has highlighted even more the importance of national institutions for the achievement of the SDGs. The World Public Sector Report 2021 focuses on three dimensions of institutional change at the national level. First, it documents changes in institutional arrangements for SDG implementation since 2015. Second, it assesses the development, performance, strengths and weaknesses of follow-up and review systems for the SDGs. Third, it examines efforts made by governments and other stakeholders to enhance the capacity of public servants to implement the SDGs. Based on in-depth examination of institutional arrangements for SDG implementation in a sample of 24 countries in all regions, the report aims to draw attention to the institutional dimension of SDG implementation and provide lessons for national policymakers in this regard. The report also takes stock of the impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic on national institutions and their implications for delivering on the 2030 Agenda.