UCLG Africa at the United Nations Public Service Forum 2024 (UNPSF)

Within the framework of the strategic partnership with the Division for Public Institutions and Digital Government (DPIDG) of the United Nations Department of Economic and Social Affairs (UNDESA), Dr. Najat Zarrouk, Director of Development, Knowledge Management and the African Local Governments Academy (ALGA), represented UCLG Africa at the United Nations Public Service Forum and Award Ceremony held from 24 to 26 June 2024 in Incheon (South Korea). As a member of the UN Committee of Experts on Public Administration (UN-CEPA), she also served on the UN-CEPA sub-committee in charge of evaluating initiatives presented for the UN Public Service Award. 

The Forum, organized in close partnership with the South Koran Ministry of the Interior and Safety (MOIS), focused on the theme: “Fostering Innovation Amid Global Challenges: A Public Sector Perspective”. 

More than 1500 participants took part to this event which was marked by the main following activities: 

2024 Award Ceremony 

The UN Public Service Awards recognizes excellence in Public Service delivery and rewards the creative achievements and contributions of public administrations worldwide. Since the first edition in 2003, over 300 initiatives have been awarded. This year, several UN Public Service Awards and Honorable Mentions were bestowed for three categories, the “Innovation in Public Institutions”, “Gender Equality” and “Climate Action”. In the “Innovation in Public Institutions” category, two African countries were honored. The Western Cape Governments of South Africa won the prestigious award for its work toward citizen-centric digital transformation, and Tanzania received an Honorable Mention for its e-Feedback initiative and e-Government Authority. 

The 2024 UN Public Service Forum: Fostering Innovation Amid Global Challenges from a Public Sector Perspective 

As we strive for the realization of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development and navigate through increasingly fragile and uncertain conditions, institutions must actively cultivate innovation and embrace forward-thinking mindsets to effectively address both current and future challenges. Within this context, the 2024 United Nations Public Service Forum focused on the role of fostering innovation and transformation in the public sector, with a view to enhancing the current and future capabilities of public administrations so they are readied to be more adaptive, anticipatory, agile, inclusive, and responsive in meeting development objectives amid complex global challenges. 

The Forum provided a global platform for ministers, senior level decision-makers, and working level public servants to reflect upon and develop the skills needed to devise tangible actions and foster innovation and transformation at the local and national levels. 

The program of the Forum included: 

  • A ministerial roundtable; 
  • Several plenary sessions on Artificial Intelligence and the future of Government; and Revitalizing Partnerships for Sustainable Development. 
  • Several workshops. 
  • Two (2) Side events. 
  • A cultural excursion. 

All the presentations and reports are available on the following portal: www.unpan.org 

UCLG Africa Side Event: Peer Review among Partners 

 The United Cities and Local Governments of Africa (UCLG Africa) through its African Local Government Academy (ALGA), in Partnership with the United Nations Office for Disaster Risk Reduction (UNDRR), the State Agency for Public Service and Social Innovations under the President of the Republic of Azerbaijan (ASAN), the Metropolitan City of Incheon (Korea), the City of Benguérir (Morocco), and the Agency of the Republic of Kazakhstan for Civil Service Affairs, organized a Peer Review among Partners during the UN Public Service Forum 2024 on: “Mainstreaming Innovation, Gender, and Climate to Transform Public Service”, on June 25th.  

During this Side Event, stakeholders showcased their commitment, shared knowledge, experience and best practices. They recognized that by weaving innovation, gender equality, and climate action into the fabric of Public Service, these issues become central considerations in every decision and action, creating a holistic approach where these areas work together synergistically, in the spirit of the Whole-of-Society and the Whole-of-Government approach, as required by the international community, and in line with the new 3 categories of the United Nations Public Service Award (UNPSA). 

Mainstreaming innovation, gender, and climate action is not just a trend; it’s a necessity for a future-proof Public Service. By embracing these commitments through concrete and sustainable actions, it becomes possible to build a Public Service that is responsive, efficient, and empowers all citizens to thrive in a changing world. 

The specific goal of the event was to discuss, in a SMART way, a new framework for mainstreaming innovation, gender, and climate to transform Public Service based on the following objectives: 

  • Stocktaking on the progress made by the different organizers, through sharing challenges, commitments, policies, strategies and methodologies. 
  • Mainstreaming innovation, gender and climate: sharing best practices. 
  • Aligning vision, comprehensive strategy and methodologies, by defining clear and coherent goals and implementation plans for each focus area. 
  • Readiness to tackle innovation, gender and climate, by showing the centrality of developing and building capacities, equipping public leaders and civil servants with the knowledge, the skills and capacities to better integrate this transformative dynamic in their daily mission and work. 
  • Transforming Public Service by fostering collaboration and partnerships across international organizations, government administrations and agencies, local and regional governments, civil society, private sector and academia, to promote and anchor a collective intelligence, action and expertise.