Apart, and a Part

🪢 Last week, I attended the United Nations Public Service Forum (UNPSF 2025) in Samarkand, Uzbekistan.

Something that struck me was how public servants often walk a delicate line: being a part of government, while also feeling apart from it.

Many see opportunities for innovation, improvement, and real progress; but they’re also frustrated by bureaucracy, obstructive systems, and political decisions that often override practical needs.

Some eventually give in and become absorbed by the machinery. Others leave. But many stay, committed to constructive participation that creates real value.

Some of these public servants feel distinctly apart from government. This is often especially true of technical experts, operational staff, those with strong innovation identities, and individuals who have been let down or disillusioned over time.

They often carry bold, transformative ideas. But because they’re disconnected from the machinery of the state, their influence is limited. At best, this leads to frustration and short-lived local successes; at worst, to apathy or quiet resistance.

Others work more fluidly within the system. These are typically managers, policy professionals, and career administrators. They often feel they are a part of government. But too often, they lack real insight into front-line experiences. Their work risks becoming misaligned, both in relevance and urgency.

🎯 So the challenge for today’s public servants, especially those driving change, is to hold both truths:

To be a part of government, aligned with its processes, trusted, and able to scale solutions. But also apart enough to see clearly, feel urgency from the front lines, and stay connected to what truly matters.

Doing this isn’t easy. It requires self-awareness, humility, and courage. And it calls on governments to value, and make space for, those who are committed to building a better future through meaningful participation.

🌱 I’d love to hear your reflections and stories about being a part and apart. Please share them in the comments.