This article is written by the Division for Public Institutions and Digital Government, United Nations Department of Economic and Social Affairs.
- The problem: With just seven years remaining to achieve the Sustainable Development Goals it is crucial for the public sector to embrace innovative solutions to accelerate the progress of the 2030 Agenda for sustainable development.
- Why it matters: Recognising the crucial role that public service innovation plays as a cross-cutting catalyst for inclusion and sustainable development is of critical importance.
- The solution: Sharing knowledge and fostering partnerships that facilitate public innovation is essential. Get involved and apply for the 2024 UNPSA to showcase how innovation is advancing the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) in your country.
For two decades, the United Nations Public Service Awards Programme (UNPSA) has celebrated excellence in public service by recognising the creative achievements and contributions of public institutions. The annual awards programme, which began in 2003, serves as a prominent platform for highlighting global innovations and best practices in public administration and governance. 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.
It all started on 20 December 2002, the General Assembly designated 23 June as Public Service Day by adopting resolution 57/277. The resolution celebrates the value and virtue of public service and honours public servants who dedicate their ideas, innovations and energy to serving their communities. To bolster recognition of the day and echo the value of public service, the United Nations established the UNPSA programme in 2003, first introduced to support the implementation of the Millennium Development Goals and then revised in 2016, to align with the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development and its 17 SDGs.
The United Nations Public Service Awards (UNPSA) serves as a shining example of the dedication of public institutions to the SDGs.
The UNPSA recognises innovative public service initiatives through a rigorous selection process. Governments and public institutions submit nominations, which are then screened and evaluated based on criteria such as innovation, effectiveness, impact, sustainability and replicability.
Past winners
Many of the initiatives recognised by the UNPSA have focused on tackling global challenges like climate change, education, public health, poverty and many more. Winners include projects that have improved access to healthcare, promoted gender equality, strengthened public financial management and leveraged technology to enhance transparency and accountability in governance.
For example, the awards recognised an Indonesian climate change adaptation programme for its innovative approach to integrated flood management. By leveraging ICT and public utilities for flood reporting, climate change mitigation, adaptation strategies and disaster risk management, the programme provides free real-time disaster information to underserved communities.
Another example is an educational project in the northeast region of Botswana that integrated ICTs into teaching through e-Thuto, a web-based platform that includes e-learning and data management modules. The e-learning module targets teachers and learners, while the data management module manages staff and student information.
In 2022, the awards also paid tribute to initiatives that were focused on addressing the Covid-19 pandemic, such as projects that leveraged technology to curb the spread of the virus, address food insecurity, promote mental wellbeing and combat digital exclusion.
Projects in Panama, Poland and Saudi Arabia won awards for developing information technology solutions to support their national response to the pandemic, facilitate tests, manage health data and provide digital certifications during lockdown.
A rural and community development project in Ireland won an award for its innovative approach to pivot during Covid-19 and address the new needs of its beneficiaries by establishing crisis cafes that provided local produce, mental health support and access to digital services.
The UNPSA also encourages partnerships and knowledge-sharing among public sector actors at national and international levels, enabling public institutions to learn from each other, replicate successful initiatives and scale up innovations to achieve greater impact.
2021 UNPSA winners at awards ceremony in Dubai
Building upon the success of the SDGs
As we move forward in this Decade of Action, and ahead of the 2023 SDG Summit to evaluate the progress of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development and its 17 SDGs, embracing innovative solutions to current challenges could prove to be a crucial and impactful catalyst for achieving sustainable development. The United Nations Public Service Awards (UNPSA) serves as a shining example of the dedication of public institutions to the SDGs, and we must strive to build upon its success to pave the way for a better future for all.
On June 23, Public Service Day, the United Nations Department of Economic and Social Affairs will open nominations for the 2024 UN Public Service Awards.
More information on the United Nations Public Service Awards Programme (UNPSA) is available here.
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