Celebrating 20 years of public service innovation for sustainable development and inclusion

For two decades, the United Nations Public Service Awards Programme (UNPSA) has celebrated excellence in public service by recognizing the creative achievements and contributions of public institutions to address the social, economic and environmental needs of society. 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.

The programme, established to bolster recognition of the UN Public Service Day on June 23 (A/RES/57/277) and echo the value of public service, was first introduced to support the implementation of the Millenium Development Goals and then revised to align with the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development in 2016.

Many of the initiatives recognized by the UNPSA have focused on tackling global challenges like poverty, climate change, and public health. In the last 20 years, UNPSA has recognized 500+ global initiatives showcasing the vital role of public service innovation in promoting sustainable development and inclusion. Winners include projects that improved access to healthcare, promoted gender equality, strengthened public financial management, and leveraged technology to enhance transparency and accountability in governance. In 2022, the awards 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 well-being, and combat digital exclusion.

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.

As we move forward in this Decade of Action, and ahead of the 2023 SDG Summit in September, advancing innovative solutions to today’s challenges is a timely and positive catalyst in accelerating progress towards sustainable development. UNPSA exemplifies the commitment of public institutions for SDGs and we should build on its success towards a better future for all.

On the commemoration of UN Public Service Day on June 23, UN DESA’s Division for Public Institutions and Digital Government will open nominations for the 2024 UN Public Service Awards.