Meet the UN Public Service Award winners

Effective public service delivery is often taken for granted until a major crisis like COVID-19 puts a strain on the system. The pandemic showed the key role public institutions play in our daily lives. Recognizing the importance of these institutions is something the UN Public Service Awards does every year. Here are 4 things you should know about the winners of this prestigious award.

1. The winners come from all corners of the world

In 2021, ten public institutions from Bangladesh, Brazil, Ghana, Italy, Kazakhstan, Kenya, Mexico, Republic of Korea, Romania, and Thailand were recognized for their vision and creativity in fostering innovation and enhancing the effectiveness of public institutions. In 2020, seven winning initiatives came from Bangladesh, Botswana, Brazil, Mexico, Portugal, the Republic of South Korea and Spain.

2. They help deliver the promise of the Sustainable Development Goals

The winning initiatives all make contributions to realizing the Sustainable Development Goals through their innovation in public service delivery.

3. Initiatives boost women’s empowerment, digital inclusion and ocean health

Since 2003, the UN Public Service Award winners have made a positive impact on the lives of many people around the world. Here are just a few examples: in Bangladesh, the Women Empowerment in Cyclone Preparedness Programme engages more women in cyclone preparedness to reduce the impact of the natural disaster and gender-specific violence associated with it. In Ghana, more rural children have access to digital tools for basic and secondary education through the Hands-on Mobile ICT Classes Project. In the Republic of Korea, the Clean Marine Environment Initiative has tackled the cleaning of oil and waste from the ocean. In Romania, the Department of Sustainable Development is working with ministries, departments, civil society organizations and the private sector to mobilize support and raise public awareness to implement the SDGs.

4. Winners take the stage at award ceremony in Dubai

The winners were recognized for their creative solutions for public service delivery on 13 December 2021 in Dubai, the United Arab Emirates during the UN Public Service Awards Ceremony. Relive this joyous moment with the winners at the award ceremony here.

Learn about the winning initiatives at the Public Service Innovation Hub.