Over 500 delegates are expected in Dar es Salaam to witness the most prestigious international recognition of innovation in public services and to attend events on 20-23 June. Public institutions will receive UN Public Service Awards in recognition of excellence in delivering public services, ranging from providing water and running elections, to combating corruption and ensuring equal treatment of women.

This is the first time the UN Public Service Awards will be celebrated concurrently with Africa Public Service Day. A series of capacity-building workshops, a ministerial roundtable and an exhibition will be held at the Milimani City Complex leading up to the Awards Ceremony on 23 June. This year’s focus is “Transformative Leadership in Public Administration and Innovation in Governance: Creating a better life for all.”

The event is hosted by the UN in collaboration with the African Union Commission and the President’s Office of the United Republic of Tanzania. It is organized by DESA’s Division of Public Administration and Development Management (DPADM) in partnership with UN Women and the UN Development Programme in Tanzania.

The UN Public Service Awards are the most prestigious international recognition of excellence in public service. “By showcasing and sharing with each other what works, countries can learn from each other, drawing inspiration from success stories and replicating successful experiences in public service,” said Sha Zukang, DESA’s Under-Secretary-General.

The awards reward the creative achievements and contributions of public service institutions that lead to a more effective and responsive public administration in countries worldwide. And the programme has grown dramatically over the last two years, with the number of nominations increasing by 44 per cent in the past year.

“Over time we have seen that the competition for this award has triggered innovation and excellence in public service around the world. All nominated programs are striving to maximize their efficiency so they can stand a chance to win the Award while at the same time serving their community better than before,” said Ms. Haiyan Qian, Director for DPADM. 

Thirty-six public organizations will receive the UN Public Service Award this year. First place winners are: Brazil, Canada, Colombia, Egypt, India, Mexico, Oman, Poland, Portugal, Republic of Korea, Slovakia, South Africa, Tanzania, and Thailand.