Public Service Day is celebrated each year on 23 June in recognition of the value of public service to the community and in development, the work of public servants, and to encourage young people to pursue careers in the public sector. United Nations Public Service Awards are presented each year on the Day to honour excellence in public service delivery and professionalism around the world.

This year’s winning initiatives – ranging from mobile health care to community development – are from Australia, Brazil, India, Jordan, Rwanda, Saudi Arabia, Singapore, South Africa, Spain, Sweden, Tunisia, and the United States. The 2008 awards will be presented in a special event at United Nations Headquarters. The Vice-President of the General Assembly, Deputy-Secretary-General, and Under-Secretary-General for Social and Economic Affairs have been invited, along with innovative leaders whose institutions have won the awards this year and in the past. Some 300 participants are expected to attend.

The competition is open to all public organizations and agencies at national or sub-national level, as well as public-private partnerships. Awards are given in three categories: improving transparency, accountability and responsiveness in the public service; improving the delivery of services; and fostering participation in policy-making decisions through innovative mechanisms.

For more information: http://www.unpan.org/Events/PublicServiceDayAwards/tabid/92/Default.aspx