Excellencies,
Distinguished Guests,
Ladies and Gentlemen,
It is my pleasure to welcome you to New York to celebrate the Winners of the 2022 United Nations Public Service Awards. I would like to express my warmest congratulations to all winning institutions and initiatives. The challenges that we, as a global community, had to overcome to finally celebrate your achievements makes this a truly special event.
You are great examples and champions of public sector innovation, and I am delighted to be with you today to reaffirm that innovation in public service can pave the way for a brighter and more equitable future.
Public service innovation begins with understanding the needs of communities and taking these needs as opportunities for change. Whether it’s improving healthcare access during the pandemic, promoting gender-responsive services, or mitigating the impacts of climate change, innovation is the key to more effective, responsive and equitable public services.
In today’s digital age, we often think of innovation as the adoption of new technologies. From smart cities that optimize resource allocation to digital platforms that enhance citizen engagement, technology can revolutionize how public services are delivered.
But innovation is more than technological advancement. It is about new ways of thinking and different ways of doing. It is about changing mindsets and organizational culture to ensure responsive effective delivery.
As we work to promote institutional and policy innovations in public administration, we also have to encourage inclusive approaches.
Governments, NGOs, businesses and citizens must work together to co-create solutions for the complex challenges we all face. We should redouble efforts to include traditionally marginalized and under-served groups to participate in the designing and decision-making processes.
Through open innovation and joint problem-solving, we can harness the collective intelligence and resources of society to achieve the SDGs.
Let’s not forget how public service innovation can also enhance transparency and accountability. Through measures such as open data policies and financial disclosure, public institutions can improve information sharing and the tracking of public funds to ensure that resources are directed where they are needed. By promoting accountability, we help rebuild trust in public institutions.
Excellencies,
Ladies and Gentlemen,
Public service innovation can serve as a powerful instrument to accelerate progress toward the Sustainable Development Goals as called for by world leaders at the SDG Summit held last month.
We count on you to continue leading innovation in your organizations and inspire others to achieve sustainable development for our people and planet.
Thank you so much and congratulations once again to all of you.