The UN is calling for nominations for the UN Public Service Awards 2012. This is an international contest designed to promote and support innovations in public service delivery worldwide. It is open to public organizations of all kinds, including governments and public-private partnerships involved in delivering services to citizens around the globe. Nominations can be made online until 31 December.
An annual UN event, the Public Service Award is bestowed on those public institutions that have distinguished themselves in the following categories: Preventing and Combating Corruption in the Public Service; Improving the Delivery of Services; Fostering Participation in Policymaking Decisions through Innovative Mechanisms; Advancing Knowledge Management in Government and Promoting Gender-responsive Delivery of Public Services. The award highlights cutting edge innovations and recognizes that democracy and successful governance are built on a competent civil service.
“The United Nations has long recognized that effective governance and efficient public administration are central to the global development agenda, and particularly in achieving the Millennium Development Goals. We need sound public policies and supportive governance structures. We need to respond swiftly and coherently”, said Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon in his address to the 2009 United Nations Public Service Day.
The United Nations Public Service Day was established by the Economic and Social Council in 2003 to promote better delivery of services by governments and to encourage excellence in the public service. As Mr. Sha Zukang, DESA’s Under-Secretary-General emphasized during the 2010 United Nations Public Service Awards ceremony held in Barcelona, Spain: “The winners have shown great dedication to upholding the values and virtues of excellent public service and have provided examples of efficiency, effectiveness, transparency and accountability. In transmitting their lessons-learned they are assisting all governments in devising ways to improve the lives of citizens everywhere”.
The 2012 Public Service Awards will mark the tenth anniversary of the programme. Selected by the United Nations Committee of Experts on Public Administration, the winners will receive a trophy and a certificate of recognition during the United Nations Public Service Awards Ceremony and Day on 23 June 2012. The global event is organized by DESA’s Division of Public Administration and Development Management, in partnership with UN Women and the UN Office on Drugs and Crime.
While contenders cannot nominate themselves, interested institutions deemed to have very good performance in any one of the prize categories can have their name put forward by Governments or civil society organizations.
In addition to the Public Service Awards, United Nations e-Government Special Awards will be issued at the United Nations Public Service Day. The e-Government Special Awards will recognize the success of each world region by distinguishing the top-ranked countries from Africa, the Americas, Asia, Europe, and Oceania.
