UAE To Conduct The 18th UN Public Service Forum This Fall

The UN wants the UAE to conduct the 18^th UN Public Service Forum in October 2021. This would happen around the same time as the UAE’s Golden Jubilee commemorations.

What is the UN Public Service Forum all about?

The international conference hopes to aid countries around the globe in successfully implementing Sustainable Development Goals. It will address the need for governments to use digital services and be innovative and proactive in coming up with answers. They also aim to discuss global issues and developments, specifically focusing on innovative policies and programs that make government efforts more impactful.

The Telecommunications and Digital Government Regulatory Authority (TDRA) will support the forum that UAE is all set to host. There will be important ministerial meetings as the forum has invited over 1000 top-level government officials and other international authority figures. 

It is an important international channel for the exchange of expertise and experience. Through a global interchange, governments can learn from each other by contributing their practices and learning from other perspectives.

When was it decided to conduct the forum in the UAE?

Recently, Ohood Bint Khalfan Al Roumi, Minister of State for Government Development and the Future, attended an online meeting held by the UN on the UN Public Service Day to celebrate public servants from all over the world. It was here that the forum was declared to be held in the UAE around the same time as the Expo 2020 Dubai which has the theme ‘connecting minds, creating the future’. 

For the virtual event, the theme for this year was “Innovating the Future Public Service: New Government Models for a New Era to Reach the SDGs”. The top-tier meeting emphasized the readiness of governments, the significance of building resilience, and the need to produce innovative, high-quality services for the world.

Why was the UAE was selected for this year?

The 2021 IMD World Competitiveness Report had Dubai at the first position in the world for indicators such as “Absence of Bureaucracy” and “Adaptability of Government Policy”. As per the 2019 World Economic Forum’s Global Competitiveness Report, when it came to “Government Responsiveness to Change”, the UAE has 3^rdplace, and concerning “Government Long-term Vision” it has the 4^th position. The 2021 Edelman Trust Barometer graded the United Arab Emirates 3^rd as the most trusted government worldwide.

These performance rankings imply that the UAE has considerably increased the standards of government work. It is this model of governance showcased by the leaders of the UAE working under the directions of H.H. Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai, that led to the UN to choose the UAE.

Through innovative approaches and the delivery of top-class services, the UAE managed to get high scores in most of the indicators of global governmental indicators. Even with the difficulties posed by the pandemic, the UAE efficiently and effectively made use of online tools, telecommunication, and information technology to achieve progress.

What else is set to happen at the Public Service Forum?

The assembly will also celebrate the winners of the UN Public Service Awards of 2020 and 2021. It has been honoring excellence and innovative achievements in the public administration space since 2003. The prestigious award gives a lot of importance to the function, professionalism, and distinguishability of public service. The United Nations wants it to be more visible so that the youth is encouraged to get employed in the public service field. 

The editions of the United Nations Public Service Awards between 2015 and 2019 have honored 53 recipients over the globe who came up with new government services and initiatives that had a constructive impact on their societies. Last year, the UN hosted a digital program with the Government of South Korea. The Forum acknowledged 7 winners for discovering and providing their communities with some of the most ground-breaking proposals in their regions.