A series of articles by experts and officials highlight current issues related to public institutions and governance, including messages from a regional workshop on governance for sustainable development in Africa. The articles are published on the blog of the UN Division for Public Institutions and Digital Government, which is part of the Department of Economic and Social Affairs (DESA).

An article by Louis Meuleman, Rapporteur of the UN Committee of Experts on Public Administration (CEPA), discusses the importance of reforming public institutions in order to achieve sustainable development. Reflecting on a recent workshop on governance for sustainable development organized by DESA and the African Peer Review Mechanism (APRM), Meuleman writes that participating governments, UN agencies, civil society, academia and others expressed that they are clear on the needed policies and models to leave no one behind. However, they need more answers regarding the “how” of reforming public administration and governance. Meuleman’s recommendations include:

• Recognize that effective governance requires adaptation to its specific context, and develop “steering, incentivizing and collaboration mechanisms”;
• Ensure that rapid reforms do not take place “at the expense of strategic foresight, back-casting or impact analysis”;
• Establish training for public officials in “sustainability transformation acceleration”; and
• Implement the Principles of Effective Governance for Sustainable Development, which were formulated by CEPA and endorsed by the UN Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC) in 2018.

An article by Geraldine Fraser-Moleketi, CEPA Chairperson, further elaborates on discussions at the Africa workshop. Other articles in the DPIDG blog series highlight: a five-step strategy for overcoming digital divides, by Elliott Harris, UN Chief Economist; and recommended actions for public institutions to scale up services for poor and vulnerable groups, by Maria-Francesca Spatolisano, Assistant Secretary-General for Policy Coordination and Inter-Agency Affairs. [DPIDG Blog]