Between June 24-26, 2024, the United Nations Public Service Forum (UNPSF) took place in Incheon, Republic of Korea, organized by the United Nations Department of Economic and Social Affairs (UN DESA) and the Ministry of the Interior and Safety of the Republic of Korea. This prestigious event brought together global leaders, policymakers, and gender equality advocates under the theme “Fostering Innovation amid Global Challenges: A Public Sector Perspective.”
The forum included substantive plenary sessions such as “Artificial Intelligence and the Future of Government,” which explored the role of AI in enhancing government services while ensuring ethical use. Digital transformation was a key focus area, with workshops exploring how digital sandboxes and AI can foster public sector innovation. These sessions discussed leveraging digital transformation to enhance institutional capabilities, particularly in developing countries.
Strategies to rejuvenate global cooperation towards achieving the SDGs are discussed in another significant session, “Revitalising Global Partnerships for Sustainable Development.”
The forum featured a series of workshops, including a key workshop on Gender Equality in Public Administration, “Gender-inclusive Leadership and Public Sector Innovation for Sustainable Development: Empowering Women Leaders for Future-ready Public Administration.”
The workshop on Gender Equality in Public Administration, co-led by the UNDP Gender Equality Seal team and UN DESA, focused on advancing gender-inclusive leadership and developing gender-responsive public services.
Participants discussed the challenges and strategies for promoting gender equality, emphasizing the importance of strong political commitment, robust legal frameworks, and mentorship programs. Key activities included developing and reviewing gender equality action plans, fostering innovation in public service delivery, and promoting knowledge exchange. Discussions highlighted the need for integrating gender equality into policies and education curricula, improving work-life balance, and ensuring accurate gender-disaggregated data collection to track progress. The workshop underscored the necessity of sustained efforts and collaborative approaches to enhance women’s representation and leadership in public administration, contributing to broader goals of sustainable development and inclusive governance.
Strong interest was raised in the Gender Equality Seal for Public Institutions among countries part of the project and other participants in the workshop, highlighting its potential to support the development and implementation of national action plans for gender equality. The workshop concluded with a systematic collection of lessons learned from the participant countries, which will inform the development of tailored proposals to support the implementation of the Gender Equality Seal in these countries.
The forum also featured an awards ceremony recognizing outstanding achievements in public service. This ceremony celebrated innovative practices and significant contributions to public administration.
By bringing together diverse perspectives and fostering collaborative dialogue, the forum provided a platform for countries to learn from each other’s experiences and build on their collective efforts to promote gender equality. The continued engagement and support from UNDP and UN DESA will be crucial in advancing these initiatives and ensuring that gender equality remains a central focus in public administration worldwide.
