The United Nations Public Service Awards (UNPSA) is the most prestigious international recognition of excellence in public service. It rewards the creative achievements and contributions of public service institutions to a more effective and responsive public administration in countries worldwide in four categories. These are Improving Delivery of Public Services, Fostering Participation in Public Policy-making Decisions through Innovative Mechanisms, Promoting Whole-of-Government Approaches in the Information Age and Promoting Gender-responsive Delivery of Public Services.
Through an annual competition, the United Nations Public Service Awards Programme promotes the role, professionalism and visibility of public service. It encourages exemplary public service and recognizes that democracy and successful governance are built on a competent civil service. In brief, the Awards aim to discover innovations in governance; reward excellence in the public sector; motivate public servants to further promote innovation; enhance professionalism in the public service; raise the image of public service; enhance trust in government; and collect and disseminate successful practices for possible replication.
Some of this year’s winning projects involve: improving education; increasing access to potable water in rural areas; improving access to and the quality of health care; integrating government data including social security systems; enhancing transparency through increased access to information for citizens; and reducing infant mortality rate among other efforts.
The 2014 winners are from the following countries:
1st place winners: Austria, Bahrain, Brazil, Morocco, Oman, Republic of Korea, Singapore, South Africa, Thailand, Turkey, Uruguay
2nd place winners: Bahrain, Brazil, Cameroon, India, Republic of Korea, Spain
Read more information about the winning countries here: http://workspace.unpan.org/sites/Internet/Documents/winner%20fact%20sheet%20with%20flags.docx.pdf (close out sign in box to view)
For background information about the United Nations Public Service Awards and past winners, please visit: http://www.unpan.org/unpsa.
Past winning projects of the United Nations Public Service Awards are available as iPad and iPhone applications at: http://itunes.apple.com/us/app/un-innovations-in-public-governance/id443218537?mt=8#.
Follow the United Nations Public Service Forum and Awards on social media:
Facebook: United Nations Public Administration Network
Twitter: @unpan
Official Hashtags: #unpsa2014 #unpsa
Source: UN Department of Public Information
http://unpan.org/DPADM/UNPSDayAwards/UNPublicServiceAwards/tabid/1522/language/en-US/Default.aspx
