“Trust in government represents the confidence of citizens and businesses in the actions of government to do what is right and perceived as fair. It is one of the most important foundations upon which the legitimacy and sustainability of political systems are built.” (OECD).
Restoring trust in public administration was the theme of the first session of the Public Administration Global Forum: Transforming Governments for a Livable Planet co-hosted by the World Bank. Dr Kay Brown, CABRI’s Executive Secretary, was one of the panelists for this session. Moderated by Martin Raiser, Regional Vice President, World Bank, the panel saw the participation of Youk Bunna, Permanent Secretary of State, Ministry of Civil Service, Cambodia, Martha Sika Chizuma, Director General, Anti-Corruption Bureau, Malawi, Monica Brezzi, Division Head, Governance Indicators and Performance Public Governance Directorate, OECD and Sarah A. Brierley, Assistant Professor, London School of Economics and Political Science.
“We need to be talking to each other. We need to involve CSOs and citizens in the conversation. When you have gone further, become agile and adaptable, that is what you hope to achieve in building trust for Government, “ said Dr Brown, adding, “What shuts down trust is when there are no opportunities to engage earnestly.”
Effective public administrations are central to realizing a world free of poverty on a livable planet. Faced with the growing demand for increasingly complex government services from citizens, coupled with mounting fiscal pressures and a widening trust-deficit between citizens and their public administrations, a paradigm shift in approaches to improving public administration performance is urgently needed. In recognition of this challenge, the World Bank invited world leaders, experts, and practitioners to participate in the Public Administration Global Forum on Transforming Governments for a Livable Planet, in Washington, D.C., from May 28th – 29th, 2024.
Excerpt of Dr Brown's intervention.