The latest UNPAN Partners’ Newsletter for April to June 2026 highlights a busy quarter of activities focused on public administration, digital government, AI governance, strategic foresight, public service innovation and institutional capacity building.
A major highlight was the 2026 United Nations Public Service Forum and Awards Ceremony, held in Tbilisi, Georgia, under the theme Transforming Public Institutions: Advancing Innovation, Participation, and Inclusion. The newsletter also covers the SDG 16 Conference 2026, which focused on how peace, justice and effective institutions can accelerate progress towards the 2030 Agenda.
UN DESA/DPIDG activities featured prominently, including work on data governance legal frameworks, AI-enabled learning, omnichannel one-stop-shop public service delivery in The Gambia, and capacity-building initiatives in Saint Lucia, Seychelles, Africa and the Asia-Pacific region. These activities emphasised responsible AI adoption, strategic foresight, systems thinking, disaster risk reduction, digital transformation and improved public service delivery.
The newsletter also marks the 25th anniversary of UNPAN, celebrating its role as a global network connecting more than 30 public administration institutions working towards effective governance and SDG 16. Related events included the UNPAN Members Annual Meeting, a side event on excellence in public service delivery, and the 25th session of the Committee of Experts on Public Administration.
UNPAN members shared a wide range of regional updates. AMDIN reported on its 2nd Annual Conference in Namibia, focusing on transformative public service leadership in Africa. CAFRAD highlighted initiatives on nanoplastics, youth inclusion, artificial intelligence, digital transformation, sustainable development and smart cities. EIPA shared upcoming courses, its 2025 Annual Report, its 45th anniversary, and updates on public sector awards, EU governance, procurement and training.
Other member contributions included updates from CONSAD in Brazil on women’s leadership in public management, IPAC in Canada on AI literacy, design skills, digital sovereignty, public sector leadership and ethics, and SANPA on its participation in CEPA, publishing work and future conferences.
Overall, the newsletter shows strong momentum across the UNPAN network in strengthening public institutions, supporting digital and AI-ready governance, building leadership capacity, and encouraging innovation for sustainable development.
