Public service and public administration reform

Whether it goes under the name of public sector management reform, public administration reform or public service reform the task of transforming the way that governments operate and deliver services to their citizens has been a priority for donors and international organisations - and governments themselves - for many years. Yet despite the vast investment made (around US$2 billion a year in official development assistance) studies by the World Bank and others have shown that much of this reform effort has proved ineffective. Poor administration, ineffectual policy-making and weak structures of accountability remain significant barriers to effective public service delivery in many places.

The reasons why lasting reforms have proved so difficult to achieve in this field remain poorly understood. There are clearly no simple answers. However, OPM’s work within the public sector in countries around the globe has placed us at the centre of this global debate, and provided us with a strong foundation of practical experience of what has worked and what hasn’t, and - crucially – insights into why. That knowledge is an invaluable starting point in addressing the challenges of public service reform elsewhere, helping us to diagnose problems and design, recommend and implement solutions that are relevant, practical and sustainable. OPM’s approach to public service reform blends rigorous analysis with pragmatism and experience, and above all with a commitment to working closely with public servants to bring about real changes in the way they do their jobs.