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Not yet sustainable: the public sector is lagging behind on ESG reporting
Government organisations need to step up on reporting on their sustainability. Nina Johansson sets out what the challenges can be – and how they can be overcome As with so many chapters in human history, it takes war to facilitate lasting change. It seems that it has happened once again with the tragic events in…
Investing in infrastructure: best practice from Bilbao to New South Wales
Governments around the globe have focused on infrastructure investment as part of efforts to bounce back from the coronavirus pandemic and address climate change. How can government maximise the benefits from such projects? Experts take a look at six projects from around the world and share five key lessons Governments have turned to infrastructure development…
UK chancellor Rishi Sunak must ensure the cut to foreign aid is temporary
Opinion: As the UK retreats from its pledge to spend 0.7% of GDP on overseas aid, the public finance professionals’ body CIPFA is urging ministers to revive the commitment as soon as possible. The organisation’s chief economist Jeffrey Matsu makes the case This week’s Spending Review in the UK was a significant step towards recognising…
Opinion: The irony of Greek debt and German demands
Rob Whiteman, chief executive of the Chartered Institute of Public Finance and Accountancy (CIPFA), argues that German demands on Greece’s finances are somewhat insincere When Wolfgang Steiger wrote an open letter to Angela Merkel’s CDU party he did not mince his words. Steiger is president and general secretary of the German CDU’s Wirtschaftsrat – the governing…
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Discover independent research reports, surveys and in-depth studies from Global Government Forum and knowledge partners, exploring the most important issues facing governments and the public sector. Our research provides practical insights and evidence-based recommendations for senior civil servants, policymakers and public sector leaders. Our reports combine exclusive survey data, expert analysis and interviews with government leaders from around the world to help public sector organisations improve performance, inform policy and deliver better outcomes for citizens.
Empowering Public Servants to Make Confident, Informed Decisions with Data and AI
Governments around the world are working hard to extract – and act upon – the insights held in their vast data stores, and to embrace AI and the promise it holds for innovation and transformation. At the same time, economic pressures and constrained budgets are compelling public servants to do more with fewer resources, while governments are called to respond quickly and effectively to complex challenges.
Against this backdrop, data and AI can help those working in government both to streamline their workflows and make fast, informed decisions. This in turn drives efficiency and can unlock productivity gains – and ultimately lead to improved performance and better services for citizens.
Global Government Forum surveyed over 600 civil servants worldwide to understand how data and AI are being used in government decision-making and where there are further challenges and opportunities.
Read this report for insight into how governments are using data and AI in decision-making today and the potential for the future; the major challenges to using data and AI in decision-making and how to overcome them; and how AI agents can be used in decision-making.
The report includes examples of data and AI in decision-making from countries including the UK, Ireland, Australia, Canada, Singapore, the US, and more.
(Published September 2025)
Making Government Work: Five Pillars of a Modern, Effective Civil Service
Around the world, governments are dealing with substantial challenges – from economic stagnation to the transition to net zero, military conflicts and cyber threats. Governments are also grappling with shifting geopolitics and the rise of populism – and all of these factors are set against the emergence of new technologies, including generative AI, which have the potential to fundamentally transform every aspect of society, but which also pose huge ethical, security and regulatory questions for the public sector.
The Making Government Work: Five pillars of a modern, effective civil service report was undertaken to help identify the key characteristics needed in a modern public service, with priorities ranging across leadership, digital service delivery, workforce development, cross-departmental integration, and citizen trust.
This report has been covered by publications around the world including the Financial Times, BBC Radio 4’s PM programme, Ottawa Citizen, Fed Manager, the Mandarin and the i newspaper.
(Published August 2024)
The Future of the Finance Ministry
From setting tax rates and financial regulations that create the ground rules for national economies, to allocating – and tracking – spending for public services, finance ministries occupy an essential role at the centre of government. Geopolitical crises have reinforced the importance of finance ministries, as they tackle both immediate shocks and long-term trends such as ageing populations, the digital transition, and the impact of moves to net zero.
Against this backdrop, this global research explores what the future finance ministry looks like and how to prepare for it.
Based on interviews with 10 senior leaders from finance ministries – led by John McCarthy, chief economist in Ireland’s Department of Finance, working with Ian Hall, editor, Global Government Finance, and Richard Johnstone, executive editor, Global Government Forum – the study identifies four key themes: the evolving role of the finance ministry in response to uncertainty; the shift to more flexible finance systems that support outcomes; digital transformation and the growth of AI; and the battle for talent and trust.
(Published May 2026)
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