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Government CIOs expect IT budgets to increase in 2026, with digital sovereignty a rising priority
Over half (52%) of government CIOs outside the US expect their IT budgets to rise next year, according to a new survey by consulting firm Gartner. The research finds that government IT investments are expected to increase despite overall budget pressures, which Gartner puts down to “governments recognising their transformational potential for modernising public services…
Canadian government IT agency flags digital risks and opportunities
In a briefing for Joel Lightbound, minister of government transformation, public works and procurement, leaders at Shared Services Canada (SSC) have outlined key challenges and opportunities for government digital transformation. Lightbound’s appointment was announced in May, expanding the job title, which was previously minister of public services and procurement. In transition materials published in August,…
UK government agrees deal with Google to tackle legacy tech
The UK government has agreed a deal with Google Cloud to phase out old public service contracts and to provide civil servants with the technology skills they need. The partnership was announced at Google’s Cloud Summit in London by the UK technology secretary Peter Kyle, who said the agreement would give public sector organisations the…
UK developing data tool to track cloud spend across government
The UK’s Government Digital Service (GDS) is developing a ‘cloud cost data solution’ to give a central picture of the total usage and spend on cloud services across the public sector. The UK public sector currently spends more than £1bn (US$1.36bn) each year on cloud solutions, and this is expected to continue to increase as…
Looking skyward: how governments are moving from cloud-first to cloud-smart
Cloud computing offers numerous benefits – but governments must ensure that its use is effective in providing rapid, secure, and stable access to digital services. At the Global Government Digital Summit, digital leaders explained how Governments are beginning to save serious money by shifting to cloud services – but the benefits of adopting cloud go…
Efficient automation and digital-first design: The year ahead with Scott Jones, president of Shared Services Canada
In this ‘Five Minutes With’ series, we interview senior civil servants about their achievements in 2024 and goals for the year ahead. This interview features Scott Jones, president of Shared Services Canada. What was your organisation’s top achievement in 2024? Shared Services Canada’s top achievement in 2024 was turning the Application Hosting Strategy into a reality,…
People and money: Unlocking new opportunities from vital government assets
Workday was created to disrupt the market for HR and finance software. The company’s cloud-based, AI-enabled HR and Finance software is an increasingly popular choice for both businesses and public sector organisations wanting to transform these vital functions. The company’s vice president for the UK and Ireland, Daniel Pell, talked to Global Government Forum about…
How artificial intelligence can unlock ‘frictionless’ government
John Abel, director in the Office of the CTO at Google Cloud sets out how artificial intelligence and technology can remove toil from the work of civil servants – and how government can make progress on implementation The workloads faced across government are increasing. Demand is growing, as are expectations from users, who want public…
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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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