devolved government Articles
NEED MINI SPONSOR LOGO
If Levelling Up is to work, then it must meet the needs of a green economy
Later today, the UK Government will publish its Spring Budget, hot on the heels of last month’s Levelling Up White Paper. Many questions remain about how levelling up will be fiscally achieved and align with the development of our green economy. The most recent IPCC Report on Impacts, Adaptation and Vulnerability paints a truly sobering…
Moving mindsets and offices: how to successfully relocate civil servants
The UK government has pledged to move 22,000 civil service jobs out of London by 2030 as part of its ‘levelling up’ agenda. At a recent webinar, experts discussed the benefits of the approach and insights on how to make it work “If you’re only working with a group of people who largely live and…
Opinion: Ministerial errors have undermined the UK’s pandemic response
The latest Whitehall Monitor report reveals just how badly ministers have handled the COVID-19 crisis, failing in key areas such as procurement and working with local authorities, argues Richard Vize The annual analysis of Whitehall by think tank the Institute for Government reveals how the response to the COVID-19 pandemic has been repeatedly undermined by…
Government must be more ambitious on devolution and investment to ‘level up’ the UK
The government needs to invest more in people – not just infrastructure – and distribute power away from the centre to address regional inequality, writes Anna Round of the Institute for Public Policy Research A year after UK prime minister Boris Johnson and his Conservative party won the general election on a manifesto that pledged…
Elected representatives return to Northern Ireland Assembly
Civil servants in Northern Ireland are to once again work under the direction of elected leaders, three years after the province’s government was dissolved. The stalemate between the region’s two main political parties was broken after the British and Irish governments agreed a deal on Friday – which includes extra funding, and the promise of…
UK signals greater powers for Northern Ireland civil servants
The UK government intends to give civil servants in Northern Ireland greater powers to make decisions in the absence of local elected leaders, the Westminster administration’s minister for the province has announced. Northern Ireland minister Karen Bradley also said last week that she will bring forward legislation to create a limited period during which the…
UK issues ‘final deadline’ for Stormont deal
Northern Ireland secretary James Brokenshire has given Sinn Fein and the Democratic Unionist Party a final warning after months of wrangling, insisting that they must agree a new power-sharing deal by Monday 30th October or control of Northern Ireland’s budget will be handed back to Westminster. The ultimatum came as former US President Bill Clinton…
devolved government Events, Conferences & Summits - In-Person
devolved government Webinars
devolved government Research
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)
devolved government Training Courses
Partnerships
Partner with us to connect with senior government leaders, policymakers, public sector professionals and the organisations shaping the future of AI in public services.
Our partnership opportunities are designed to facilitate meaningful collaboration, knowledge sharing and engagement across the public sector. Whether you are a government department, local authority, public body or industry organisation, we help you share expertise, showcase innovation and contribute to the responsible adoption of AI across public services.
Join the devolved government Community
Be part of the growing community shaping the future of AI across government and the public sector.
Sign up to receive the latest AI news, research, events, webinars and practical insights from GGF and our partners. You'll be the first to hear about new reports, conferences, networking opportunities and thought leadership from government and industry experts.
Latest News
