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Australia has set new expectations for AI data centres – they should serve the public
The Australian federal government released new expectations for data centres and artificial intelligence (AI) infrastructure. The message is simple: if companies want faster federal approvals, they must show their projects are in Australia’s national interest, support the clean energy shift, use water responsibly, create local jobs, and build local capability. The government states it will…
Digitising Europe’s economies through Digital Country Partnerships
Governments across Europe have bold aspirations when it comes to harnessing technology to advance the digital transformation of their economies. The EU’s Digital Decade policy programme aims to equip 80% of the bloc’s population with “basic digital skills”, 90% of SMEs with a “basic level of digital intensity”, and deliver 100% of “key public services” to citizens…
Tech strategies not being matched by investments, UN report finds
While governments around the world are recognising the importance of technology in building a green, sustainable future, too many are spending only small sums on research, a UN report has found. The UNESCO report, The Race Against Time for Smarter Development, warns that “many countries remain dependent on foreign technologies and expertise” when taking advantage of…
Governments’ vital role to help small businesses flourish in a post-COVID world
Two things that united us during the pandemic were the recognition that small businesses are the lifeblood of our communities, and our collective determination to keep them afloat. They are key to economic vitality – and must be at the center of strategies to jump-start national economies in the emerging post-COVID-19 economy. But in our…
OECD launches new policy framework to support sustainable economic recovery
Countries emerging from pandemic-driven economic crises can steer their economies toward a more sustainable future by focusing policy reform on resilience, facilitating reallocation of resources, and better support for people adapting to change, according to a new report from the OECD. “The pandemic is a painful reminder that the nature of our past growth was…
Scotland launches AI strategy with a focus on ethics and inclusion
The Scottish government has set out plans to focus on ethics and inclusion in its use of artificial intelligence (AI) within the public sector, publishing an AI strategy that maps out a set of new bodies and governance structures. Scotland aims to become a centre of expertise in “trustworthy, ethical and inclusive AI”, the strategy…
Singapore grants non-banks access to e-payments infrastructure
Singapore’s central bank is opening up its retail payments infrastructure to non-banks from February 2021 to simplify e-payments for consumers and businesses. The Monetary Authority of Singapore (MAS) announced on Monday that non-bank financial institutions (NFIs) licenced as “major payment institutions” under Singapore’s Payment Services Act will be eligible. This means they have passed checks in areas…
Why and how governments should help small businesses to ‘build back better’
An international panel explored how governments have a key role to play in driving economic resilience and digitisation among small businesses during the unprecedented challenges brought about by the pandemic. Small businesses are being disproportionately impacted by the economic damage of COVID-19 – and governments should maintain momentum to help with their digitisation – according…
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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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