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Each UK government department gets dedicated delivery unit in latest civil service reform
A dedicated delivery unit is to be formed in every department in the UK government in an effort to build capacity across the civil service. Darren Jones, the chief secretary to the prime minister Sir Keir Starmer, said the approach would be flexible depending on the needs of departments, but that there was a need…
UK government creates new ‘future civil service’ role to lead on transformation
The UK government has created a new senior role focused on leading civil service and workforce reform. Jerome Glass has been appointed to the new role of director general, future civil service, and will focus on improving delivery, innovation, productivity, culture and pride across government. Announcing the move, Glass said that he will be leading…
New UK cabinet secretary responsibilities include developing ‘curious and engaged civil service’
The key responsibilities of the new UK cabinet secretary Antonia Romeo have been published by government, highlighting the priorities for the year ahead include acting as the prime minister’s principal policy adviser and leading an impartial, curious and engaged civil service. The objectives have been agreed with UK prime minister Sir Keir Starmer and published…
Civil Service AI & Data Challenge finalists revealed
Four teams have been selected to go through to the Civil Service AI & Data Challenge finals, in which they will compete for £50,000 worth of digital product development to bring their ideas for improving government through the use of data and artificial intelligence to life. The Civil Service AI & Data Challenge is…
UK cabinet secretary to help cut government ‘sludge’ as new measures announced
The UK government has launched a new programme with the aim of clearing up the ‘consultation culture’ that traps government in outdated regulations and overlapping consultations. Under the programme, ministers will work closely with the new cabinet secretary Antonia Romeo to speed up decision-making and tackle government “sludge”. A series of immediate measures will be…
Rewiring Whitehall: what 170 years of reform say about the civil service’s next chapter
From Victorian meritocracy to mission-led government, UK civil service reform has never been a single event. Instead, it has evolved in waves, and the latest push to ‘rewire the state’ looks like the next turn in a long institutional cycle For over 170 years the British governments have wrestled with a deceptively simple question: How…
Global Government Summit and Leaders’ Forum to examine challenges faced by civil services around the world
Global Government Forum’s flagship annual event for the world’s most senior public servants will return to Singapore next week with a focus on helping public service navigate global uncertainty, and drive improved government delivery. This year’s Global Government Summit, which will take place on 20-22 January, will bring together the most senior civil servants from…
AI skills for public servants, tackling fraud in government, and building transformation capability: GGF’s top webinars of 2025
Global Government Forum’s regular webinars share insight on how governments around the world are tackling the range of issues they face – from undertaking transformation to deliver more responsive services that meet citizen expectations to using artificial intelligence to make government operations more efficient. Here, we round up some of GGF’s most popular webinars of…
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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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