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Is DEI a spent force, or could it be revived by merit?
‘As governments worldwide face increasing scrutiny over diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) policies, how should they react, and could a merit-focused approach offer a more sustainable DEI future?’ ask Andrew and Nada Kakabadse, professors of leadership and governance at Henley Business School The recent executive order by US president Donald Trump to dismantle DEI policies…
US unions urge Congress to protect federal staff from Trump bid to strip employment protections
Congressional leaders have been urged to pass a bill that would block future governments from resurrecting a Trump-era bid to strip career federal employees of their civil service protections, in a letter signed by nearly 50 unions and good government advocates. In the letter, signatories pressed Congress to pass the Preventing a Patronage System bill…
All change at the UK’s Civil Service Commission
Four new civil service commissioners have been appointed to the independent statutory body that oversees appointments to the UK civil service, and a fifth is being sought to replace outgoing lead commissioner Ian Watmore, whose five-year term has expired. Paul Kernaghan is a former chief constable who went on to spend eight years at…
Trump clamps down on diversity training
President Trump has issued an executive order banning government contractors from providing employees with certain forms of diversity training. The order forbids what it calls “divisive concepts”, such as training sessions based on “race and sex stereotyping and scapegoating”. The order prohibits training that implies that the US is a racist or sexist nation; that…
Crisis response: an interview with Sir Suma Chakrabarti
Suma Chakrabarti, the former UK permanent secretary and EBRD chief, sees opportunities as well as risks amidst the COVID crisis; but western governments, he warns, are fumbling their response. Matt Ross asks his views on global leadership and civil service reform – and learns why he didn’t apply to become UK Cabinet secretary The vast…
Unions vow to continue fighting White House moves to undermine workers
White House attempts to undermine federal employee rights and union power are wasting government resources and have made it harder to protect worker safety during the COVID-19 pandemic, according to the National Federation of Federal Employees (NFFE). NFFE was responding to the publication of a 2017 memo which revealed the origin of many of president…
How inequality fosters instability: top civil servants on tackling the ‘populist backlash’
When people feel that the game of life is fixed, they lose trust in leaders and institutions – resorting to protests and populists. At the 2020 Global Government Summit, top civil servants from 17 countries explored the roots of public discontent and debated how to promote ‘inclusive growth’. Matt Ross reports “Everywhere you look in…
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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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