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UN warns against ‘one-size-fits-all’ policy for government digital services
Governments around the world are making progress on the provision of online services for citizens, according to a United Nations (UN) report on digital government, but a one-size-fits-all transformation policy risks excluding disadvantaged groups. The UN’s E-Government Development Index (EGDI) ranks 193 UN member states based on the scope and quality of online services. Denmark,…
‘No analogue jobs’: building cross-government digital capability
The COVID-19 pandemic created huge demand for digital skills within governments, accelerating an existing global trend. But building a government-wide digital profession is no simple matter. At a recent GGF webinar, Liz Heron heard leaders discuss how it should be done and the best management strategies to follow When Geoff Huggins took his first civil…
International GovTech maturity “lower than expected”, says World Bank
Despite increasing investment across the world, GovTech maturity is “lower than expected” in most countries and digital citizen engagement lacking, research from the World Bank has found. While most governments have developed core online systems, such as open-data portals and countrywide ICT infrastructure, these systems are often “fragmented and disconnected” and lacking automated data exchange.…
Collaboration, education and legislation: how governments are tackling online harms
Governments across the world are racing to balance the needs of online freedom and openness with those of safety and security. At a recent GGF webinar, experts from Europe and Asia explored how policy-makers are responding to the challenge. Adam Branson reports “It’s not easy, but what is the alternative? We cannot throw up our…
Mastercard Trust Center
The prevalence of cyberattacks as a threat for SMEs has grown significantly. With the new Mastercard Trust Center, governments can help SMEs stay secure online with free online access to trusted cybersecurity research, education, resources and tools. Help defend SMEs aganist cyberattacks, access the Mastercard Trust Center today.
Canadian government suspends online services after cyberattack
Thousands of user accounts for online government services have been hacked, the Canadian government confirmed at the weekend. The cyberattacks, first reported by CBC News, targeted GCKey and Canada Revenue Agency (CRA) accounts. The GCKey authentication service, used by 30 federal departments, allows citizens to access services such as employment insurance, veterans’ benefits and immigration…
Australia’s digital ID project delayed
The Australian government’s plan to integrate its myGovID digital identity with the myGov service platform has been delayed, after a trial uncovered usability concerns. The digital ID will replace myGov’s existing two-factor authentication system, allowing citizens to verify their identity when applying for passports, driver’s licences, Medicare cards and other documents, as well as to…
The restorative power of tech: an interview with Spain’s digital agency chief, David Cierco
For years David Cierco, head of the Spanish Red.es digital unit, made steady progress on improving the country’s public services and supporting its businesses. Then came coronavirus, and an emerging consensus that digital tech is key to Spain’s response, recovery and resilience. Pablo Jiménez Arandia meets him Spain has had a tough pandemic. Together with…
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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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