Mindset Shift Key to Building a Modern and Citizen-Centered Public Service in Africa

Addis Ababa, June 23, 2025 (FMC) – The 10th Africa Public Service Day, underway in Addis Ababa, has brought together experts and stakeholders who underscored that strengthening civil servant competencies and shifting institutional mindsets are critical to transforming public service delivery across the continent.

Held under the theme “Enhancing the Agility and Resilience of Public Institutions to Achieve Equitable Governance and Rapidly Address Historical Service Delivery”, the forum entered its second day of deliberations, focusing on the urgent need to modernize Africa’s public institutions.

Sara Hamouda, Continental Governance Officer at the African Peer Review Mechanism (APRM), highlighted that a capable and professional civil service is key to institutional transformation. She noted that embedding democratic values, human rights, justice, and the rule of law within public service requires strategic human resource development, strong leadership, and continuous professional training.

“Improving results-based management, financial oversight, equitable revenue systems, and investment in digital governance are all essential to raising the competency and accountability of civil servants,” she said. Hamouda also stressed that sustained and continent-wide training initiatives are vital to equip civil servants with the tools to navigate an increasingly dynamic and demanding global landscape.

Echoing the call for deeper reform, Christina Rodriguez-Acosta, Inter-Regional Advisor at the UN Department of Economic and Social Affairs (UN DESA), Division for Public Institutions and Digital Government, emphasized that a fundamental shift in mindset is essential to build institutions that are not only effective, but also responsive, inclusive, and future-focused.

“A transformed public service begins with mindset,” she said, “as it underpins institutional effectiveness, policy coherence, and digital transformation, while fostering transparency, integrity, and accountability.”

Rodriguez-Acosta explained that today’s public servants must be prepared to make decisions amid uncertainty, adapt rapidly to changing circumstances, and innovate while maintaining a strong focus on outcomes that genuinely impact citizens’ lives.

“Keeping the broader picture in mind—including citizens’ needs—requires reflection, critical thinking, and a commitment to real-world results,” she noted.

The 10th Africa Public Service Day continues to serve as a platform to assess progress, share best practices, and reinforce Africa’s commitment to building resilient, efficient, and people-centered public institutions.