Africa: Tanzania to Host United Nations Public Service Day Celebrations

By Eunice Kilonzo

Dar es Salaam---The United Nations Public Service Day celebration is currently being held in Tanzania’s largest city, Dar es Salaam from June 20 to 23 are expected to be attended by more than 500 delegates including the United Nations Under-Secretary-General for Economic and Social Affairs. Ministers, government officials, representatives from civil societies, intellectuals and private sectors, representatives of various regional and international organizations are expected to attend, according to Acting Permanent Secretary in the President’s Office, Public Service Management; Mr Hab Mkwizu.

This is the first time the UN Public Service Awards will be commemorated concurrently with Africa Public Service Day. To mark this special event and leading up to the Awards Ceremony on 23 June, a series of capacity-building workshops, a ministerial roundtable will also be held at the Mlimani City Complex. This year’s focus is “Transformative Leadership in Public Administration and Innovation in Governance: Creating a better life for all.”

Mr Mkwizu said the event is jointly coordinated by his office, the United Nations Department of Economic and Social Affairs (UNDESA) and the African Union Commission (AUC).

“This year’s event will be part of celebrations to mark the country’s 50th independence anniversary. Highlights of the celebrations include weeklong public service exhibitions at the Mnazi Mmoja grounds which will involve various African countries,” he said.

Mr Mkwizu said more than 160 institutions in Tanzania, including independent departments, government agencies and Dar es Salaam municipal councils will take part in the exhibitions.

“About 50 institutions from abroad are also expected to participate,” said Mr Mkwizu adding that there will be also a special symposium.

 “By showcasing and sharing with each other what works, countries can learn from each other, drawing inspiration from success stories and replicating successful experiences in public service,” said Mr. Sha Zukang, UN Under-Secretary-General for Economic and Social Affairs.

The UN Public Service Awards reward the creative achievements and contributions of public service institutions that lead to a more effective and responsive public administration in countries worldwide. The winners of the UN Public Service Awards are selected from the finalists in each category and region by the Committee of Experts on Public Administration, and recognized for their achievements on the last day of the Forum. This also coincides with UN Public Service Day and Africa Public Service Day. The UN General Assembly designated 23 June as UN Public Service Day to “celebrate the value and virtue of service to the community”. The programme has grown dramatically over the last two years, with the number of nominations increasing by 44 per cent in the past year.

The winners of the award are from the following countries: 1st place winners: Brazil, Canada, Colombia, Egypt, India, Mexico, Oman, Poland, Portugal, Republic of Korea, Slovakia, South Africa, Tanzania, Thailand; 2nd place winners: Dominica, Egypt, Netherlands, Oman, Peru, Portugal, Republic of Korea, Romania, Saudi Arabia, Thailand, Tunisia, United Arab Emirates.

In Tanzania the MKURABITA programme enabled the country to win an award. Basically, MKURABITA is a property and Business Formalization Programme meant to formalize all small businesses and properties of the poor people. The programme aims at empowering the majority of poor people in the country by increasing business opportunities towards development of a strong expand market economy. Poor people can for instance access bank loans after registering their unplanned residences for titles deeds. The programme was first initiated on 30th September 2003 by former President Honourable Benjamin William Mkapa and has since benefited thousands of slum and rural residents around the country.

On December 20, 2002, the United Nations General Assembly designated June 23 of each year as United Nations Public Service Day (resolution 57/277). It encouraged member states to organize special events on that day to highlight the contribution of public service in the development process. This day was created to celebrate the value and virtue of public service to the community; highlight the contribution of public service in the development process; recognize the work of public servants; recognizes that democracy and successful governance are built on the foundation of a competent civil service and encourage young people to pursue careers in the public sector.