New programme to promote best practice and service delivery The African Union, NEPAD and the 5th Conference of Public Service Ministers announce the first annual Public Sector Innovation Awards in Africa.

The programme recognises and rewards the successes of public servants and their partners in the private sector as well as in the non-profit sector who have succeeded in developing innovative solutions for service delivery and for challenges facing governments.

The awards aim to promote and encourage best practice in innovation in the public sector and in service delivery, and will recognise effective service delivery projects, as well as initiatives completed by implementing innovative approaches, methodologies and tools.

They also provide opportunities for information sharing, learning, partnerships and the possible replication of successful initiatives across the African continent.

The closing date for entries is 30 November 2007.

The project must come from Africa or must be largely developed in Africa.

Projects must be of direct benefit to citizens of a particular country or to the African continent.

The awards are open to individuals or to units within government services, to parastatal services, and to partnerships between public organisations, private and/or community organisations or to community organisations.

The project must operate within the public sector.

The project must already have been in existence for at least two years.

Prizes will be awarded in the following categories : Innovative improvements in service delivery :

To improve service delivery to citizens and to stakeholders outside the government OR

To improve internal efficiency in the public sector

Innovative partnerships between the state, the private sector and civil society organisations :

Involving creative partnerships that have produced better than expected results

Creating sustainable relationships between the government and other social partners through approaches other than participation and consultation

Innovation in governance systems and processes :

Projects that focus on the creation of responsible, transparent and ethical public services and that value the contribution and participation of citizens.

Selection criteria

Innovation :

Project reflects an idea or a concept already successfully implemented within the context of the public sector in Africa. This does not mean that the approach must have been used in the context for which it has been proposed

It must be ‘new’ for the country or for the community concerned.

Impact :

Project shows tangible improvements in the quality of services delivered to target groups, and shows the client’s level of satisfaction with the services delivered.

Can show a considerable impact either in the original organisation, or in the sector, or in the general public area.

Shows positive and considerable impact in a country or in the whole continent.

Sustainability :

Project must be in force for at least two years in the public sector.

Has shown its capacity for being carried out, therefore a growing implementation momentum should be evident.

Has shown its sustainability, in other words its ability to survive and to prosper in the future (economically and from other points of view). The social, economic and environmental impacts of the innovation on the external environment should support and promote overall sustainability.

Advantages of participating Three big prizes for the winners in each category.

The main award proposed in each category consists of assistance in publishing and marketing a case study of each winning project. The projects will be published in continental and, where possible, international journals that publish articles on the public service and public administration.

All winners will receive a trophy as the prize for Public Sector Innovation in Africa.

The runner-up in each category will receive a certificate in recognition of the success of the project.

All finalists will be invited to attend the prize-giving ceremony ; travel and accommodation costs will be borne by the sponsors.

Automatic entry for two prestigious awards – CAPAM and UNPAN.

Publicity : it is expected that all finalists and winners will give interviews on their projects.

Advice and rules for entry Entry forms should preferably be stapled, rather than bound.

Submissions must be in English, Portuguese, French or Arabic.

Entry forms must be correctly filled in and as much information and detail as possible must be furnished.

Hand-written submissions are not desirable, but where this is unavoidable, you are requested to write legibly.

Entry forms can be sent by post or by fax, or they can be hand-delivered at the Office of the President of the 5th Pan-African Conference of Public/Civil Service Ministers, at the following addresses and for the attention of Ms Dudu Mthembu :

Postal address :

Department of Public Service and Administration P.O. Box X 916, Pretoria 0001 (South Africa) Fax : +27 (0)865 161 725

At this stage, it is not necessary to furnish any supporting material or documents. The judges may need these during the verification process.

Samples (videos, publications, brochures, CDs/DVDs) will not be returned.

Awards are not transferable.

The judges and their associates will not enter into any discussion on submissions.

Information furnished on the entry form and during the verification process is protected by law.

No costs related to the submission, including the postage-due stamp, will be borne by the AU or by NEPAD.

Judging process

Entries will be judged by a panel of appointed judges.

The judges’ decision is final and no correspondence will be entered into.

If necessary, project leaders will be contacted for the verification process either by means of e-mail, or telephone, or in a face-to-face interview and/or an on-site inspection.

The judges reserve the right to change the category of an entry, if deemed appropriate.

Administration

Receipt of all entries will be acknowledged with the allocation of a reference number.

In case of non-receipt of a reference number within seven (7) working days, contact Ms Dudu Mthembu. Source : NEPAD, september 7, 2007

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