Global insights on how to keep public servants motivated
The Astana Civil Service Hub (ACSH), in collaboration with the Agency for the Development of the Civil Service under the President of the Republic of Uzbekistan, successfully held a workshop titled “Digital Change in Government: How to Keep Public Servants Motivated” as part of the 2025 United Nations Public Service Forum.
The event brought together nearly 900 participants from 46 countries, including public officials, academics, and representatives of international organizations. Their active engagement reflected the growing international interest in strategies for sustaining civil servants motivation amid ongoing digital reform efforts in government.
The workshop opened with welcome speeches by Gofurjon Mirzaev, Director of the Agency for the Development of the Civil Service of Uzbekistan, Larbi Djacta, Chairman of the United Nations International Civil Service Commission, and Alikhan Baimenov, Chairman of the Steering Committee of ACSH.
Alikhan Baimenov, underlined that motivation is a crucial driver for the development and effectiveness of public service, especially in the context of digital transformation. He also emphasized several key directions essential for building a highly motivated and adaptive civil service in the era of rapid change.
The workshop featured five keynote speakers and nine panelists from 11 countries, who shared their insights and best practices during panel discussions. Participants explored the motivational challenges faced by public servants amid rapid digital transformation. Through interactive sessions, case studies, and collaborative dialogue, speakers examined practical strategies for fostering a motivated and adaptable workforce, discussed motivational theories, and presented real-world examples of how to maintain engagement and resilience during organizational change.
At the conclusion of the workshop, a new book published by Palgrave Macmillan - Public Administration in the New Reality - was officially announced. This is the third book on public administration reform and best practices initiated by ACSH. The publication explores how global transformations-technological, societal, and geopolitical-are reshaping governance and public institutions. The book is a result of the collaborative work of 37 authors from 19 countries, coordinated by the Astana Civil Service Hub. The foreword to the book was written by the President of the Republic of Kazakhstan, H.E. Kassym-Jomart Tokayev, underscoring the significance of this publication.
The workshop also served as a platform to recognize individuals who have significantly contributed to these collaborative efforts. In recognition of her outstanding commitment to international cooperation and the promotion of effective public administration, the ACSH presented a special award to Aziza Umarova, a long-standing partner and contributor to the Hub’s initiatives.
During United Nations Public Service Forum, Mr. Alikhan Baimenov also held bilateral meetings with representatives of the authorized bodies of the civil service from Korea, Montenegro, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Serbia and Georgia. These discussions focused on expanding cooperation, sharing innovative practices, and exploring opportunities for joint initiatives in the field of public administration and capacity development.
