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The UN Public Service Awards: Commonwealth winners from 2013 Division for Public Administration and Development Management, UNDESA The United Nations Public Service Awards (UNPSA) reward the creative achievements and contributions of public service institutions to a more effective and responsive public administration in countries worldwide. UNPSA categories for 2013 were: 1) preventing and combating corruption in the public service; 2) improving delivery of public services; 3) fostering participation in public policy-making decisions through innovative mechanisms; 4) promoting whole-ofgovernment approaches in the information age; and 5) promoting gender-responsive delivery of public services. Through an annual competition, the United Nations Public Service Awards programme promotes the role, professionalism and visibility of public service. It encourages exemplary public service and recognises that democracy and successful governance are built on a competent civil service. Forty-seven public organisations from 28 countries were awarded with the most prestigious recognition of excellence in public service on 27 June 2013, in commemoration of the United Nations Public Service Day, celebrated every year on 23 June. Eleven of the winners are from Commonwealth countries. Below are brief project descriptions of the 11 initiatives: For preventing and combating corruption in the public service India Initiative: Mass Contact Programme (MCP) Institution: Chief Minister’s Office The Mass Contact Programme (MCP) was implemented in the local government of Kerala, India (a state located in the south-west region of India on the Malabar Coast with a population of 33,387,677). Before the MCP was started, there was a low follow-up rate on complaints received from citizens. Characterised by high bureaucracy, the state faced efficiency challenges and a very low response rate, which led to a large volume of complaints. The senior government officials did not entertain complaints about government officers properly and people had limited options for solutions to their problems with public services. This led to the piling of files in various departments and government secretariats, with 132,000 files pending with the secretariat Commonwealth Governance 82 Handbook 2013/14 by mid-2011. The MCP was launched in 2011, with a primary objective of combating red tape and bureaucracy in the administration. It enabled interaction between the people and the government by encouraging them to approach the government directly to get their concerns addressed without delay or corrupt practices. The chief minister of Kerala state visits each town and organises massive events where people can address their queries personally. By going directly to the people and ensuring direct access to decision makers, the programme has improved accountability in the state. The initiative has reduced the time usually taken to respond to complaints and actions and has fast-tracked problem solving in the state. For improving the delivery of public services South Africa Initiative: Communal Ablution Blocks for informal settlements Institution: E’ Thekwini Metropolitan Municipality Water and Sanitation Services Informal settlements in Durban, with an approximate population of one million people, had inadequate provision of water and sanitation services. With an ever-increasing influx of people searching for employment opportunities, the city became crowded with shack dwellers living in unhygienic and hazardous conditions. An estimated 150,000 families occupy 417 informal settlements in eThekwini. Standpipes and water tanks are the main sources of water supply, whilst open defecation, pit latrines or Ventilated Improved Pit (VIP) latrines are the most common sanitation options, creating environmental pollution and making residents vulnerable to water-borne diseases. Women and children walk long distances in poorly lit areas to obtain water or use toilets, making them vulnerable to crime. The municipality has designed an effective solution known as the Communal Ablution Blocks (CABs). These are modified shipping containers, with showers and flush toilets. Lighting is provided at night and improves the safety of users, particularly women and children. The CABs are connected to the municipal sewer


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