The United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC) hosted a virtual ceremony on 6 July 2022, to officiate the handing over of equipment and funds to the Office of the Public Service Commission, as part of their assistance towards outreach and advocacy work under the Public Administration Sector, with particular focus on strengthening governance and integrity.
The project document notes that this assistance aligns with the government’s medium and long terms strategies, including the Pathway for the Development of Samoa (PDS) and Samoa 2040.
The Chairman of the PSC, Lauano Vaosa Epa, received and acknowledged the assistance from the UNODC, which consisted of a new computer, and funds to procure a new conference system for the Office. Lauano, in her remarks, highlighted several unprecedented challenges encountered by the public sector as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic, which included limitations in having the right technological tools to ensure business continuity across government agencies during nation-wide lockdowns.
Adding that the PSC were fortunate to have partners such as the UNODC who stood ready to provide assistance to meet this technical gap, but more importantly, to help PSC deliver.
UNODC was represented by Marie-Laure Pegie Cauchois – Regional Anti-Corruption Adviser for the Pacific, who stressed the importance of technology as an enabler and transformer of socioeconomic development. Cauchois noted that the UN recognizes the potential of digital technologies as a strategic driver of, and a strategic tool for development. Furthermore, she highlighted that this assistance will support the PSC and the Public Administration Sector in promoting client-centered, results- oriented, technologically driven service delivery.
The Public Administration Sector Plan 2020/2021 – 2024/2025 emphasizes the importance of digital transformation in government as an avenue to improve efficiency and accessibility for our people, as well as promoting ethical practices and combating corruption.
