It will highlight and discuss strategies for empowering civil servants to drive digital transformation in public administration, ensuring sustainable, inclusive, as well as human rights and evidence-based governance by bringing together senior policymakers, industry leaders, academia, and civil society.

Background

Digital transformation in the public sector is essential for modernizing public service delivery, enhancing transparency, fostering citizen participation, and ensuring secure data-driven decision-making. However, the public sector often lacks the capacity to support digital transformation due to insufficient digital competencies, outdated infrastructure, and legal or institutional frameworks that do not support innovation. This capacity gap is a significant roadblock for governments aiming to harness the potential of digital technologies and bridge the digital divide.

About the Conference

In this context, UNESCO is organizing the Conference on Capacity Building for AI and Digital Transformation in the Public Sector, to be held at UNESCO Headquarters in Paris, France, on 4–5 June 2025. This conference will address critical capacity-building needs for public sector officials related to artificial intelligence (AI), digital technologies, and data governance. 

The conference aims to:  

• Empower Public Administrations: Fostering an environment conducive to digital transformation through enhanced digital competencies among civil servants, including through fostering a network of Schools of Public Administration for Digital Transformation.

• Foster Knowledge Exchanges and Partnerships: A platform for sharing experiences and best practices, promoting mutual learning and collaborative approaches with a diverse range of stakeholders on AI, data governance, and digital transformation in the public sector.

• Enhance Global Digital Cooperation: Strengthening global digital cooperation and advancing global frameworks and standards, coordinating with the private sector, governments and UN entities to provide input to the WSIS+20 review. 

Coinciding with World Environment Day on 5 June 2025, the conference will also emphasize the urgent need for sustainable AI and digital transformation, and the role of technology in advancing greener digital ecosystems.  

The event will align itself with broader global processes including the implementation of the Global Digital Compact, while also providing input to the WSIS+20 review through exploring a reinvigorated and forward-looking WSIS 2.0 vision. 

Conference Format 

Organized over two days, the conference will bring together a diverse range of participants, including representatives from national schools of public administration, government officials responsible for ICT policy and implementation, and experts from international organizations, development banks, and intergovernmental agencies.