Beirut-Rabat, 2 July 2026--The United Nations Economic and Social Commission for Western Asia (ESCWA), in partnership with the Ministry of Digital Transition and Public Administration Reform of Morocco, concluded the Third Arab Regional Public Administration Modernization Forum with the Rabat Declaration, a ministerial communiqué on Innovation for Future-Ready Governance, which will serve as a shared political compass for reform priorities across the Arab region.
Held under the theme "Governance Innovation for Future-Ready Public Administration" on 30 June and 1 July, the Forum brought together ministers, senior policymakers, heads of civil service commissions and reform agencies, digital government authorities, public administration institutes, regional and international organizations, development partners, academics, and innovation experts from across the region and beyond to exchange experiences and identify practical approaches to advancing public administration reform.
"What makes this Forum different is the shared realization that no single country can innovate in isolation," ESCWA Executive Secretary Rania Al-Mashat emphasized in her closing remarks. "South-South and triangular cooperation, regional mechanisms, and sustained partnerships with ESCWA, regional organizations, development partners, academia, and the private sector are essential," she added.
Held at a time when Arab governments are navigating rapid technological transformation, climate-related challenges, demographic shifts, fiscal pressures and rising citizen expectations, the Forum explored how governance innovation can strengthen institutional resilience, improve public service delivery, and build more inclusive, responsive and future-ready public institutions.
"Innovation is fragile. It can be undone by political cycles, budget pressures, or institutional inertia," Al-Mashat underscored. "Our responsibility is to institutionalize what we have started. As we leave Rabat, let us not return to business as usual. Let us return as agents of innovation. Let's measure success by trust restored, public service delivery improved, and institutions strengthened for the current and the next generations," she urged.
The Forum also featured a keynote address by ESCWA titled "Reinventing Government in an Era of Complexity and Uncertainty," which examined how public institutions can adapt to accelerating global disruptions. Discussions underscored the importance of agile, innovative and resilient governance models capable of leveraging digital transformation to improve decision-making and public service delivery.
In her opening remarks, Minister of Digital Transition and Public Administration Reform of Morocco Amal El Fallah Seghrouchni had emphasized that the Forum reflected a shared commitment to placing public administration at the heart of development processes and leveraging it to bolster trust in institutions, consolidate good governance, and expand the horizons of Arab cooperation in a sector that directly impacted the daily lives of citizens.
She added that the quality of public administration became a fundamental benchmark for measuring the effectiveness of public policies, as well as the State's capacity to mobilize resources, achieve development, and anticipate future needs. She stressed that the Forum was an opportunity to exchange expertise, share successful experiences, and formulate shared visions grounded in the specificities of the Arab region while remaining open to international best practices.
Over the course of the Forum, participants strengthened further the Regional Network on Innovation in Public Administration, facilitated by ESCWA, as a regional platform for peer learning, technical assistance, and knowledge exchange.
Discussions were organized around four strategic pillars: institutional and organizational innovation; digital and data-driven governance; human capital and leadership for innovation; and anticipatory and participatory governance.
