AUC celebrates 9th APSD

Addis Ababa, June 21, 2023 (FBC) – The Department of Political Affairs, Peace and Security (PAPS) of the AU Commission (AUC) in collaboration with the Government of the Republic of Zimbabwe is celebrating the 9th Continental Africa Public Service Day (APSD).

The 9th APSD is being celebrated under the theme “The African Continental Free Trade Area (ACFTA) will require a fit for purpose African public administration to succeed” from  21-23 June 2023 in Victoria Falls, Zimbabwe.

It is stated that APSD emanates from the declaration of the first Pan-African Conference of Ministers of Public and Civil Service held in Tangier, Morocco in 1994, the Ministers agreed that 23 June every year should be set aside and dedicated as Africa Public Service Day to “recognize the value and virtue of service to the community”.

The 23 June has since become an entrenched strategic event on the calendars of both the African Union (AU) and United Nations (UN). The APSD has since assumed a measure of popularity and is celebrated annually at National level and biannually at continental level.

The celebrations are expected to generate activities to produce multifold, progressive and lasting outcomes. The celebrations will be marked by presentations of topical papers mainly reflecting on the role of the public service and its capacity to perform.

Participants are drawn from the AU Member States, including organizations active in the sphere of public administration, universities, the private sector, media and other non-state actors.