Video Message
Eagle Square, Abuja, Nigeria
Excellencies,
Distinguished delegates,
It is an honour to address the International Civil Service Conference.
An effective national civil service is the bedrock of sustainable development. It provides the essential institutional capacity to design sound policies, manage public resources, and deliver equitable services to all citizens.
While the global discussions are centered around the financing gap, we must be equally mindful of the constraints posed by the limit in public sector capacity.
Today, the scale of the global financing challenge is undeniable. Developing countries face a significant financing gap estimated at more than 4 trillion US dollars annually.
Many countries are navigating increasingly difficult conditions: debt service in developing countries reached a 20-year high in 2024; Official Development Assistance fell by 23 per cent last year; and Foreign Direct Investment declined for a second consecutive year in 2025.
The Sevilla Commitment, adopted at the Fourth International Conference on Financing for Development last July, provides a vital roadmap to navigate these challenges.
However, without capable institutions, the mobilization of capital alone cannot unlock development outcomes. Financing is necessary, but public sector capacity is the engine.
This reality is clearly reflected in the Sevilla Commitment. Member States have committed to both increasing financing and strengthening governance through greater transparency, accountability, and multi-level coordination.
The Sevilla Commitment also emphasizes the need to strengthen institutional and public sector capacity by doubling support for domestic revenue mobilization, modernizing tax administration and registration, investing in digitalization, and empowering public development banks to channel long-term investment aligned with sustainable development priorities.
Excellencies,
Distinguished delegates,
Sustainable development is fundamentally about state capacity. The ability of governments to design and implement sound policies determines whether resources yield transformative outcomes or fall short.
This capacity is defined by three primary dimensions.
First, policy coherence and strategic planning. Without effective coordination and planning, governments struggle to align budgets with SDG priorities. Whole-of-government approaches ensure that investment decisions are strategic and serve a long-term purpose.
Second, public financial management and accountability. Transparent budgeting, procurement, and oversight require capable civil servants who are trained, motivated, and empowered to act with integrity.
Third, frontline service delivery and implementation. The SDGs are realized in schools, hospitals, and local communities. We must close the implementation gaps by addressing personnel shortages, weak systems, and limited local autonomy to innovate.
To meet this demand, we must focus advance four priorities:
1. Center capacity in development strategies. Governance reforms must be prioritized as the critical enabler of all other investments.
2. Align international support with country-led institutional reforms, focussing on public financial management, civil service modernization, and local capacity building.
3. Leverage digital transformation to build capacity. Digital technologies can enhance efficiency, transparency, and service delivery, but only if effectively integrated into broader governance frameworks.
4. Embrace context-specific solutions. Public sector capacity must be strengthened in ways that are inclusive and resilient; there is no one-size-fits-all model.
As leaders, practitioners, and custodians of the public good, the civil service community is at the forefront of global transformation.
Your work is what enables governments to deliver on promises, uphold rights, and build a sustainable and equitable future.
I wish you a successful conference.
Thank you.