What is governance and what do we mean by good governance?
Governance in the Public Sector
Governance as a term is one that is regularly mentioned but rarely defined. Although it is something many know, it can often be tricky to define in a simple way.
In general terms, it’s the system of rules, processes, and institutions that ensures a government and public organisations function effectively, transparently, and accountably.
In simpler terms, it’s about making sure the government and its organisations use public resources wisely and delivers on its promises to the people it serves.
Here’s a breakdown of why good public sector governance is important:
- Effective Service Delivery: Proper or ‘good’ governance ensures smooth operation of government agencies, leading to better public services like education, healthcare, and infrastructure.
- Transparency and Accountability: Citizens deserve to know how their taxes are being spent. Good governance promotes open communication and holds officials responsible for their actions.
- Reduced Corruption: Clear rules and procedures make it harder for corruption to take root, fostering public trust in the government.
So, what are the key principles of good public sector governance? Here are a few:
- Accountability: Government officials should be answerable to the public for their decisions and actions.
- Transparency: The public has a right to know what the government is doing and how it’s spending money.
- Participation: Citizens should have opportunities to voice their concerns and participate in decision-making processes.
- Rule of Law: Everyone, including government officials, is subject to the law.
- Effectiveness and Efficiency: The government should strive to deliver services in a way that is both effective and efficient.
By upholding these principles, governments can create a system that works for everyone. Good governance is an underlying principle to all the training courses and consultancy services provided by the International Centre for Governance and Policy. Our courses address how to strengthen management systems, implement strategic decision-making and planning, and foster greater transparency and accountability. Applying these principles across public sector activity and services results in greater outcomes for citizens, businesses and wider society.
See if you can spot how governance is embedded to our series of training courses here. For a more bespoke training offering for your team or organisation, you can visit this page or contact us here.
Interested in learning more? Check out resources from organisations like the OECD (Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development) for their insights on Public Sector Governance and Institutions https://www.oecd.org/governance/.