The UN Public Service Day celebrates the value and virtue of public service to the community. It highlights the role and contribution of public service in the development process, recognizes the work of public servants, and encourages young people to pursue careers in the public sector.
The United Nations established the UN Public Service Awards (UNPSA) programme in 2003, which was reviewed in 2016 to align with the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development. The UNPSA aims to promote and reward innovation and excellence in public services by recognizing the creative achievements and contributions of public institutions that lead to effective and responsive public administration in countries worldwide in support of sustainable development.