The United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC) has presented equipment and funding of the Public Service Commission (PSC) as part of its support for outreach and advocacy work within Samoa's public sector.

The equipment and the funding from the United Nations agency were handed over during a virtual ceremony convened last Wednesday with the UNODC saying the outreach and advocacy work being undertaken particularly focuses on strengthening governance and integrity.

The PSC Chair Lauano Vaosa Epa received and acknowledged the assistance from the UNODC which comprised a new computer as well as funds to procure a new conference system for the office. 

Lauano, in her remarks, highlighted several unprecedented challenges encountered within the public sector as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic.

She said the challenges included limitations in having the right technological tools to ensure business continuity across Government agencies during nation-wide lockdowns. 

According to the PSC Chair, they are fortunate to have partners such as the UNODC who stand ready to provide assistance to address this technical gap and more importantly help them deliver.

UNODC was represented at the virtual ceremony by Marie-Laure Pegie Cauchois, the Regional Anti-Corruption Adviser for the Pacific, who stressed the importance of technology as an enabler and transformer of socioeconomic development. 

She noted that the UN recognises the potential of digital technologies as a strategic driver of and a strategic tool for development while highlighting that this assistance will support the PSC and Samoa's public sector promote client-centred, results-oriented, technologically driven service delivery.

The Public Administration Sector Plan 2020/2021 – 2024/2025 emphasises the importance of digital transformation in government as an avenue to improve efficiency and accessibility for our people, as well as promoting ethical practices and combating corruption.

The project document acknowledged that the assistance from the UNODC aligned with the Samoa Government’s medium and long terms strategies, including the Pathway for the Development of Samoa (PDS) and Samoa 2040.