State reform and modernisation - Our work and impact

Our work in state reform and modernisation centres around two strategic aims: 

1. Support state reform - We work with our partner countries at various levels with a particular focus on strengthening and modernising the civil service; improving public services through the use of digital technology; and strengthening public policy management, interministerial coordination, and change management. In so doing, we facilitate restructuring, update legal frameworks, streamline procedures, and foster better relations between administrations and users.
2. Support decentralisation and devolution - We support the transfer of administrative powers from central government to local authorities, or the delegation of resources and decision-making powers from central administrations to decentralised government services. These actions bring citizens closer to public policy, bring public action closer to the ground, guarantee local democracy, and support the modernisation of public services.

France has reaffirmed its commitment to state reform and modernisation and the fight against corruption by adopting Law 2021-1031 of 4 August 2021 on development cooperation and the fight against global inequalities, and by publishing France’s Anti-Corruption Strategy in Its Cooperation Action (2021–2030). This has resulted in closer coordination within Team France and the establishment of a clear course of action. We work closely with public institutions, including the Interministerial Digital Directorate (DINUM), the Directorate-General for Administration and the Civil Service (DGAFP), the National Institute of Public Service (INSP), and the Directorate for Legal and Administrative Information (DILA).

We are also working towards achieving the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), and SDG 16 in particular, which aims to “promote peaceful and inclusive societies for sustainable development”, with a particular focus on the quality of institutions and trust in institutions.

Our services relating to state reform and modernisation in our partner countries focus on two main areas:

• The fight against corruption: This is a central component of the rule of law and a necessary condition for respecting human rights. As such, the fight against corruption is a key priority in ensuring the effectiveness of our actions. We are therefore eager to share France’s technical expertise in the fight against corruption with our partner countries in order to 1) strengthen citizens’ trust in institutions, 2) combat inequality, impunity, and all obstacles to the realisation of human rights, and 3) enable states to provide high-quality public services with transparency, accountability and efficiency.