Governance in the Public Sector Book

Prepared by Dr. Tariq Al-Hosary

The book, "Governance in the Public Sector," addresses governance in the public sector, focusing on indicators and practices in Egypt from 2006 to 2021. It was prepared by Dr. Tarek El-Hosary, a national expert and lecturer at the National Academy for Combating Corruption.

Summary of the book Governance in the Public Sector

The book Governance in the Public Sector begins by explaining that governance (Governance is a relatively modern concept that originated in the context of corporate governance, but has expanded to include the government sector. Governance means managing institutions efficiently and transparently, ensuring accountability, the rule of law, and combating corruption. It is based on a set of basic principles, such as:

Transparency (Transparency): Making information available and making clear decisions.
Participation (Participation): Involving citizens and civil society in decision-making.
AccountabilityAccountability: The subjection of institutions to legal and administrative accountability.
Rule of lawRule of Law: Adherence to laws and their implementation with justice.
Anti-corruption (Anti-Corruption: Reducing corruption through good laws and practices.
Response (Responsiveness: The ability of a government to meet citizens' needs quickly and efficiently.
JusticeEquity): Guaranteeing the rights of all citizens without discrimination.
Efficiency and effectivenessEfficiency & Effectiveness: Achieving the best results with the least cost and resources.

Transfer of governance from the private to the public sector

Governance was initially associated with managing companies to ensure shareholder rights and prevent financial manipulation.

Governments have begun to embrace governance as a means of improving the performance of state institutions and ensuring good management of public resources.

The World Bank was one of the first to push for the implementation of governance in governments, especially in developing countries.

Over time, governance has become an international standard by which countries' efficiency in managing economic and social affairs is measured.

In 1989, the World Bank began promoting the concept of governance in the government sector, especially in developing countries, where the concept of good governance was linked toGood Governance) by managing public resources efficiently and transparently.

The book Governance in the Public Sector explains that in Egypt, the concept of governance began to gain traction in the early 2000s, but it did not become a clear government policy until the legislative and administrative reforms that the country witnessed after 2006.

The book, "Governance in the Public Sector," highlights the reforms Egypt has adopted in this regard, such as:

Civil Service Law reforms, which aim to improve the performance of the state's administrative apparatus.
Strengthening the role of oversight bodies, such as the National Anti-Corruption Commission and the Central Auditing Organization.
Launching digital transformation programs aimed at digitizing government services and reducing administrative corruption.

Governance in Egypt during 2006-2021

The book "Governance in the Public Sector" examines the extent of governance implementation in the Egyptian public sector during this period, as the country witnessed major transformations, such as economic and legislative reforms.

Egypt has introduced a number of laws that support transparency and accountability, such as the Civil Service Law, anti-corruption laws, and public funds protection legislation.

Oversight bodies, such as the National Anti-Corruption Commission, have been established, and the role of oversight agencies such as the Central Auditing Organization and the Administrative Control Authority has been strengthened.

Egypt has improved on some international governance indicators, but it still faces challenges in combating corruption and achieving full transparency.

The book, "Governance in the Public Sector," provides an analytical perspective on the extent of governance implementation in the Egyptian public sector, highlighting the gaps between legislation and actual practice. It also emphasizes the need to achieve transparency, enhance accountability, and strengthen oversight institutions to ensure sustainable development, attract investment, and enhance citizens' confidence in government.

The book, "Governance in the Public Sector," is an in-depth study that explores the concept of governance, its development, and its impact on the performance of public institutions. It specifically focuses on analyzing governance applications in Egypt during the period from 2006 to 2021, reviewing the challenges and opportunities the country faced in this area.

The book Governance in the Public Sector also reviews the role of international organizations such as the World Bank and the OECD (The OECD has been developing governance standards, as these organizations have begun issuing reports and indicators that measure countries' commitment to governance principles, such as the World Governance Indicators (WGI), which address areas such as political stability, the rule of law, government efficiency, and the quality of regulatory frameworks.

Governance indicators and Egypt's performance at the international level

The book, Governance in the Public Sector, analyzes Egypt's position on a number of global indicators that measure the quality of government administration, including:

World Bank Governance Index (WGI)It measures the efficiency of governments in managing public resources, combating corruption, and the rule of law.

Transparency International Anti-Corruption Index:Which measures the extent to which countries adhere to international anti-corruption standards.

Global Competitiveness Index:which determines the extent to which countries are able to achieve sustainable economic development.

An analysis of the Governance in the Public Sector book shows that Egypt has made progress on some indicators, but still faces challenges in areas such as transparency, responsiveness to citizens' needs, and improving the efficiency of public administration.

Recommendations of the book on governance in the public sector to improve government performance

In the final chapter, the book Governance in the Public Sector presents a set of recommendations aimed at improving government performance and strengthening governance principles, including:

Enhancing transparency by expanding the scope of digital transformation:So that all government decisions and actions are published publicly, making it easier for citizens to understand government policies.

Applying good governance standards in ministries and government institutionsBy setting clear performance indicators for each government institution.

Encouraging civil society and private sector participation in oversight of government performanceTo ensure that policies are implemented in a fair and effective manner.

Improving anti-corruption legislation:To ensure that laws are implemented more strictly, and to reduce the gap between legislation and actual implementation.

Strengthening the independence of regulatory bodies:So that it is not affected by political pressures, which ensures the integrity of the oversight and accountability processes.

The book "Governance in the Public Sector" concludes that governance is not merely a set of rules, but rather an integrated approach to improving government performance, ensuring sustainable development, and enhancing citizens' confidence in the state. Egypt has made significant strides in this area, but it still needs further reforms to ensure effective governance that achieves efficiency, transparency, and fairness in the management of public affairs.

The book, Governance in the Public Sector, is an important reference for understanding how governance principles are applied in developing countries, particularly in Egypt. It provides a model for evaluating government performance and identifying the next steps toward comprehensive administrative reform.

You can download the Governance in the Government Sector book directly from here.