Public administration is the bedrock of government and the central instrument through which national policies and programmes are implemented. In an ideal world, public administration is guided by principles of fairness, accountability, justice, equality and non-discrimination, and the civil service should serve as a model where women and men equally participate and lead, including in decision-making.

However, globally, this is not yet the reality and, despite the fact that the internationally agreed target of a minimum of 30 percent women in leadership positions applies equally to public administration as it does to politics, women remain underrepresented in decision-making in public administration. In many developed and developing countries, public administration often remains a patriarchal institution, perpetuating gender-biased traditions, attitudes and practices.

In response to these challenges, UNDP's Global Initiative on Gender Equality and Public Administration (GEPA) was developed, with two key priorities:

(i) Supporting women’s empowerment and expanded participation and leadership in the executive branch of the state; and

(ii) Contributing to the availability of up-to-date information on gender equality in public administration and of evidence and analysis to facilitate informed policy and decision-making on the subject. 

This Project Brief provides an overview of the GEPA Initiative and selected case studies. 

Learn more about the UNDP Global Initiative on Gender Equality and Public Administration (GEPA).

 For more information, read about: 

• Helen Clark at a UNDP event on Women, Excellence, and Public Service in June 2014. 

Additional publications on GEPA include: 

• GEPA Global Report 
• GEPA Project Brief available in English | French | Spanish 
• GEPA Case Studies