Foreword

Governments are increasingly faced with complex, multidimensional policy challenges that require whole-of-government coordinated responses across multiple sectors. They are also confronted by multiple, successive crises including the COVID-19, inflation pressures and Russia’s war of aggression against Ukraine. In this new global context, governments need to strengthen their resilience to unexpected shocks, while also delivering on immediate priorities and long-term commitments, and ensuring the high quality and continuity of public services.

Prior to the current set of crises, the Czech Republic had managed to keep inequalities at a low level and citizens expressed a generally high satisfaction with the delivery of key public services. During the recovery phase of the COVID-19 crisis, the Czech Republic has, as in many OECD countries, had to weather the effects of the war in Ukraine that bears economic and social challenges, from inflation to energy insecurity and inflows of refugees putting additional pressure on social services and public finances. Decarbonizing and digitalising the economy remain major crosscutting challenges ahead for the country, despite recent efforts particularly in curbing greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions. Against this backdrop, increasing the effectiveness and modernising the public administration in the Czech Republic can enhance the quality of public services to citizens across the entire territory, encourage a more citizen-centred and digital administration and help address crosscutting challenges.

The OECD Public Governance Review of the Czech Republic assesses the capacities of the public sector and supports the government in engaging in ambitious public governance reforms under the aegis of its Public Administration Reform Strategy 2030, “Client-Oriented Public Administration 2030”. The review points to priority areas for reform at the national and local levels that encompass citizen engagement, strategy and policy coordination, digitalisation, evidence-informed policymaking, civil service and the public administration at regional and local levels. The report also examines the COVID-19 governance arrangements and resilience to future shocks. Based on this analysis, it provides recommendations on promoting an inclusive, evidence-based, efficient and resilient approach to public governance at all levels of government. The recommendations aim to support the delivery of better results and services for citizens and reinforce citizen engagement and their trust in public institutions.

The evidence and data collected for this Review contributes to the OECD‘s broader programme of work on effective, innovative, fit-for-the-future and digitally-enabled government and citizens-centred services, and on reinforcing trust in government. The OECD stands ready to further support the Czech Republic’s ambition towards a better public administration, notably through the implementation of the recommendations of the Review.

This publication is funded by Iceland, Liechtenstein and Norway through the EEA Grants.

The publication was approved and declassified by the Public Governance Committee on 17 March 2023 and prepared for publication by the Secretariat.