Transformation of the administration

Demographic change is leading to a change in the structure of work in public authorities. The number of employable people will go down, the workforce will become older and more heterogeneous, and it will become much more difficult to recruit newly qualified staff in competition with the private sector. In addition to demographic change, various changes (e.g. the introduction of new technologies to convert analogue processes into digital ones) and new tasks, as well as the digital transformation itself (i.e. the adaptation of entire business processes or models to reflect the digital changes) are leading to new ways of working in public authorities, which mandate that employees adapt quickly to these changes. The development of skills needs to be planned proactively to ensure the performance of the administration in the future. The project builds on this need by focusing on skills planning and development in public administrations. The aim of the project is to develop a basic methodological model for forecasting tasks and the associated skills requirements, which is specifically tailored to the differentiation in levels and tasks in public administrations.

The project is part of the reforms initiated by the Act to Strengthen Children and Youth (KJSG) passed in 2021. It serves to support local authorities that need to restructure their administrative structures within this framework. On behalf of the Federal Ministry for Education, Family Affairs, Senior Citizens, Women and Youth (BMBFSFJ), the National Institute for Public Administration Germany is supporting a pilot test of new administrative structures in the field of integration support for children and young people with disabilities in three model communities until December 2027. The reorganization of responsibilities aimed at inclusion requires administrative adjustments on the part of local authorities. The NIPAG has already developed the prerequisites for administrative structural reform and practical implementation guidelines for local authorities – in the form of roadmaps and handouts – as part of two previous projects. The current project aims to support local authorities by deepening the handouts and by gathering information about the progress of the reform.

How is AI used and regulated in public administration? The project “AI and AI Compliance in Public Administration” provides clarity on its use, challenges, and existing regulatory framework.

Hybrid threats pose significant challenges to free and democratic societies. The NIPAG examines which administrative cooperation mechanisms best fit to tackle this phenomenon.