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Reforms and Investments

Transforming the Human Resource function in the French public service

Supporting reforms to reinforce efficient and high quality public administrations

Funding Programme
Year
  • 2024

Transforming the Human Resource function in the French public service

The European Commission supports France’s Directorate General for Administration and the Civil Service (DGAFP) in transforming the Human Resource (HR) function. The Technical Support Instrument support provides diagnostics, benchmarking, tailored recommendations, and implementation tools, including strategic workforce planning and scenario planning. The project aims to strengthen HR as a strategic function and deliver a more agile, skilled, and resilient public workforce aligned with digital, green, and managerial transitions.

Context

The project responds to EU priorities on digital and green transitions and public sector resilience. The French public service faces growing pressure to adapt to technological change, climate imperatives, and evolving management practices. Yet the HR function remains fragmented and largely administrative, limiting its ability to anticipate workforce needs and support transformation. The project addresses these gaps by promoting an HR function capable of setting direction, building capabilities, and cooperating across the public service.

Support delivered

The project, funded by the European Union through the Technical Support Instrument, has been implemented by the OECD in cooperation with the European Commission and DGAFP in France between September 2024 and March 2026. It includes a kick-off meeting to develop a common understanding of the project scope and methodology, followed by an inception report establishing the analytical framework. The OECD conducted surveys and fact-finding to produce a diagnostic analysis of the HR function, complemented by a comparative study and international workshop in Paris. Building on these, the OECD has developed tailored recommendations and provided implementation support to develop a strategic workforce planning dashboard and scenario planning. 

Results achieved

The project has strengthened the DGAFP’s capacity to position the HR as a more strategic function across the public service. It delivered a comprehensive diagnostic and international benchmarking, clarifying strengths, gaps, and future skill needs for the HR function. These insights have directly informed two milestone reports produced by France in the course of the project: a ‘projet stratégique’, redefining DGAFP’s role, and a ‘revue stratégique’, which explores workforce needs and public service adaptation. The project supports more coherent workforce planning and policy alignment. Expected impacts include an enhanced ability to anticipate major transitions and adapt the public service accordingly.

Useful links

  1. Lancement du projet « transformation de la fonction RH au service des transitions managériale, écologique et numérique des administrations publiques » | Le portail de la fonction publique
  2. La DGAFP lance son projet de "transformation de la fonction RH" de... 

More about the project

You can read the documents related to the project here: