1 Challenges of innovation in public services in Small Island States Graham Hassall 12 th Pacific Public Service Commissioners’ Conference Niue 16-17 September 2015 Pacific Island Centre for Public Administration (PICPA) This paper highlights some factors driving public sector innovation in the Pacific Island Countries (PICS). One predominant influence has been the global trend away from traditional forms of ďuƌeauĐƌatiĐ iŶstitutioŶs aŶd ďehaǀiouƌ, toǁaƌd ŵodules of Ŷeǁ puďliĐ goǀeƌŶaŶĐe aŶd Ŷeǁ puďliĐ seĐtoƌ, ǁhiĐh plaĐe eŵphasis oŶ ƌespoŶsiǀeŶess to ĐitizeŶ ĐoŶĐeƌŶs aŶd oŶ the deliǀeƌLJ of results. Another global driver of innovation is the application of ICTs – information and communication technologies – to the conduct of government (eGovernmeŶtͿ. IŶ PaĐifiĐ IslaŶds’ ĐoŶtedžt these gloďal tƌeŶds, ĐoŵďiŶed ǁith ĐuƌƌeŶt edžpeĐtatioŶs ĐoŶĐeƌŶiŶg deepeƌ ƌegioŶal iŶtegƌatioŶ, ƌeƋuiƌe ĐeŶtƌal ageŶĐies – and PSCs in particular – to set clear goals for innovation. One constraint, however, is that innovation can only succeed to the extent that public sector institutions are already performing well. The next stage for public sector development in PICs should focus on refining institutional settings and on their efficient functioning. This, in turn, requires refinement of feedback mechanisms and shared knowledge management platforms.