Dear Reader,

We are pleased to present the 21st Edition of the International Journal of Civil Service Reform and Practice, featuring three analytically grounded contributions that explore contemporary pathways for strengthening public administration through management innovation, continuous learning, and merit-based reform. Together, the articles offer empirical evidence and reflective perspectives on how civil services are responding to growing complexity, digitalization, and evolving governance expectations.

The issue brings together an analysis of project management as a tool for modernizing public administration in Kazakhstan by Gulnar Issenova, an examination of peer-to-peer learning as a driver of lifelong learning and governance transformation in the CIS region by Diana Sharipova, and a comparative retrospective on merit-based civil service reform drawing on international experience by Tinatin Khidasheli. Collectively, these contributions address complementary dimensions of reform - managerial instruments, learning ecosystems, and the foundational principles of merit, professionalism, and institutional integrity - and aim to inform ongoing policy dialogue among researchers, practitioners, and decision-makers engaged in civil service reform across diverse contexts.

The Editorial Team