Ubuntu philosophy in times of crises: COVID-19 pandemic period and beyond

Ubuntu philosophy promotes the welfare of collective society and the maintenance of human dignity and is commonly cited in African literature. This concept has been defined and applied by various scholars with a specific focus on public leadership, but there is considerable benefit in thinking about this more broadly in relation to public administration and management. This is especially the case when we draw on experience and lessons from the COVID-19 pandemic. This chapter explores public management challenges across Africa and makes the case for an expansion of the application of Ubuntu principles in public management theory and practice in response to the challenges that the pandemic has raised. Key questions examined include: what are the defining attributes of Ubuntu philosophy and how can it be adopted to develop ideal public servants who can be resilient during the pandemic period and beyond? What are the antecedents and consequences of entrenching Ubuntu philosophy to develop future ideal public servants? This chapter underscores the importance of Ubuntu as a more collective approach to public management in how we define the notion of the public servant beyond the COVID-19 pandemic.