The Ministry of Public Service and Gender was created under the reorganisation of the national government in November 2015. The reorganisation placed the then Directorate of Public Service Management and the State Department for Gender Affairs under the Ministry. Executive Order No.1 of 2020 (Revised) created two State Departments in the Ministry namely State Department for Public Service and State Department for Gender.
The Ministry was reconstituted and renamed the Ministry of Public Service, Gender and Affirmative Action in September 2022 following the takeover of a new administration.
The Ministry provides policy direction and management of the human resource function in the public service and the promotion of gender equity and equality and the empowerment of women.