Due to ongoing travel restrictions from the COVID-19 pandemic, the Public Sector Strategy Network has shifted to hold its meetings online, and to examine how governments from different countries have adapted their long-term strategic thinking in response to the changing circumstances.
The disruption created by the COVID-19 pandemic has put increased strain on the ability of governments to carry out their roles effectively in a world already facing increasingly complex challenges from shifting public expectations, political unrest, and budget cuts. As a participatory, intelligence-gathering, and medium- to long-term process, strategic foresight is inseparable from discussions about the future of government and is integral to developing the skills and expertise of public servants around the world. Primarily concerned with looking forward, learning from the past and present is an important part of any strategic planning process.
The third in the series of programs addressing governmental responses to the COVID-19 pandemic featured Antonella Mei-Pochtler, Special Advisor to the Austrian Chancellor, who discussed insights from Austria's experience. She highlighted strategies the Austrian government has used during the last year, as well as how these continue to evolve to take into account new developments, with an eye to future planning to emerge from the crisis. Senior representatives from Denmark and the United Arab Emirates joined her for these discussions.
The Public Sector Strategy Network connects expertise across sectors and regions to address long term macro trends and immediate priorities. Members of the Network:
Participation in the online program is strictly limited by invitation only, including existing Network members, to facilitate open exchange of ideas among senior officials in an intimate and confidential manner.
Participants will explore how different governments are responding, what strategies they have used, and which have been most effective. There will be ample time for questions and engagement.
Connect senior leaders and rising talent in government in an environment of trust and open exchange to foster new relationships, continued support and future partnerships
Facilitate active ongoing peer-to-peer learning through the sharing of examples of best practices and lessons learned from system failure and recovery, as well as reflections on the Retreat itself
Provide the opportunity for participants to collaborate and develop new skills that can be directly applied to their current work and organizations, supporting intrapreneurship in public sector culture
Develop together a framework for useful ongoing information sharing, opportunities for further cooperation, and external resources to help each other anticipate challenges and reimagine the design, delivery, and funding of core services and more effective communication with citizens, civil society and business.