Introduction to the UNDP Global Centre for Public Service Excellence Astana, December 2014

Singapore and UNDP  Partnership since 1960s, successes with econ policy / urban devt.  Rejuvenated partnership since 2011: Joint publication “Virtuous Cycles: The Singapore Public Service and National Development”  GCPSE operational since 01/2013  Government of Singapore co-funds programme and seconds staff  10 staff & full time consultants, 2 project consultants target: 15 (incl. 2 UNDP staff focused on Anti-Corruption)

Our Ambition  The Global Centre for Public Service Excellence is UNDP’s catalyst for new thinking, strategy and action in the area of public service, promoting innovation, evidence, and collaboration.

Theme s Motivation Leadership Innovation Foresight

Evidence Hub  Distilling academic research and innovative practice

Convening Hub  Bringing together thinker-practitioners for knowledge sharing events that inspire new thinking, influence strategy and provide insights for taking action.

(1) Public Service Post-2015  PSP-2015 – Restoring the Public Service Ethos (July 2014) ASEAN focussed event, organised with the Singapore Government  Public Service Excellence and the Post 2015 Agenda (Nov 2014) Global Workshop, organised with the Effective Institutions Platform  to consider the research, evidence and knowledge needs;  to explore alternative futures, potential opportunities and risks;  to agree on peer learning priorities (Learning Alliances).

(2) Public Service Innovation Lab  Social Innovation Camp Asia  Southeast Asia: 7 countries / 8 cities (Sep – Nov 2013)  Regional Summit in Singapore (Nov 2013)  Consultation on the Co-Design of Public Policy and Services (Dec 2013)

(3) foresightXchange  Multi-country prototyping of methods & tools  Considers utility and potential linkages of foresight in various public service environments (at country level)  Explores how foresight can best help public service to improve resilience and adaptability  Asks how to best develop capacities to apply foresight methodologies in strategic planning and risk management  Tonga foresightXchange (07/2014)  3 rd UN Conference on SIDS (09/2014)  Rwanda foresightXchange (10/2014)

Outlook / What’s ahead? Convening  foresightXchange & establishing the hub on Public Service Foresight;  High-level event on leadership in the public service, connecting the dots between our various strands of research;  South-South Learning among peers;  Joint events with partners (e.g. Astana Civil Service Hub, Asian Development Bank, Inter-American Development Bank, Commonwealth Local Governance Forum, OECD-DAC)

Outlook / What’s ahead? Evidence Building  Increased collaboration with UNDP’s Regional Bureaus through a joint research initiative (incl. Eastern Europe & CIS)  use of innovative tools for the continuous analysis of large volumes of qualitative data & underlying meanings (contributed by respondents)  research project will engage civil servants and service users / citizens in a scanning network around key themes in public service excellence  expected outputs: emergent patterns & data analysis provides insights at country-level and globally

Outlook / What’s ahead? Networks  Effective Institutions Platform – GCPSE to take on Co-Secretariat function with the OECD-DAC: Interest among institutions in this region to join the 64 member platform and to become active as a member/convener?  foresight practitioner network – with ADB (Asia), ECLAC (LAC), EC (European Union), etc.

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