UN DESA’s Division for Public Institutions and Digital Government (DPIDG) embarked on a transformative journey through various strategic initiatives. 

UN DESA/DPIDG enhanced its expertise by adopting an agile and growth mindset, leveraging digital technologies, and hiring new staff with data analytics skills. It empowered youth and fostered their leadership skills; attracted talent with cutting-edge skills, adopted a nimbler structure and emphasized co-creation. 

UN DESA/DPIDG's transformative culture, commitment to innovation, creativity, and collaborative efforts have brought about positive change, both internally and externally, contributing to the UN’s efforts in capacity development work to accelerate the Quintet of Change and sustainable development.

UN DESA/DPIDG has designed and implemented its capacity development work by addressing in an integrated way data governance, innovation in public service delivery, digital government, strategic foresight, and behavioral science through changing mindsets. It has supported Member States through the Curriculum on Governance for the SDGs, a set of training of trainers' toolkits on topics of the Quintet of Change. It has also developed 23 strategy guidance notes to implement the 11 Principles of Effective Governance for Sustainable Development prepared by the Committee of Experts on Pubic Administration and endorsed by ECOSOC.

Enhancing Data-Driven Decision-Making and Data Digital Governance
Internally, DPIDG is leveraging data expertise to streamline processes and capture results. It has created a Member States’ request database, a repository that enables real-time insights retrieval, and a dashboard. It has harnessed the Member States request database to build an Artificial Intelligence assistant, providing context-aware responses and developed a Capacity Development Snapshot that provides a comprehensive overview of its annual activities by leveraging data.  

Externally, DPIDG is supporting Member States to build their capacities for effective data governance through several activities, including the Global Forum on Data Governance and Digital Transformation. Working with UN Resident Coordinator Offices (RCOs) and UN Country Teams, it is supporting Member States in addressing challenges and gaps in digital data management and cooperation.
 

Fostering Innovation for Building Capacity 
DPIDGs strengthened its innovation capacity development work by leveraging internal expertise and knowledge sharing, supporting Member States with new capacities for innovation in public service delivery and changing mindsets. Experiments with new approaches foster a supportive environment for trial and error, translating ideas into practical, effective solutions. 

Among other activities, DPIDG is supporting Caribbean SIDS to enhance their capacities to promote new mindsets in support of digital transformation and innovation for stronger public institutions. It also spearheads an annual flagship capacity development event on innovation in public governance, namely the UN Public Service Forum and Awards.

Digital Solutions and Digital Government Capacity Development
DPIDG provides capacity development support to Member States at the national and local levels to promote digital government transformation. 

Internally, DPIDG developed digitally enabled solutions to ensure its services broadly reach the Member States, including by developing 7 online training courses, webinars and supporting online the RCOs  to deliver capacity development activities on the ground. DPIDG’s courses achieved remarkable success on the UN DESA e-learning platform.  

Strategic Foresight for Effective Policymaking
DPIDG organized capacity development workshops on strategic foresight to help implement sound policymaking and strengthen anticipatory governance.  It also developed Strategy Guidance Notes to operationalize the Committee of Experts on Public Administration principle of sound policymaking, including strategic planning and foresight and risk management frameworks. In 2023, the Division provided substantive contributions to 13 Common Country Assessments and UN Sustainable Development Cooperation Frameworks. 

Promoting Behavioral Science and Mindset Change
DPIDG conducted research and analytical work and pioneered the 1st publication on Changing Mindsets in Public Institutions. It also developed 10 training of trainers’ toolkits, including a toolkit on changing mindsets as part of the Curriculum on Governance for the SDGs, along with a competency framework to support  Member States make better decisions and deliver impactful services. The Curriculum’s training toolkits cover topics such as innovation, digital transformation, systems thinking, and changing mindsets, and have found application in numerous countries.

Country Examples 
In 2023, the Division implemented 9 capacity development projects and organized 30 capacity development workshops. It also organized global forums and symposia. All in all, the Division trained over 13,000 people.  DPIDG also spearheads 5 knowledge and practitioner networks. The Division’s activities are presented in its Capacity Development Snapshot.

Implementing the African Union-United Nations Framework for the Implementation of the AU-Agenda 2063 and the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development, DPIDG has trained over 300 senior civil servants from 40 African countries to help them advance both the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development and AU Agenda 2063.

In Guyana, DIPDG facilitated the establishment of an Inter-ministerial Steering Committee for public sector transformation, trained officials on changing mindsets, data governance, digital government, systems thinking, strategic foresight and innovation.

In Lao PDR, the DPIDG's support resulted in the commitment to set up an Inter-ministerial Steering Committee for innovation and effective service delivery, as well as the implementation of the first pilot digital One Door Service Centers. 

Mauritius has witnessed an increase in its capacity for strategic foresight, aiding the government in envisioning the future and developing scenarios on critical topics such as climate change. 
 

In Pakistan, working together with the National School of Public Policy, DPIDG trained future public servants on the mindsets and behavioral changes required for SDG achievement, integrating DPIDG’s innovative mindsets toolkit into the school's curriculum. DPIDG is also supporting the government of Chitral, the largest district in the province Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and a pilot case, covering all strategic priorities of the Pakistan UNSDCF by strengthening its capacities in strategic foresight. 

In Namibia, DPIDG's work played a pivotal role in the adoption of a national roadmap for the institutionalization of evidence-based decision-making on Climate, Land Use, Energy, and Water Systems (CLEWS). This facilitated peer learning and the exchange of best practices, assisting countries in enhancing their ability to design innovative solutions, formulate short- and long-term plans, and adapt to rapidly changing circumstances. 

In Seychelles, DPIDG has trained 20 government officials of the Ministry of Finance, National Planning, and Trade in Foresight and Systems Thinking for Strategic Planning and Financing for Sustainable Development Goals and over 220 Permanent Secretaries, CEOs and financial analysts. The Minister of Finance is committed to scaling up this approach to his Cabinet and members of Parliament. The International Monetary Fund training centers are interested to train trainers and expand UN DESA’s approach to different African countries. 

In Sierra Leone, using the CEPA principles as a guide and as a follow-up to the 2023 workshop, the Minister of Public Administration and Political Affairs convened multi-stakeholder consultations under the theme ‘Towards an Efficient, Effective and Inclusive Public Service in Sierra Leone.’  The consultations resulted in recommendations relating to revamping civil service in Sierra Leone and enhancing effectiveness and competencies of civil servants.