Georgia’s Civil Service Embraces Innovation to Respond to COVID-19

As the COVID-19 pandemic transforms all areas of public, private and business life, Georgia’s civil servants gathered online for their third forum on 24 April 2020 to discuss how innovation can help them cope with the crisis and set a new agenda for the future.

Attended by over 70 participants from the Parliament, the President’s Administration and the ministries, the online forum was organized by the Civil Service Bureau of Georgia with assistance from the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) and the governments of the UK and Sweden.

“Civil servants from different public entities got together in an inspirational and friendly environment to discuss innovations,” said Civil Service Bureau Head Catherine Kardava. “Their ideas and solutions are critical for improving civil service and ensuring its efficiency and transparency.”

“Georgia’s public administration has long been a pioneer in re-inventing public services in ways that are most convenient to citizens,” said UNDP Head Louisa Vinton. “This approach gives Georgia a head start in adapting to the restrictions on movement and social contact imposed to fight the pandemic. UNDP is pleased to support civil service innovations aimed at turning COVID-19 challenges into opportunities.”

The forum participants discussed remote work technology that ensures that the public sector can operate effectively during the lockdown. They noted that some of the tools, like teleconferencing, proved so effective that they can continue to be used even after the pandemic, and suggested to carry out a workload survey to identify what part of their work can be performed through regular telecommuting.      

The discussion at the forum also addressed innovative approaches to public service design and delivery shaped around people-centred service models, design thinking and new technology. UNDP Innovations Specialist Khatuna Sandroshvili reflected on the theory and good practices of new-age public services designed for and with people. She also shared UNDP’s worldwide experience in supporting countries to foster innovation in public service.

The Civil Servants’ Forum is a communication platform that brings civil servants together to discuss emerging issues, share best practices and develop a common vision for future development. At the two previous in-person gatherings, in December 2019 and February 2020, Forum participants discussed civil service from the standpoints of professional career and communication. The Forum meetings will continue until the end of 2020, focusing on critical areas of the ongoing reform, including a merit-based civil service, professional development of civil servants and green civil service.

The reform of the civil service, launched by the Government of Georgia in 2014, is one of the key areas of the ongoing Public Administration Reform aiming to introduce a professional merit-based civil service and strengthen policy planning and implementation in Georgia. With funds from the UK and Swedish governments and in close collaboration with the Civil Service Bureau and other state agencies, UNDP has been supporting the Civil Service Reform since 2016.