The global pandemic has brought into sharp focus a reality that has been growing for some time: that the current models for government are not meeting the needs of citizens. In 2020, government leaders around the world at every level have had to radically rethink how they design, deliver and regulate policies and services: challenging them to confront what government needs to DO, but more importantly how government needs to BE – the underlying beliefs, values, and principles that we will need to build back better post-crisis. Wake up with the Centre for Public Impact on 17 November by joining one of our virtual events live from Melbourne, London, and Washington, DC where we will be highlighting regional examples of government leaders who are embracing complexity, putting human relationships first, and using experimentation for learning and growth.

In the UK as elsewhere, the pandemic has hit vulnerable groups the hardest and highlighted the acute challenges they face. At CPI UK we have seen a COVID response that has demanded a new way of thinking about challenges and working collaboratively with those at the cliff edge to better understand how to resolve such complex challenges together. This has required deep listening to access those groups and communities worst affected so they have a voice in shaping what comes next.

In this session, we will explore, with partners at the frontline of the UK’s critical services, how learning and deep listening exercises have been at the heart of their response, as well as how they have transformed what they heard into action. We will engage in a live sensemaking exercise, which has been derived from methodologies such as appreciative enquiry, to help turn the key insights from frontline leaders into tangible guidance for government on what we need to keep doing, what we need to leave behind, and what we need to start doing differently to make sure we are building the recovery together.

Much of the debate around government and public service reform is about what government should (or should not) do.

But what about how government should be?

We'll be exploring this at our event with @OPSIgov #GovAfterShock and you can join in the conversation too. Register now. pic.twitter.com/SCs9ryxKYB

— CPI (@CPI_foundation) October 23, 2020

Recording of the event