BrazilWGS and Kearney outline 21 strategic priorities for governments
The World Government Summit (WGS), a Dubai-headquartered think tank, has joined minds with consultants from Kearney to release a 50-page report highlighting 21 strategic priorities for governments in the Middle East.
The report aims to help government officials and policy makers with rebuilding and recovering from the disruption caused by the Covid-19 pandemic, said Mohammad Abdulla Al Gergawi, Minister of Cabinet Affairs – UAE and Chairman of the World Government Summit organisation.
“Dealing with the economic, social, political and public health challenges posed by the pandemic over the last year has been a true test of the infrastructural, legislative and regulatory resilience of government models around the world. Valuable lessons emerged over the past year, which we must heed as we recover.”
“2021 needs to be the year that defines humanity’s future and reshapes societies to become stronger and more resilient,” he added.
Following interviews with leaders and desk research conducted jointly with Kearney, a global management consulting firm, the World Government Summit report identifies areas of focus that require immediate attention, as well as areas that need to be addressed over a longer term.
The 21 different priorities have been grouped into five overarching themes:
Reimagining and reinforcing key public institutions
Alleviate fiscal overhangs
Reimagine the role of cities
Transform the national portfolio of capabilities
Competing in a transformed economy:
Prepare for the coming regulatory shock
Rebalance self-sufficiency and competitiveness
Drive radical, inclusive upskilling at scale
Reinvent the task structure of the workforce
Navigating a transformed geo-technical order:
Navigate the global competition for allegiance
Prepare to navigate a reordered technology market
Build deep data alliances
Prepare for the new multilateralism
Repairing the social fabric:
Reactivate critical global health initiatives on enduring threats
Heal the mental health overhang
Protect the development of our youngest minds
Restore and expand the empowerment of women
Defend the sovereignty of citizens’ minds
Securing the future:
Eliminate viral breeding grounds globally
Adapt to the grey zone
Counter criminal exploitation of the crisis
Activate whole-of-society circular resilience
Harness “warp speed” policy approaches
Speaking on the report, Rudolph Lohmeyer, a partner at Kearney and Head of the firm’s National Transformation Institute, said: “The world is clearly at a critical juncture in which we face both deep uncertainties and remarkable opportunities in many policy domains.”
“For government leaders, the decisions made this year will have exceptionally long-term consequences. By taking anticipatory action on these 21 priorities, leaders have an opportunity to harness this transition in the service of their citizens through building societies that are more inclusive and innovative.”
Further reading? The full report can be downloaded on the website of the World Government Summit.
