Implemented by UN DESA and ECLAC Caribbean Headquarters, with the collaboration of the Caribbean Centre for Development Administration (CARICAD), this project aims to strengthen public sector national capacities for Innovation, Digital Government Transformation and Changing Mindsets in three Caribbean SIDS by: (i) strengthening public servants’ skills, knowledge, and understanding of the importance of public sector transformation by promoting changing mindsets strategies and approaches in support of innovation and digital transformation to support the implementation of the SDGs; and (ii) strengthening institutional arrangements, structures, mechanisms and approaches to promote innovation and digital governance transformation to improve public service delivery, leaving no one behind and reaching the furthest behind first. In this regard, multi-island jurisdictions are likely to especially benefit from improved governance and institutional service delivery modalities.
Promoting innovation and digital transformation in the Caribbean can help countries to ‘build back better’ by delivering services in a more effective and inclusive way, particularly to underserved, rural, physically disconnected, and otherwise marginalized segments of society.
Through workshops and focus groups, the project has contributed so far to an enhanced understanding by government officials of the importance of changing mindsets to support an environment conducive to innovation and digital transformation in the public sector, thus contributing to improved service delivery.
Objective:
To enhance the capacities of government officials to promote new mindsets needed in support of digital transformation and innovation and changing mindsets for stronger public institutions, to ensure the benefits of improved service delivery and leave no one behind, in particular vulnerable groups, thus substantially contributing to support the implementation of the SDGs.
Beneficiaries:
Direct beneficiaries include high – and mid-level government officials from ministries and government institutions at the national, regional, and local level. Indirect beneficiaries include the citizens and communities at large, including vulnerable groups.
Lead Division: UN DESA / DPIDG
Partners: UN DESA/DSDG/SIDS Unit, ECLAC Caribbean Headquarters, CARICAD
Funding Source: DA Tranche 16 Account
Budget: $500,000
Time Frame: January 2024 – June 2027
Thematic Area: SDG 1, SDG 10, SDG 11, SDG 16, SDG 17
Region: Americas
Focus Countries: The Bahamas, Saint Lucia, Barbados
Outcome 1: By 2026, policy makers in selected Caribbean SIDS have an enhanced understanding of the importance of digital transformation and innovation of public service delivery.
Outcome 2: By 2026, policy makers in selected Caribbean countries have strengthened capacities to develop institutional reform and tailored capacity building plans for digital transformation and innovation of public service delivery.
Resources related to the project (reports, toolkits, training materials, and links) will be made available here.
Webinar Series on “Innovation, Digital Government and Changing Mindsets for Public Sector Transformation” , 21 and 28 February 2024; 20 and 27 March 2024. The webinar series brought together innovative practices and thought leadership. The mindsets necessary to accelerate the implementation of digital government to improve the delivery of public services to citizens were discussed. The framework of the project was introduced.
The Caribbean Innovation in Government Community of Practice connects institutions and experts, government officials, academics, civil society organizations, and practitioners working in promoting innovation in the public sector. It aims to identify and showcase initiatives that are transforming governance, advancing social inclusion, fostering integrity, and accelerating the achievement of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).
Innovation, Digital Government and Changing Mindsets for Public Sector Transformation Booklet
Based on the UN Quintet of Change, in-person workshops on Changing Mindsets for Innovation and Public Sector Transformation (March 2025) for Permanent Secretaries, Director Generals, senior officials, and Heads of Agencies examined strategies to promote mindset change across individual, organizational, and institutional levels. Topics included strategic foresight, data governance, digital transformation (including AI and Smart Cities), and transformational leadership, presented by CARICAD, ECLAC, and DESA experts.
Participants learned what changes are required at different levels to successfully change mindsets, how innovation and foresight mindsets can be applied, and how to address challenges in promoting innovation and implementing digital public services in their contexts.
Advisory Mission to the Bahamas, 20 - 21 August 2024
Interactive conversations with over 40 government officials, union leaders, and academics allowed for open and frank conversations on the gaps, challenges, as well as opportunities to advance an environment supportive of innovation and digital transformation in the Bahamian public service were held. The meetings fostered extensive discussion on key issues, challenges, priorities, and opportunities for changing mindsets in support of innovation and digital transformation in The Bahamas, providing sound and innovative advice to government officials and other relevant stakeholders, on the importance of changing mindsets for innovation and digital transformation for long-term institutional development and services provision.
In November 2024, the Government of Barbados officially requested inclusion as a project beneficiary. The Prime Minister highlighted the importance of changing mindsets in the public sector to support innovation and transformation, including leveraging digital technologies.
In May 2025, a regional Capacity Development Workshop on “The Future of Governance: Changing Mindsets for Innovation and Public Sector Transformation” convened over 64 senior government officials from 16 Caribbean SIDS. Participants validated critical drivers of change, developed future governance scenarios, and agreed on a vision statement for governance in the Caribbean region.
Attendees explored innovation, data, digital governance, and foresight mindsets; prioritized needs; formulated short- and long-term implementation plans; and strengthened regional collaboration. An informal peer-to-peer learning network was proposed.
Capacity Development Training of Trainers Workshop on “Changing Mindsets for Innovation, Digital Transformation, and Improved Public Service Delivery for the Implementation of Mission Barbados and the Sustainable Development Goals” , 21 – 24 October 2025 in Bridgetown, Barbados.
With the support of the Department for Public Sector Modernization, three workshops were organized in Saint Lucia. In August 2024, a workshop on UNDESA’s Digital Government Capabilities Assessment and Changing Mindsets identified key priorities and opportunities for digital transformation.
In April 2025, two workshops were held—one for Permanent Secretaries and another for Director Generals and senior officials—focusing on mindsets conducive to innovation and transformation, strategic foresight, data governance, digital transformation (including AI and Smart Cities), and transformational leadership.
Participants gained insights on promoting innovation, reforming regulatory frameworks, and implementing digital public services in their contexts.
Capacity Development Workshop on Changing Mindsets in Saint Lucia for Innovation and Digital Transformation | Public Institutions
The first exploratory visit and capacity development workshop in the framework of this project was held in Saint Lucia in August 2024. It allowed for open conversations on the gaps, challenges, and opportunities to advance an environment supportive of innovation and digital transformation in the Saint Lucian public service. 52 participants strategized and updated Saint Lucia’s Digital Transformation Strategy, and enhanced capacity to support the implementation of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).
Changing Mindsets for Innovation and Public Sector Transformation | Public Institutions
The workshop explored practices and approaches to support changing mindsets for innovation and digital transformation of public services. Key competencies for governance transformation, including systems thinking and strategic foresight, data and digital governance, and innovation were presented. The CARICAD public sector schema for innovation and its implications for public sector transformation was presented. Harnessing the potential of AI to create public value in the Caribbean, including through 'Smart Cities' was shared by ECLAC, along with a digital skills assessment. 40 Saint Lucian senior government officials conducted an action planning exercise to promote new mindsets and competencies, as well as discussed strategies for implementation. Key messages, outcomes and commitments
Training of Trainers: A Training of Trainers will be organized in Saint Lucia to equip the government training institutes’ trainers on the use of the Curriculum on Governance for the Implementation of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) toolkits (Curriculum on Governance for the SDGs) to help them train their public servants with innovative mindsets and behaviors to better address current and future challenges related to SDG implementation.