Adaptive Governance for Systemic Transformation
A Forum of Ideas Where Innovation Meets Systemic Transformation
About
Public Sector Innovation Forum III (PSIF III), organized by UNDP Armenia through its SDG Innovation Lab, is a gathering for people who are trying to make government work better—under pressure, at scale, and with people at the center. It brings together public officials, reform leaders, innovators, civil society, and partners from Armenia and beyond to ask a practical question: what does it take to deliver real change, consistently, in a world that keeps shifting?
This is our third Forum, and we arrive here with deep appreciation for the trust and partnerships built over time. The Forum has grown in both scale and ambition — not as a finish line, but as a milestone that reflects a steadily maturing governance innovation ecosystem in Armenia and a strengthening collective capacity to advance adaptive, mission-driven governance.
With 500+ expected participants and high-level engagement, PSIF III will combine bold conversations with hands-on learning, inspired in part by the spirit of Berlin’s Creative Bureaucracy Festival — where public service is treated as a craft: creative, disciplined, and accountable.
yerevan, armenia
Our story started in 2022 with Forum I, when we marked the SDG Innovation Lab’s 5th anniversary and convened local practitioners to surface early innovation efforts inside public institutions.
- Early-stage public sector innovation
- Knowledge sharing among local practitioners
- Building awareness of innovation in governance
In December 2023, Forum II expanded the format and the ambition—responding to Armenia’s post-war reality through conversations on crisis, leadership, and transformation; launching the country’s first Public Sector Innovators Community; bringing in international voices; and offering practical workshops that equipped civil servants with tools they could use the next day.
- Governance innovation in crisis contexts
- Leadership and institutional resilience
- Practical tools and capacity building
- Community-building among public sector innovators
PSIF III builds on all of that — moving from isolated innovation to adaptive governance for systemic transformation.
- Adaptive and inclusive governance
- Livelihood transformation
- Global collaboration and systemic change
- Creative approaches to public sector challenges
Why This Matters Now
Armenia’s future will be shaped not only by the reforms it announces, but by the capacity it builds to deliver. In recent years, multiple shocks have tested that capacity — often hitting vulnerable and under represented groups, including women, refugees, youth, and rural populations, the hardest—and increasing the urgency for services that are reliable, inclusive, and accessible.
PSIF III is a platform for building that delivery capacity through adaptive governance: learning-based policymaking, cross-sector collaboration, and practical innovation that can be implemented inside institutions.
Globally, governments are redesigning institutions through experimentation, systems thinking, and human-centered policymaking. Armenia has the opportunity to do the same—while staying anchored in democratic values and standards. This Forum helps make that shift practical by strengthening a community that can design, test, and implement better solutions together.
From Inspiration to Implementation: Exploring
PSIF III is designed as an open, inclusive forum — part conference, part learning space — where ideas meet practice. It offers a rich mix of conversations on mission-driven governance and institutional transformation.The program unfolds across four main stages and a dedicated workshop area, creating room for inspiration, skill-building, and collaborations around innovation, democracy, inclusion,and adaptive governance.
Future of Governance Stage
High-level keynotes and panels bringing together national leaders and international and local experts to explore mission-driven governance, adaptive institutions, the future of artificial intelligence, innovation labs in government, and new approaches to delivery, implementation, and innovation
Livelihood Transformation Stage
Keynotes, panels, and interactive dialogues on how Armenia can make “care” real in practice—strengthening education, health, and social protection; safeguarding dignity and opportunity; and ensuring public systems work for people and the economy.
Financing for Impact Stage
Interactive dialogues and practical panels translating ideas into action—exploring innovative public finance mechanisms, R&D and innovation procurement, creative financing models, andbridging science with policymaking for inclusive development.
Public Sector Innovation Learning Lab
Deep-dive training on cutting-edge topics: Foresight, strategic storytelling, portfolio approaches,
and experimentation-driven leadership—designed for civil servants, CSOs, and private sector
practitioners.
Beyond the three main stages, the Forum will offer parallel spaces and activities. These spaces are designed for spontaneous connection - moments that often spark the most valuable collaborations.
Beyond the four main stages
the Forum will offer parallel spaces and activities including
Creativity Area
Networking Lounges
Coffee Talks
Cultural Experiences
Celebration
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Celebrating Innovation
One of the most anticipated moments of the Forum will be the Public Sector Innovation Awards — an opportunity to shine a light on the people and teams who are quietly, persistently, and courageously improving how the government serves the public.
The Awards recognize individuals, teams, and institutions that are turning bold intentions into real improvements—redesigning services around people’s needs, strengthening delivery, and building trust through results. It is a celebration of impact: the reforms implemented, the systems improved, and the everyday public service that makes communities more resilient and democracy more meaningful.
Who Should Attend
The Forum welcomes a diverse community of change-makers:
UNDP Armenia SDG Innovation Lab
The SDG Innovation Lab advances UNDP Armenia’s public sector innovation agenda, promoting adaptive and people-centered governance to build resilient, future-ready societies.
Join a global community of innovative policy makers, thinkers, and adaptive governance professionals — bringing dialogue and creativity together in Armenia to build institutions that are inclusive, responsive, and ready for 21st-century challenges.
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Partners & Supporters
The Forum welcomes diverse partners and sponsors to join this landmark event through multiple engagement formats that align with their missions and goals. Partners will have theopportunity to co-design thematic sessions, host side events, showcase innovations, or contribute to the PSI Learning Lab and Creativity Area.
Through these partnerships, the Forum aims to build an ecosystem of change makers committed to advancing adaptive, inclusive, and future-oriented governance in Armenia, while providing each partner with meaningful engagement and collaboration opportunities across public, private, and international sectors.
Partners
