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In the post-pandemic world, increasing trust in governments remains a challenge. The OECD trust survey found that in 2021, four in ten people did not trust their national government. These results are largely due to low public confidence in the government’s responsiveness and widespread feelings of lack of voice. Only a third of respondents believe that their government would, for example, adopt the views expressed in a public consultation.
In a context where governments seek to strengthen their resilience and respond to citizens’ legitimate expectations for better public services in order to restore trust, public innovation is crucial. The acceleration of digital innovation, particularly through advances in artificial intelligence (AI), has contributed to more and more people becoming familiar with the concept of technology-based innovation in their daily lives.
Public innovation must have a social purpose
However, innovation goes beyond the technological realm. Exploring new possibilities has social impact, where public innovations can help reduce inequalities and close gaps. Beyond innovating to be “pioneers,” attention should be focused on how innovation should contribute to social inclusion, especially in the context of informal economies and unequal societies such as those in Latin America.
Public innovation must have a purpose and can be a driving force in closing these gaps. In this sense, the Framework for Assessing the Innovative Capacity of States of the OECD Public Innovation Observatory proposes a systemic approach that analyzes purpose, potential, capacity and impact as essential drivers of public innovation that respond to citizens’ needs and achieve successful results.
There are still high levels of social inequality and work informality in many parts of the world. With democracies at risk, public innovation must meet performance targets that create better services for populations and ensure no one is left behind. This is particularly true in Latin America, where 17 billion people still lack access to electricity and 58% of workers are in informal employment, according to OECD data.
Innovation must not only be disruptive
Innovation must not only be disruptive, but also inclusive and sustainable. This is even more relevant in a digitalized world where vulnerable populations do not always leave a digital footprint that can be adequately captured in automated public policy systems, such as AI. For example, in Latin America, only 25% of at-risk workers have access to a computer with Internet at home.
The report on the use of AI in the public sector by the OECD and the CAF Development Bank of Latin America and the Caribbean highlights the fundamental role of inclusivity and diversity in the composition of development teams to prevent possible biases. Likewise, it is important to take an intersectional approach when designing innovation initiatives, taking into account the interactions of multiple interacting and overlapping categories of differences – such as gender, ethnicity, race, socioeconomic status, sexual orientation, disabilities, among others.
When we think about innovation today, it is a priority that we associate those innovative initiatives that promote inclusion, reduce social divides and improve people’s quality of life. Proof of this is the Declaration of Santo Domingo, issued at the XXVIII. Ibero-American Summit of Heads of State signed last March, in which countries reaffirmed the importance of promoting people-centered innovation for sustainable development.
Potential of artificial intelligence for inclusive innovation
An example of how innovation can drive inclusion in informal economies is the use of AI in social transfers. Traditionally, the distribution of aid and social benefits has been a bureaucratic and slow process. AI can transform this process through the use of algorithms that identify beneficiaries, monitor distribution, and provide data for future decisions and fraud detection. In Peru, they designed and delivered the Yanapay voucher, which used AI to identify beneficiary families, and facilitated delivery via digital wallets. They also conducted a communication and education campaign for vulnerable populations so they could use these tools without leaving home.
On the other hand, governments are working on innovative policies that promote sustainable tourism models by integrating behavioral science to promote positive behavior change. The Philippine Department of Tourism has launched the “Keeping the Fun” campaign, which uses gamification to encourage sustainable habits among tourists, such as reducing the use of single-use plastic or staying in eco-friendly accommodations.
In short: innovation has the power to change people’s lives. By harnessing its potential, we can create a more sustainable and equitable future for all. It is important to remember that any innovation that uses new technologies must follow ethical principles and benefit all segments of society so as to leave no one behind. It is up to us to take advantage of this opportunity in our respective roles.
Paola Galvez She is a policy researcher at the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD) and Carlos Santiso He is Head of the OECD’s Digital Government, Public Innovation and Open Governance Department.