EU & UNDP organized a joint forum on “Embracing Complexity & System Innovation, and its Implications,” on 28 October 2021. The purpose of the forum was to continue to have a shared space on learning about system transformation, bridging theory and practice.
The forum was opened by Ben Slay, Acting Deputy Regional Director, and Mathieu Bousquet, Acting Director DG NEAR A: Thematic Support, Coordination of Policy and Financial Instruments.
The event brought together practitioners and thinkers working on complexity and system transformation. The first discussion focused on how change happens, moderated by Hoa-Binh Adjemian, Deputy Head of Unit, DG NEAR. Speakers discussed how to build strategies that allow adaptiveness, as well as rules of thumb and practices which can aide decision-makers.
Deputy Prime Minister of the Republic of North Macedonia, Fatmir Bytyqi, shared the innovative framework for the National Development Strategy, which is described as living document. The CEO of Climate-KIC, Kirsten Dunlop, called the portfolio a framework for learning – enabling to plug in and activate multiple points at the same time. Duncan Green, Oxfam Senior Strategic Advisor, shared three rules of thumb for working in complexity: 1) real time feedback and adaptation, 2) planning for uncertainty and 3) thinking about ecosystems and not projects. Garo Armen, Founder and CEO of Agenus,said it was necessary to respond to needs & enable customization.
The second panel was on the practice of working on system transformation, and was moderated by Francine Pickup, Resident Representative in Serbia. She highlighted the need to work within an ecosystem and explore what might work. Indy Johar, CEO and Founder of DML, said the transition required learning institutions. Giulio Quaggiotto, Head of Strategic Innovation Unit, highlighted that there was a need to move beyond linear planning and embracing the unknown. Answering what the public sector could learn from the private sector, Ines Rocha, Director for Financial Products at EBRD, said in the private sector adaptiveness was an essential feature.
A joint statement between EU and UNDP on the shared intent to work in complexity is available here.
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