Ash Institute Ash Institute for Democratic Governance and Innovation Harvards Kennedy School of Government Harvard University

Global Network

Our Global Network is a worldwide community of leaders dedicated to effective government and public service. Members include individuals and partner institutions from government, non-profit organizations, the media, the business sector, and academia. Its online platform, the Government Innovators Network, provides a dynamic means of supporting members through online events and best practice archives. In collaboration with partner institutions, the network convenes regional, thematic, and global conferences to unite the theory and practice of innovation in democratic governance. Learn more about joining the Global Network Click here.

Frontiers of Innovation: Conference in Review

Designed by Harvard Kennedy School faculty for senior managers, elected officials, and non-profit leaders, this bi-annual conference, held March 31-April 2, 2008, hosted participants from more than 50 countries to highlight how governments can be more effective at solving problems and improving the lives of their citizens through innovation. The conference included cross cutting themes such as anti-corruption reforms, successes in engaging citizens in democracy, and 21st century models of governance. In addition, participants learned how successful innovations in global health, disaster management, and social justice are used to solve pressing public policy issues. Vicente Fox, former president of Mexico, and Fazle Abed, BRAC’s founder and chairperson, delivered keynote addresses.

Recorded versions of the following panel discussions will be available shortly:

  • Innovations in Governance: Ethics and Accountability in the Public Sector
  • Innovations in Participation: Citizen Engagement in a Deliberative Democracy
  • Innovations in Global Health: New Approaches to Neglected Diseases
  • Roundtable: Government Innovation and Social Justice
  • Innovations in Emergency Management: Making Governments Flexible and Responsive
  • The Future of Innovation: 21st Century Models of Governance

Member Spotlight

On March 31, 2008, Former President of Mexico Vicente Fox delivered the Frontiers of Innovation conference commencement address “Democracy, Good Government, and Development: Mexico, An Experience in Latin America” to a sold out audience of HKS students, faculty, and conference participants at the JFK Forum. President Fox argued for a culture of globalization over protectionism and championed the principles of democracy and freedom, the market economy, and cost-effective, transparent government practices.

Vicente Fox served as the president of Mexico from 2000 to 2006. Under his presidency, Fox ushered in a new era of transparent, cost-effective government practices. Encouraging the use of techology tools to optimize government practice, Fox made government innovations the central focus of his administration. Previously, he was the governor of Guanajuato from 1995 to 2000.


Global Network News
Network Newsletter
Press Releases
Press Coverage
Liaison Group for Innovations in Governance and Public Action

Following the pioneering work of the Innovations in American Government Program, the Ford Foundation sponsored the creation of government innovation awards programs in Brazil , Chile, China, East Africa (as the Mashariki Innovations in Local Governance Awards Program), Mexico, the Philippines (under the auspices of the Galing Pook Foundation), Peru, South Africa (as the Impumelelo Awards Trust), and the Native American tribes (as part of the Honoring Nations project) in the United States.

While each of these initiatives is adapting the innovations approach to local concerns and priorities, they all share a strong allegiance to the core idea that government can be improved through the identification and dissemination of examples of effective solutions to public-sector problems. The Liaison Group is currently convened by Peter Spink (Spink@fgvsp.br), Director of Gestão Publica e Cidadania (Public Management and Citizenship) Program at the Getulio Vargas Foundation in São Paulo. It is managed by Gestão Publica e Cidadania Program Administrator Jacqueline I. Machado Brigagão (Jacqueline.Brigagao@fgv.br).


Join Our Global Network

Join our network and you will receive our monthly newsletter which includes information about upcoming events and resources. In addition, as a network member we encourage you to submit articles, information about your events for our calendar, and overviews of publications and research that would be useful to other members.

To join, click here.


International Awards
Liaison Group for Innovations in Governance and Public Action

Search all awards from our global sister programs.

IBM Innovations Award for Transforming Government

This international award, launched in commemoration of the twentieth anniversary of the Innovations in American Government Awards, honors government programs from around the globe that are making a difference in the lives of citizens they serve.


Global Network Workshops

January 17, 2008
Visit of Ugandan Delegation on Muslim Life in the United States

The Ash Institute hosted a delegation of 10 Muslims from Uganda on January 17, 2007. US State Department selected this delegation which included representatives from academia, government, not-for-profit, and religious social service organizations. Participants were especially interested in the Institute's work on Muslim Integration in the US with the Chicago Council on Global Affairs. They asked a variety of questions about religious tolerance and political involvement of Muslims in the US. Nearly 12 percent of Uganda's population is Muslim; these knowledge building events prove invaluable for sharing the challenges and opportunities of unique groups.


November 6-8, 2007
Strengthening Democratic Governance: Improving Access to Public Services, The Hague, Netherlands

Hosted by Leiden University’s Centre for Government Studies, this event included an audience representing more than 15 countries and drawing from academic, government and private sectors. Participants shared solutions for reasserting democratic values in service delivery to marginalized groups. Linda Kaboolian, HKS, presented at the event.