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UNPOG Marks 20 Years of Strengthening Public Governance for Sustainable Development September 10, 2026

Incheon, Republic of Korea – The United Nations Project Office on Governance (UNPOG) of the Division for Public Institutions and Digital Government (DPIDG) of the United Nations Department of Economic and Social Affairs (UN DESA) commemorated its 20th Anniversary on 7 September 2026, celebrating two decades of supporting Member States in strengthening effective, inclusive, and accountable public institutions for sustainable development.

The anniversary celebration brought together colleagues from DPIDG/UN DESA, the Government of the Republic of Korea, Incheon Metropolitan City, United Nations entities, development partners, former Heads of Office, academia, and other stakeholders to reflect on UNPOG's achievements since its establishment in 2006 and to reaffirm a shared commitment to advancing public governance in an increasingly complex and rapidly evolving global environment.

Opening the celebration, Mr. Changseob Han, Head of UNPOG/DPIDG/UN DESA, underscored the significance of the Office's 20th Anniversary as an opportunity to reflect on UNPOG's achievements, recognized the contributions of its former leadership, and looked ahead to its future strategic direction. Reflecting on the Office's journey and resilience that has defined its work since its establishment, he highlighted UNPOG's evolution over the past two decades, stating that "UNPOG has evolved from a small project office into a trusted global partner supporting Member States in building effective, inclusive and accountable public institutions", and reaffirmed the Office's commitment to serving countries through innovation, partnerships, and capacity development.

The event featured congratulatory messages from Mr. Juwang Zhu, Acting Director of DPIDG/UN DESA, who congratulated UNPOG on its achievements and recognised the Office's significant contributions to strengthening public institutions through capacity development, policy dialogue, knowledge exchange, and partnerships. He also paid tribute to generations of UNPOG colleagues and expressed appreciation to the Government of the Republic of Korea, particularly the Ministry of the Interior and Safety (MOIS), for its steadfast support over the past two decades.

A written congratulatory message from Ms. Adriana Alberti, Chief of the Programme Management and Capacity Development Unit (PMCDU) of DPIDG also highlighted the close collaboration between UNPOG and UN DESA and expressed confidence in continued cooperation towards advancing the 2030 Agenda and beyond.

High-level representatives from the Government of the Republic of Korea reaffirmed their continued partnership with UNPOG. Speaking on behalf of MOIS, the Director General, Mr. Soo Deok Park, underscored the importance of inclusive governance and responsible artificial intelligence in addressing emerging global challenges and reaffirmed the Ministry's commitment to working closely with UNPOG to promote trustworthy AI governance and public sector innovation.

Representing Incheon Metropolitan City, the Ambassador for International Relations, Mr. Kyung Han Kim, highlighted the city's longstanding collaboration with UNPOG since its relocation to Songdo in 2017 and emphasised shared efforts to promote sustainable development, digital transformation, and effective governance. Looking ahead, he welcomed continued collaboration on the upcoming 10th Regional Symposium on Effective Governance and AI Transformation to be held in November 2026.

The celebration also reflected UNPOG's strong network of partnerships across the United Nations system. Ms. Tomoko Furusawa, Head of the UNEP Climate Technology Centre and Network (CTCN) Partnership and Liaison Office, highlighted successful collaboration with UNPOG on climate action, disaster risk reduction, and digital transformation initiatives, reaffirming the importance of inter-agency cooperation in addressing complex global challenges.

Former UNPOG Head of Office, Ms. Hye Young Kim, reflected on the Office's achievements over the past twenty years and expressed confidence that UNPOG will continue to play a vital role in supporting Member States as they navigate emerging governance challenges, particularly in the era of artificial intelligence.

As part of the celebration, the Ministry of the Interior and Safety of the Republic of Korea also presented UNPOG with a commemorative plaque in recognition of the Office's two decades of contributions to advancing public governance innovation and sustainable development. Participants also viewed a commemorative video showcasing UNPOG's journey since 2006 and attended a presentation reflecting on the Office's institutional evolution, programme achievements, and growing global impact.

As UNPOG enters its third decade, the anniversary celebration served as both a reflection on two decades of achievements and a renewed commitment by UN DESA, the Government of the Republic of Korea, and partners to strengthening governance capacities that enable countries to address emerging challenges and accelerate progress towards the Sustainable Development Goals.

Access the photos to the event by clicking here.
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