CAPACITY DEVELOPMENT

10th Regional Symposium on Effective Governance and AI Transformation: Revitalizing Public Institutions through Innovation and Cooperation to Accelerate Action towards the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development (25-27 November 2026) October 07, 2026

For online participation, register here
(In-person participation is by invitation. For further information please contact DPIDG/UNPOG focal point Carolit Salvacion) 

The 10th Regional Symposium on Effective Governance and AI Transformation is an annual regional event of the United Nations Department of Economic and Social Affairs (UN DESA) that brings together government representatives, policymakers, practitioners, experts, development partners, youth and other stakeholders from Asia and the Pacific and beyond. The Symposium provides a platform for policy dialogue, peer learning and cooperation on strengthening public institutions in a rapidly changing technological and societal environment.

Organised by the United Nations Project Office on Governance (UNPOG), through the Division for Public Institutions and Digital Government (DPIDG) of UN DESA, in collaboration with the Ministry of the Interior and Safety (MOIS) of the Republic of Korea and Incheon Metropolitan City, the 10th Regional Symposium will take place on 25–27 November 2026 in Incheon, Republic of Korea, with online participation via Zoom.

Under the theme “Revitalizing Public Institutions through Innovation and Cooperation to Accelerate Action towards the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development”, the Symposium will explore how public institutions can respond to rapid technological and societal change while strengthening their capacity to deliver public value. It will focus on key priorities including responsible AI transformation, institutional readiness, anticipatory governance, resilience, inclusion and cooperation.

The Symposium will also examine emerging governance challenges associated with increasingly agentic AI systems, AI and digital divides, and the need to strengthen data governance, public sector capabilities and human oversight. Discussions will consider how innovation and cooperation can support more agile, accountable and future-ready public institutions and accelerate progress towards the 2030 Agenda and beyond.

The 10th Regional Symposium also marks the 20th Anniversary of UNPOG and the 10th Anniversary of the Regional Symposium, providing an opportunity to reflect on two decades of work to strengthen public institutions and to look ahead to emerging governance priorities beyond 2030.

Specific Objectives
The 10th Regional Symposium aims to serve as a regional platform for policy dialogue, peer learning, capacity development and cooperation to support Member States in revitalizing public institutions in response to rapid technological and societal change. It will:
  • Enhance understanding of emerging AI governance issues and their implications for public administration and institutional transformation in Asia and the Pacific.
  • Strengthen public administration readiness for responsible AI adoption, including institutional arrangements, coordination and public sector capabilities.
  • Explore how innovation and anticipatory governance can help build more agile and resilient public institutions, including through the responsible use of AI for disaster risk reduction and climate resilience.
  • Address AI and digital divides by strengthening institutional capacity, inclusive participation, gender-sensitive approaches and data governance, and by supporting developing countries to shape and benefit from AI transformation.
  • Strengthen institutional capacity and cooperation through peer learning, knowledge exchange and partnerships, including national-to-local and city-to-city cooperation, while advancing meaningful youth participation in public decision-making.

Programme at a Glance
  1. Setting the Scene
  • Governing in the Age of AI: What Is Changing in Public Institutions and Why Does It Matter?
  1. Thematic Sessions
  • From AI Innovation to Adoption: Strengthening Public Administration Readiness
  • Governing Agentic AI Systems in Public Institutions: Accountability and Human Oversight
  • Anticipatory Governance for Inclusive and Future-Ready Public Institutions
  • Bridging AI Divides through Strengthening Institutional Capacity, Data Governance, and Cooperation
  • Strengthening Institutional Resilience through AI-Enabled Disaster Risk Reduction and Climate Action
  1. Special Session and Forums
  • 20th Anniversary of UNPOG: Two Decades of Strengthening Public Institutions and Looking Ahead Beyond 2030
  • AI and Local Governance: Empowering Local Governments through Institutional Capacity, Service Delivery Innovation and Cooperation
  • Youth, AI and Meaningful Participation in Public Decision-Making
  1. Learning Labs
  • Building Institutional AI Readiness
  • Quantum Computing: Preparing Public Institutions for the Next Technological Frontier

Documents
Aide Memoire
Agenda at a Glance
Agenda
Information Note
Booklet
 
To access the presentation materials and video recordings, please click the link here.
 
Contact Information
UN DESA/DPIDG
Mr. Juwang Zhu, Acting Director, DPIDG/UN DESA
Ms. Adriana Alberti, Chief, Programme Management and Capacity Development Unit/DPIDG/UN DESA
 
UN DESA/DPIDG/UNPOG
Mr. Changseob Han, Head, UN Project Office on Governance (UNPOG)/DPIDG/UN DESA
Ms. Ana Cristina Thorlund, Governance and Public Administration Expert | thorlund[at]un.org
Mr. Prabin Maharjan, Programme Management Expert, UNPOG/DPIDG/UN DESA | prabin.maharjan[at]un.org
Ms. Hye Kyung (Shelley) Choi, Programme Management Assistant, UNPOG/DPIDG/UN DESA | choi9[at]un.org
Ms. Carolit Salvacion, Associate Networking and Outreach Expert, UNPOG/DPIDG/UN DESA | carolit.salvacion[at]un.org
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