Baghdad: A workshop to establish Iraq’s first government innovation lab has concluded at the National Center for Administrative Development and Information Technology, affiliated with the Ministry of Planning. The workshop was organized in collaboration with the United Nations Development Program (UNDP) and included participation from international experts.

According to National Iraqi News Agency, the Ministry of Planning stated that the workshop trained a select team on the latest tools for government innovation and design thinking. This training qualifies the team to design creative solutions to the challenges facing the public sector, marking them as the first Iraqi team to receive such accreditation in establishing government innovation labs.

The innovation lab will be hosted at the National Center for Administrative Development and Information Technology, functioning as a national platform to innovate administrative solutions, develop public policies, and promote a culture of innovation and experimentation within government institutions.

Participants in the workshop highlighted that the initiative signifies a significant step towards smart government transformation. It aims to build a flexible institutional environment that can respond to changing challenges through innovative methods rooted in knowledge and international partnerships.

This achievement aligns with the efforts of the Ministry of Planning and the United Nations Development Programme to support administrative reform plans and build institutional capacity. These efforts are in line with the Sustainable Development Goals and Iraq’s vision for transitioning to modern governance based on innovation and effectiveness.