GovTech Innovation Challenge 2026

GovTech Innovation Challenge 2026 is sponsored by World Bank, Swiss State Secretariat for Economic Affairs (SECO), and Trust Valley. The GovTech Innovation Challenge 2026 invites innovative companies worldwide to develop cutting-edge digital solutions to transform public administration in emerging markets.

GovTech: Putting people first Global Program on GovTech & Public Sector Innovation Select a EDS Sub navigation page selecting option, leaving this page Global Partnership & Convening The Global Program on GovTech and Public Sector Innovation supports the adoption of technology and use of data to enhance government effectiveness and efficiency, as well as increase citizen engagement and improve governance.

Learn more about the program GovTech Innovation Challenge Series 2026 Open for Applications Until August 21 Building on the inaugural Challenge, the 2026 series is being rolled out in Morocco for innovative solutions to strengthen public audit and financial oversight.

GovTech Innovation Challenge Series 2026 Open for Applications Until August 21 Public Institutions in the Age of AI: Emerging Practices This paper reviews how governments are turning responsible AI principles into practice, offering practical guidance and examples to help operationalize AI.

Public Institutions in the Age of AI: Emerging Practices The 2025 GovTech Maturity Index Update The 2025 GTMI Update provides new insights into digital transformation around the world, presenting good practices and identifying gaps for possible improvement. The 2025 GovTech Maturity Index Update GovTech Innovation Challenge 2025: Awardees Announced!

Six companies were awarded for digital solutions to modernize tax administration and improve resource mobilization in Read the awards announcement Rewatch the award ceremony Watch a video on the IC awards GovTech Innovation Challenge 2025: Awardees Announced! Greening GovTech, Volume II Learn how GovTech can drive sustainable digital transformation.

Featuring case studies from Albania, Brazil, and Germany, this note introduces the Greening GovTech Measurement Approach to align innovation with climate ...

Greening GovTech, Volume II Advancing Data-Driven Citizen Engagement in Can Tho, Viet Nam World Bank recommendations on data, feedback, grievances, and reporting are shaping Can Tho’s Digital Transformation Plan, enhancing two-way communication and strengthening public participation in decision-making.

Advancing Data-Driven Citizen Engagement in Can Tho, Viet Nam AI for Tax Audit Accuracy in Georgia Developed with the World Bank’s GovTech Innovation Lab, a synthetic data generator and machine learning prototype enable Georgia’s Revenue Service to securely train AI for accurate and efficient tax audits.

AI for Tax Audit Accuracy in Georgia Digital Transformation of Cambodia’s Public Sector HR A prototype online payroll data entry service demonstrates the potential of digital HR technologies to enhance process automation, performance-based management, and analytics.

Digital Transformation of Cambodia’s Public Sector HR GovTech Innovation Challenge open for applications until September 19 Aiming to enhance government services through public-private collaboration on technology, this Challenge will connect the Ghana Revenue Authority with innovative solutions for tax administration challenges.

GovTech Innovation Challenge open for applications until September 19 GovTech and Public Sector Innovation Global Forum 2025 The second GovTech and Public Sector Innovation Global Forum hosted in Washinton, D. C. , on May 27-28, was a truly global event, bringing together over 400 participants from more than 75 countries, with thousands more ...

GovTech and Public Sector Innovation Global Forum 2025 Global Conference on Cloud Computing in the Public Sector - January 21, 2025 The Global Conference on Cloud Computing in the Public Sector was held in Dubai, hosted by the Dubai Electronic Security Center and the World Bank’s GovTech and Public Sector Innovation on January 21, 2025.

Global Conference on Cloud Computing in the Public Sector - January 21, 2025 Access datasets and databases such as the GovTech Dataset, the Digital Governance GovTech Projects Database, the Financial Management Information Systems (FMIS) Database, and the FMIS Data Mapper 2022.

GovTech Global Forum: Governance in the Digital Era This Forum convened the world's top thinkers, innovators, and practitioners on GovTech to exchange ideas and shape public sector digital transformation for a sustainable, equitable future.

GovTech Global Forum: Governance in the Digital Era The GovTech and Public Sector Innovation Global Program launched the Working Group on Artificial Intelligence (AI) in the Public Sector under the GovTech Global Partnership in October 2024.

Image: Anawat_s Getty Images/Canva Addressing the expectation gap through GovTech To meet citizens' demands, the GovTech and Public Sector Innovation Global Program–is helping governments deliver smarter, simpler, and more responsive services. In supporting this Program, SECO - the State Secretariat ...

Addressing the expectation gap through GovTech Beneficial Ownership Registers: Implementation Insights and Emerging Frontiers This EFI Insight distills critical insights from the implementation of Beneficial Ownership Registers (BORs) in Nigeria, North Macedonia, Kenya, and the United Kingdom. The experiences of these countries offer valuable ...

Beneficial Ownership Registers: Implementation Insights and Emerging Frontiers GovTech Advisory and Guidance Tool (GTAG) Developed in partnership with the ITS Technology and Innovation Lab (ITSTI) in the World Bank, this tool harnesses the power of AI and machine learning to revolutionize the way GovTech practitioners inform policy ...

GovTech Advisory and Guidance Tool (GTAG) Greening Public Administration with GovTech This guidance note provides useful advice to policymakers underlining adequate leadership and commitment are crucial to implement coordinated GovTech and Green policies. Greening Public Administration with GovTech “From e-Government to m-Government” mGovt offers many opportunities to connect citizens to their governments, but challenges remain.

This presentation will feature the latest mGov How-to-Note, which offers strategies for maximizing opportunities and ... “From e-Government to m-Government” Trends in GovTech Solutions for Public Financial Management This self-paced e-course explores the role of digital technology in the modernization and enhancement of Public Financial Management systems and the associated risks, challenges, and GovTech solutions with a focus on ...

Trends in GovTech Solutions for Public Financial Management The Global Program on GovTech and Public Sector Innovation's initiatives are financed by the World Bank’s Governance and Institutions Umbrella Program . Public Institutions in the Age of AI: Emerging Practices Report Launch As governments move from experimentation to implementation, this session explored how artificial intelligence is reshaping public institutions.

The launch of the World Bank’s latest report highlighted practical lessons from early adopters on embedding AI into public systems while ensuring accountability, trust, and institutional capacity. Contributions from global and country experts underscored the opportunities—and challenges—of scaling responsible AI in government.

The World Bank, in partnership with SECO, the Ghana Revenue Authority, and Trust Valley, received 136 proposals from startups and SMEs in 33 countries through the GovTech Innovation Challenge. Nearly half of the teams included women in key roles. Participants proposed digital, AI, and geospatial solutions to improve informal sector taxation and e-commerce VAT compliance.

Three selected teams will advance to a support program, including mentorship and a boot camp in Switzerland. The World Bank, in partnership with SECO and Trust Valley , introduces the GovTech Innovation Challenge to boost technology in government services. This initiative connects the Ghana Revenue Authority with innovative companies to solve tax administration challenges.

Selected firms will join a Swiss boot camp to refine their solutions and enhance public-private collaboration. This program aims to transform public services and share successful solutions with other World Bank members, fostering global benefits.

Contribute to the Global AI-in-Government Case Study Repository The World Bank's GovTech Team has launched a global repository of AI deployments in public administration at the GovTech and Public Sector Innovation Global Forum 2025. This initiative seeks case studies from public institutions using AI in government processes, HR, tax administration, and citizen engagement.

Submissions will showcase innovations to a global audience, aid other governments in learning from experiences, and foster cross-country collaboration in AI governance. Selected case studies may be featured in the final repository, with follow-ups for detailed confirmation.

Contribute to the Global AI-in-Government Case Study Repository SECOND GOVTECH AND PUBLIC SECTOR INNOVATION - TRANSFORMING INSTITUTION IN THE AGE OF AI The GovTech and Public Sector Innovation Global Forum recently concluded its second event, bringing together over 400 in-person participants from 75 countries and thousands more online.

The forum featured plenary discussions and breakout sessions focused on collaboration and transformative ideas in the age of AI. Highlights included interactive sessions like "GovTech in Action" world cafés and Discovery Sprints for co-creating solutions to governance challenges.

The forum was co-hosted by Austria, Estonia, Korea, Switzerland, OECD, UNDP, Mastercard, Microsoft, Visa, MIT GOV/LAB, and Harvard CID and emphasized global cooperation in advancing GovTech. SECOND GOVTECH AND PUBLIC SECTOR INNOVATION - TRANSFORMING INSTITUTION IN THE AGE OF AI We are currently preparing the third edition of the GovTech Maturity Index (GTMI).

This index measures digital transformation in the public sector, providing a baseline and benchmark for economies' GovTech maturity, and identifying areas for improvements. The online survey will be launched on March 1, 2025. GLOBAL GOVERNMENT CLOUD FORUM - DUBAI Watch the replay of the Global Government Cloud Forum which took place in Dubai in January!

Roby Senderowitsch led the Bank’s delegation to the Forum which included Daniel Ortega, Khuram Farooq, Joao Vasconcelos, Charles Blanco, and Reinhard Haslinger who led specific sessions. The Forum was jointly organized between the Government of Dubai and the GovTech/Public Sector Innovation Global Program.

The team emphasized the importance of fostering partnerships and announced the upcoming 3rd edition of the GTMI data , and the GovTech Global Forum . Follow the Institutions X for posts, photos, and videos. See coverage in Khaleej Times and Dubai Media Office .

GLOBAL GOVERNMENT CLOUD FORUM - DUBAI GOVTECH AND PUBLIC SECTOR INNOVATION GLOBAL FORUM: MARK YOUR CALENDARS FOR MAY 27-28, 2025! Join leading thinkers, innovators, and practitioners from around the world to exchange ideas, share best practices, and collaborate on leveraging emerging technologies like AI to enhance efficiency, effectiveness, and accountability in public sector institutions.

Stay tuned for more details in the coming weeks. GOVTECH AND PUBLIC SECTOR INNOVATION GLOBAL FORUM: MARK YOUR CALENDARS FOR MAY 27-28, 2025!

The GovTech and Public Sector Innovation team, in collaboration with the Institute for Public Management and Governance and the Institute for Digital Ecosystems from the Vienna University of Economics and Business (WU Vienna), organized the third edition of Ethical Public Roots and Artificial Intelligence (EPURAI).

This in-person workshop, took place in Vienna on December 6th, brought together theoretical and empirical perspectives on how robots and AI shape societies, economies, and governments and how they are, in turn, influenced by the people and environments in which they are deployed.

The workshop served as a forum for scholars from diverse scientific fields—including administrative sciences, informatics, economics, management, mechanical engineering, and psychology—as well as practitioners from industry, governmental, and non-governmental institutions within the GovTech and Public Sector Innovation policy field, to discuss these issues.

On October 2nd, the GovTech and Public Sector Innovation Global Program launched the Working Group on Artificial Intelligence in the Public Sector under the GovTech Global Partnership. The event featured remarks from Dr. 'Bosun Tijani, Honourable Minister of Communications, Innovation and Digital Economy, Nigeria.

This initiative aims to mobilize knowledge and experience from diverse stakeholders to support countries in adopting sound GovTech practices.

Co-chaired by Estonia's Nelle Leosk, Ambassador-at-Large for Digital Affairs, and Nigeria's AI Senior Special Adviser, the Working Group includes 35 governments, private sector organizations, academia, think tanks, and international organizations such as Amazon Web Services, the European Commission, IBM, the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation, and OpenAI.

The group will provide thought leadership, facilitate idea exchange, and develop policy tools to help governments implement effective AI policies for smart, inclusive, and citizen-centered public sectors. The group met again in December 2024. The Swiss State Secretariat for Economic Affairs (SECO) recently joined the Governance and Institutions (G&I) Umbrella Program.

This partnership underscores the shared commitment to strengthening effective, inclusive, and accountable institutions, which are vital to achieving the World Bank’s mission of creating a world free of poverty on a livable planet.

The collaboration with SECO will particularly focus on advancing GovTech and Public Sector Innovation, providing both technical and financial support to foster good governance through initiatives such as Anticorruption for Development, Coalitions for Reforms, and Justice and Rule of Law.

Learn more about this collaboration in our blog post: Addressing the expectation gap through GovTech DIGITAL GOVERNMENT EXCHANGE - DGX 2024 MEETING IN SINGAPORE Our colleague, João shared the World Bank's GovTech experience on leadership for digital change in the public sector at the DGX 2024 meeting in Singapore. Learn more about DGX in João’s blog .

DIGITAL GOVERNMENT EXCHANGE - DGX 2024 MEETING IN SINGAPORE João Ricardo Vasconcelos, from the GovTech and Public Sector Innovation team, was in Oslo to present the Greening Public Administration with GovTech - Volume 1 report. He was also a guest at the INTOSAI Development Initiative (IDI) Podcast, How to Governance - Green Tech.

To learn about the pivotal role of Supreme Audit Institutions in the green transition and how digital transformation in government can be leveraged to reduce emissions, not increase them…and much more, watch or listen to the discussion on: Learn about the Governance Global Department Governance Global Department Governance Global Department Governance Global Department Newsletter Receive monthly updates on all things in Governance and quarterly special editions on GovTech.

Learn about how client countries build capable, efficient, open, inclusive, and accountable institutions. Governance Global Department Newsletter Governance Global Department Global Program for Improving Public Administration Performance Anticorruption for Development Global Program Justice and Rule of Law Global Program Governance & Institutions Umbrella Program Global Program on GovTech and Public Sector Innovation