Nowadays, citizens across the globe expect public services to be as efficient, user-friendly, and seamless as the digital services they use every day on their phone. To meet the increased demands from citizens the GovTech and Public Sector Innovation Global Program –is bridging the expectation gap by supporting governments to deliver smarter, simpler, and more responsive services.

But technology alone cannot solve these challenges. True GovTech transformation demands robust, user-centered foundations. It requires deliberate design methods that prioritize citizen needs and aspirations, evidence-based decision-making using data and analytics, and a willingness to experiment and iterate. Above all, it takes collaboration, resilience, and a shared passion for making government work better for everyone.

Thoughtful innovation: A necessity, not a luxury

Unlike businesses, governments do not have the luxury of serving niche markets, rebranding, or pivoting their models when things go wrong. They serve entire populations with vastly diverse needs – delivering services that must be inclusive, accessible, and equitable by design.

For these reasons, public sector innovation takes time and care. Governments cannot afford rushed experiments that could alienate vulnerable groups or lead to failures in critical services. This means that governments must innovate deliberately, balancing speed with thoughtfulness to ensure sustainable change.

Innovation requires collaboration across boundaries

One of the biggest challenges facing public sector innovators and GovTech enthusiasts lies in shifting from siloed, agency-specific services to integrated solutions built around citizens’ life events – whether this is starting a business, applying for benefits, or getting married. Designing such services involves navigating multiple layers of bureaucracy, each with its own data, workflows, and systems. Without strong cross-agency collaboration, these efforts risk stalling under the weight of institutional inertia.

Importantly, building effective, innovative public services requires diverse partnerships, bringing together the prowess of tech companies, research institutions, start-ups, civil society, and governments across different regions. The World Bank’s GovTech Global Partnership has been actively convening almost 100 strategic partners since 2019, including 34 governments and 22 private sector organizations. Each partner contributes unique strengths: start-ups bring agility and fresh thinking, while tech giants provide scalability and technological expertise. This collective effort ignites the kind of innovation that governments need to meet citizens’ expectations.

SECO: A key partner for global GovTech innovation

In supporting the World Bank’s GovTech and Public Sector Innovation Program, the State Secretariat for Economic Affairs (SECO) of Switzerland plays a pivotal role, not just as a donor, but as a true partner committed to embedding innovation in public services globally. SECO’s ongoing financial support, recently exemplified by a further contribution of CHF 4 million to the Governance and Institutions Umbrella Program, illustrates SECO’s commitment  to strengthening innovation capacity in governments worldwide. Funding is always a vital enabler, allowing countries -particularly those in developing regions- to experiment with emerging technologies such as artificial intelligence (AI) while continuing to meet rising citizen demands.

SECO’s support helps bring new knowledge products to fruition on topics that pose common and complex challenges. These are the foundations that can enable all governments to engage in more meaningful GovTech approaches, fostering greater trust in public institutions and, crucially, reducing poverty and promoting shared prosperity on a livable planet.

It is this collaboration between donors, governments, and the tech ecosystem that transforms ambitious ideas into practical, impactful solutions. SECO’s partnership with the World Bank demonstrates the immense potential of aligning funding with a shared mission for inclusive, citizen-centric services. Together, they are paving the way for a future where governments can fully meet the needs of their people.

A shared mission for a better future

GovTech is is about delivering public services that build trust by meeting citizens where they are, whether in a remote village or an urban hub. It is about ensuring that no one is left behind, designing solutions that serve everyone. The journey toward this future requires more than technology. It demands enduring partnerships between governments, innovators, start-ups, and donors like SECO. These partnerships are the true engine of GovTech success, helping governments push past institutional barriers and embrace digital transformation.

The path to transforming public services will never be paved with quick fixes, but with persistence, collaboration, and the right support, the possibilities are boundless. As SECO’s partnership with the World Bank shows, meaningful change happens when visionary leadership and organizations unite with a shared purpose. With this type of collaboration, GovTech is not just a distant ambition, it is an unfolding reality.