Innovation in governance encourages many new forms of citizen engagement, transparency and accountability. It is a relatively new concept for the public sector in Bangladesh. The GIU was formed to help public servants understand the transformations in service delivery possible through innovation.

At its core, innovation means working smarter. It also means being inclusive by using successes and lessons learned from other countries, ministries and non-government organizations to multiply results for citizens. Finally, innovation means cutting red tape and learning to manage risks, through pilots and models. Many public sector employees have ideas for creating value for the citizens they serve; the GIU serves as a catalyst to encourage their ideas and good work.

Recent globalization and its enormous technological advancements have paved the way for remarkable changes in the socio-economic, political, cultural and organizational milieu of Bangladesh. It has made new modes of life possible and more conveniently accessible to all.

Consequently, citizen expectations from public servants have increased; as have their expectations for the quality and timeliness of services delivered by government. In 2012, the Government of Bangladesh established the Governance Innovation Unit in the Prime Minister’s Office and tasked it with re-inventing the public sector to encourage Putting Citizens First by improving citizen satisfaction with services.