Landmark information partnership launched by South Africa’s National School of Government and World Economic Forum
The World Economic Forum (WEF) and the National School of Government (the NSG) of the Republic of South Africa today, 25 February 2022, launched a partnership that will enable public servants to access information from WEF’s Strategic Intelligence Platform.
The collaboration was launched by the Minister for the Public Service and Administration, Ms Ayanda Dlodlo supported from WEF by Mr Chido Munyati, Head of Regional Agenda Africa and Mr Stephan Mergenthaler Head of Strategic Intelligence.
The WEF engages the foremost political, business, and other leaders of society to shape global, regional and industry agendas. South Africa has a longstanding partnership with WEF and participates in annual meetings in Davos, Switzerland and also hosts the WEF Africa Forum meeting from time to time.
The objective of the landmark partnership is to support public sector initiatives through access to a wide array of research, insight, publications, rich media and data for policy development, forecasting, decision-making, briefings and other needs by government departments and public sector institutions in WEF’s Strategic Intelligence Platform. The information provided in the platform will be available for use by advisors, researchers, planners and content creators for different projects or activities. The Platform will complement other sources of data already available in South Africa and will provide quick access on topics from A-Z.
Twelve (12) government departments already have access to the WEF Strategic Intelligence Platform. The rest of the Government Departments will have access from April 2022.
Addressing the launch Minister Dlodlo said no government could today innovate and solve its problems, take advantage of emerging opportunities and avoid potential challenges and threats if it does not use information. “The Government of South Africa has long held this view and encourages evidence-based policy making to confront challenges and harness opportunities. This platform will complement other data sources already at our disposal and will contribute to our efforts towards evidence-based policy making and to build a capable and professional civil service,” said Minister Dlodlo.
The President of WEF, Mr Børge Brende emphasized that the organization valued its collaboration with South Africa and Africa. “This is why we are pleased to be able to offer the National School of Governance and the wider South African public sector, advanced access to our Strategic Intelligence platform. We hope that this will play a valuable part in supporting national development efforts.”
Media enquiries:
Dikeledi Mokgokolo
Cell: 082 8882355
E-mail Dikeledi.Mokgokolo@thensg.gov.za