OECD Public Governance Reviews - Building Centre of Government Capabilities to Steer and Deliver Complex Priorities - Synthesis Report

Sep 11, 2026

Uploaded by Theodora

Synthesis report examining how centres of government can strengthen institutional capabilities to set priorities, align government structures, and convert policy ambitions into tangible results. It draws evidence from Bulgaria, Estonia, Greece, Ireland, Poland, and Portugal and focuses on three delivery-critical areas: steering machinery-of-government change, supporting prioritisation and planning, and enabling cross-government coordination through analytical capacity, data systems, and collaborative networks. It also outlines risks at the centre and practical steps to embed priorities in core routines.

LanguageEnglish

CategoryPresentations

FormatPDF

Pages183

Reading Time1 h 4 min

AccessFree to download

Foreword

Complexity and the role of the centre of government

How CoGs translate priorities into results

Three central delivery areas

Consistent message and key risks

OECD Public Governance Reviews Building Centre of Government Capabilities to Steer and Deliver Complex Priorities Synthesis Report OECD Public Governance Reviews Building Centre of Government Capabilities to Steer and Deliver Complex Priorities SYNTHESIS REPORT This work was approved and declassified by the Public Governance Committee on 14 July 2026. This document was produced with the financial assistance of the European Union. The views expressed herein can in no way be taken to reflect the official opinion of the European Union. This document, as well as any data and map included herein, are without prejudice to the status of or sovereignty over any territory, to the delimitation of international frontiers and boundaries and to the name of any territory, city or area. The statistical data for Israel are supplied by and under the responsibility of the relevant Israeli authorities. The use of such data by the OECD is without prejudice to the status of the Golan Heights, East Jerusalem and Israeli settlements in the West Bank under the terms of international law. Please cite this publication as: OECD (2026), Building Centre of Government Capabilities to Steer and Deliver Complex Priorities: Synthesis Report, OECD Public Governance Reviews, OECD Publishing, Paris, [https://doi.org/10.1787/9899e2fe-en](https://doi.org/10.1787/9899e2fe-en). ISBN 978-92-64-53560-2 (print) ISBN 978-92-64-64340-6 (PDF) ISBN 978-92-64-60951-8 (HTML) OECD Public Governance Reviews ISSN 2219-0406 (print) ISSN 2219-0414 (online) Photo credits: Cover © [KOTOIMAGES/Shutterstock.com](KOTOIMAGES/Shutterstock.com). Corrigendato OECD publications may be found at: [https://www.oecd.org/en/publications/support/corrigenda.html](https://www.oecd.org/en/publications/support/corrigenda.html).© OECD 2026 Attribution 4.0 International (CC BY 4 .0) This work is made available under the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International licence . By using this work, you accept to be bound by the terms of this licence ([https://creativecommons.org/l](https://creativecommons.org/l)icenses/by/4 .0/) . Attribution–you must cite the work. Translations – you must cite the original work, identify changes to the original and add the following text: In the event ofany discrepancy between the original work and the translation, only the text of the original work should be considered valid. Adaptations–you must cite the original work and add the following text: This is an adaptation of an original work by the OECD. The opinions expressed and arguments employed in this adaptation should not be reported as representing the official views of the OECD orofits Membercountries. Third-party material–the licence does not apply to third-party material in the work. If using such material, you are responsible for obtaining permission from the third party and for any claims of infringement. You must not use the OECD logo, visual identity or cover image without express permission or suggest the OECD endorses your use of the work. Any dispute arising under this licence shall be settled by arbitration in accordance with the Permanent Court of Arbitration (PCA) Arbitration Rules 2012 . The seat of arbitration shall be Paris (France) . The number of arbitrators shall be one. 􀁟 3 Foreword Governments today operate in an environment of heightened complexity, where policy challenges are increasingly interconnected, resources are constrained, and citizens’ expectations of public services continue to rise. Delivering government priorities requires not only clear political direction, but also strong institutional capabilities to co-ordinate action across government. In this context, the role of the centre of government has become more critical than ever. This report, Building Centre of Government Capabilities to Steer and Deliver Complex Priorities , examineshow CoGs can better support heads of government and cabinets in setting priorities,

FAQs

What is the main purpose of the synthesis report?

To examine how centres of government can better support heads of government and cabinets in setting priorities, aligning institutions, and translating policy ambitions into tangible results.

Which countries provide the evidence for the report?

The report draws on evidence from Bulgaria, Estonia, Greece, Ireland, Poland, and Portugal.

What are the three central areas highlighted for effective delivery?

Organising to steer machinery-of-government changes; supporting prioritisation and planning; and providing cross-government coordination and policy development capabilities such as analytical capacity, data systems, and collaborative networks.

Sep 11, 2026

Uploaded by Theodora