New Ways of Governing Conference 2025

December 3, 2025
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The New Ways of Governing Conference brought together policy experts, academics and thought leaders to co-create new ways of governing in Oslo, Norway, on 28-29 October, 2025.

UNDP/Nicholas Bruneau

As the world faces a deepening polycrisis – from constrained development financing to shifting power dynamics and rapid digital disruption – traditional governance approaches are being tested like never before.

Yet, crisis brings opportunity: a chance to reshape how governance can become more effective, inclusive, and accountable for all.

In October, UNDP's Global Policy Centre for Governance gathered leaders and practitioners at the New Ways of Governing Conference in Oslo to explore how governance can evolve across four key areas – AI and data, evidence-informed policymaking, democratic innovation, and public finance.

Opening the conference, Gunn Jorid Roset, Director General of Norad, the Norwegian Agency for Development Cooperation, reminded us that governance demands boldness and sustained commitment – and the courage for frank, evidence-based dialogue to drive change.

Marcos Neto, UNDP Assistant Secretary-General and Director of the Bureau for Policy and Programme Support, echoed this call, emphasising that now is the moment to redefine what governance must become. Effective governance today requires fresh thinking, adaptable institutions and a shared commitment to ensure systems that are inclusive, anticipatory, and accountable in a changing world.

The conversations in Oslo reflected a shared belief: that in times of uncertainty, strong and forward-looking governance remains the most reliable path to sustainable progress.

Over the two-day event, the diverse mix of participants engaged in a frank exchange on four thematic tracks that had emerged from cross-regional consultations:

  1. Governance of AI and Data
  2. Evidence-Informed Policy-Making
  3. Democratic Innovation
  4. Governance of Public Finance

Across these tracks, colleagues discussed three questions: How are current governance systems and approaches working? What would a desirable future look like if we look ahead five years? And what would it take to scale and support transformation?

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Man in a blue suit speaks into a microphone at a panel, with a seated attendee and an SDG banner.
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"Effective, democratic governance is the cornerstone of development. Without robust systems, all other investments are at risk."
Gunn Jorid Roset, Director General of the Norwegian Agency for Development Cooperation (Norad)

The conference’s thematic tracks explored emerging innovations that make governance more inclusive, effective, and accountable, while envisioning what desirable futures could look like. Participants identified pathways, partnerships, and priority actions needed to scale these transformations so that they can deliver real impact for people and planet.

The main takeaways were compiled into a proactive report below that brings together cross-cutting lessons and priority actions.

Download the report

New Ways of Governing Report

The final conference report identifies pathways, partnerships, and priority actions needed to scale new ways of governing so that they deliver real impact for people and planet.

Get the Report
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