Get involved

GEN Network

Government Empowerment Network

Discover bold ideas, real reforms, and local leadership in action.

Learn more

Why GEN

With over 100M purpose-driven public servants worldwide, governments hold the potential to solve society’s most pressing structural issues

The shifting aid landscape accelerates the need to maximize this potential

GEN Network tim foster osDUe m4ZcY unsplash e1738364301837

There are multiple barriers that limit the scope of action of public servants within governments

These deep-seated systematic challenges often leave them feeling frustrated, demotivated, and isolated. In our conversations with 100+ civil servants, many described feeling like ‘fish swimming against the current’

There are multiple barriers that limit the scope of action for public servants within governments.

Entrenched governance issues
Perverse insititutional incentives
Lack of accurate and timley data
Capacity gaps
Sioled operations
Resource constrains
Political interference or bureaucratic red tape
Lack accountability and transparency mechanism
Resistance to innovation and change

The combination of these barriers often leaves them feeling frustrated, demotivated, and isolated, like fish swimming against the current. Ultimately, this contributes to ineffective governments.

GEN Network LOGOS CURVAS Empowerment 02

How can public servants maximize their potential to deliver lasting impact?

What drives us

A global network of public sector champions

Radically multiplying local government-led transformations to better serve citizens and tackle today’s complex social and environmental challenges, supporting the welfare and well-being of billions of people

The GEN experience

Empowering Public Servants to

Drive Sustainable Transformation

The GEN brings together and connects public servants in the Global South: equipping them with an AI-powered platform that aggregates and curates knowledge and fosters peer-to-peer collaboration, and with in-person cohorts designed to inspire, incubate, and materialize cost-effective solutions to structural challenges

Learn more
Build capabilities

Provide the hard and soft skills necessary to drive change, accessible at the click of a button

Inspire a shared vision

Inspire a new generation of change-makers, leaders and do-ers

Leverage network effects

Scale impact by creating a self-sustaining, global network of change ambassadors

Aggregate, curate and share knowledge

Be the go-to source of resources and content on government effectiveness, globally

Incubate solutions

Accompany champions in their journey by incubating challenges and solutions

Provide a safe space

Be seen as a safe space to share successes and failures, building a collegial culture

Empowerment lab
An open and dynamic platform that combines an AI-powered engine for government reformers to access on-demand policy outputs and curated knowledge, with a learning and networking space that further empowers participants through inspirational sessions led by champions and experts, safe spaces for sharing failures and celebrating victories, expert-led training sessions and peer-to-peer learning to enhance technical expertise and essential soft skills, and mentorship from experienced public sector champions
Explore more
Image description
Incubator
An incubator journey focused on supporting leaders tackling deep-rooted issues that impact government performance. Selected champions and their teams work through a tailored advisory program, which leverages the Empowerment Hub and identifies context-specific solutions to complex, systemic problems. The Journey finalizes in a presentation to potential supporters aiming to catalyze the solution
Explore more
Image description

Government Empowerment Network

What's next

2025→
The launch of the first chapter of GEN cohort experience in Kampala, Uganda, new cohorts in Colombia and Morocco, and the unveiling of the global Knowledge Hub
2151516512 (1)
2030→
By 2030, the GEN will have empowered +1,500 public servant champions and their teams, led to an accumulated +200 transformations, and reached +20,000 subscribers globally
pexels-divinetechygirl-1181329 (1)
2025→
The launch of the first chapter of GEN cohort experience in Kampala, Uganda, new cohorts in Colombia and Morocco, and the unveiling of the global Knowledge Hub
pexels-divinetechygirl-1181329 (1)
2030→
By 2030, the GEN will have empowered +1,500 public servant champions and their teams, led to an accumulated +200 transformations, and reached +20,000 subscribers globally
11155

Who is GEN for

Governments and Civil Servants

Purpose-driven public servants who know the transformative potential within their institutions but often face isolation in reform efforts. GEN provides you with a global community of peers and an empowerment lab that aggregates the wisdom of reformers and experts worldwide and provides structured support to turn your ideas into action. Shape GEN by sharing challenges, successes, and expertise and joining our upcoming cohorts of champions.

NGOs and TA Providers

Forward-thinking organizations who recognize the value of making their expertise available and sustainable beyond the individual projects they implement. GEN offers a collaborative platform where you can codify your knowledge, embed expertise within government systems, and connect with motivated public servants eager to implement proven solutions. Partner with GEN to scale your impact and ensure your valuable insights drive lasting change.

Philanthropy and Funders

Strategic funders who seek sustainable models that create lasting institutional change within government systems. GEN provides you with a cost-effective mechanism for identifying reform champions, sourcing local transformational projects, and ensuring your investments yield long-term results that scale across institutions. Join GEN in scaling government-led solutions that address structural challenges and deliver sustained impact.

Broader Development Community

Development practitioners who see the need for more efficient knowledge transfer and local empowerment in a changing global landscape. GEN provides you with a structured platform to contribute expertise, connect directly with like-minded practitioners and civil servants, and participate in locally led solutions to structural challenges. Join our community to bridge the gap between development and government action.

Governments and Civil Servants

Purpose-driven public servants who know the transformative potential within their institutions but often face isolation in reform efforts. GEN provides you with a global community of peers and an empowerment lab that aggregates the wisdom of reformers and experts worldwide and provides structured support to turn your ideas into action. Shape GEN by sharing challenges, successes, and expertise and joining our upcoming cohorts of champions.

NGOs and TA Providers

Forward-thinking organizations that recognize the value of making their expertise available and sustainable beyond the individual projects they implement. GEN offers a collaborative platform where you can codify your knowledge, embed expertise within government systems, and connect with motivated public servants eager to implement proven solutions. Partner with GEN to scale your impact and ensure your valuable insights drive lasting change.

Philanthropy and Funders

Strategic funders who seek sustainable models that create lasting institutional change within government systems. GEN provides you with a cost-effective mechanism for identifying reform champions, sourcing local transformational projects, and ensuring your investments yield long-term results that scale across institutions. Join GEN in scaling government-led solutions that address structural challenges and deliver sustained impact.

Broader Development Community

Development practitioners who see the need for more efficient knowledge transfer and local empowerment in a changing global landscape. GEN provides you with a structured platform to contribute expertise, connect directly with like-minded practitioners and civil servants, and participate in locally led solutions to structural challenges. Join our community to bridge the gap between development and government action.

Who is GEN for?

1st audience

Governments and Civil Servants

Purpose-driven public servants who know the transformative potential within their institutions but often face isolation in reform efforts. GEN provides you with a global community of peers and an empowerment lab that aggregates the wisdom of reformers and experts worldwide and provides structured support to turn your ideas into action. Shape GEN by sharing challenges, successes, and expertise and joining our upcoming cohorts of champions.

NGOs and TA Providers

Forward-thinking organizations who recognize the value of making their expertise available and sustainable beyond individual projects. GEN offers a collaborative platform where you can codify your knowledge, embed expertise within government systems, and connect with motivated public servants eager to implement proven solutions. Partner with GEN to amplify your impact and ensure your valuable insights drive lasting change.

Philanthropy and Funders

Philanthropy and Funders

Strategic funders who seek sustainable models that create lasting institutional change within government systems. GEN provides you with a cost-effective mechanism for identifying reform champions, sourcing local transformational projects, and ensuring your investments yield long-term results that scale across institutions. Join GEN in scaling government-led solutions that address structural challenges and deliver sustained impact.

Broader Development Community

Broader Development Community

Development practitioners who see the need for more efficient knowledge transfer and local empowerment in a changing global landscape. GEN provides you with a structured platform to contribute expertise, connect directly with like-minded practitioners and civil servants, and participate in locally led solutions to structural challenges. Join our community to bridge the gap between development and government action.

Our partners

GEN Network LADOS MARQUEE Mesa de trabajo 1
GEN Network LADOS MARQUEE Mesa de trabajo 1 copia
Item 1
Item 2

Stay Connected: Join Our Email List! to receive updates

If you would like to get involved, please fill out the form and let us know how you or your organization would like to participate in the GEN

Want to receive push notifications for all major on-site activities?

✕

Aura Cifuentes

Colombia

My journey in government began with a belief: that public service, when done right, can be one of the most powerful tools for transformation. As Digital Government Director in Colombia, I witnessed first-hand how technology—when paired with empathy, collaboration, and a deep understanding of citizen needs—can reshape the relationship between people and the state.

In government, time is always ticking. With short terms and shifting priorities, I learned that getting things done isn’t just a nice-to-have—it’s essential. From launching digital public services to building coalitions for GovTech and public innovation, I focused on being agile, delivering value, and creating the conditions for change that outlast any single administration.

Transformation isn’t about flashy tech. It’s about trust, persistence, and empowering good people inside government to act with purpose and speed. Today, I carry those lessons into every room I walk into—because I’ve seen what’s possible when we bet on public sector effectiveness.

Nelson Balyeku

Uganda

My journey into public service began in the rural districts of western Uganda, where I supported internal resettlement projects with GIZ. Since then, I’ve worked across humanitarian and development organizations, always drawn to the challenge—and promise—of building systems that serve people better.

Today, I lead Monitoring and Evaluation at Uganda’s National Office for Refugee Management under the Office of the Prime Minister. In this role, I’ve had the privilege of shaping how Uganda’s refugee response is planned, tracked, and improved. From coordinating with over 250 refugee organizations, to leading major infrastructure projects funded by partners like KfW, co-developing Theory of Change, my work has focused on aligning data, strategy, and people to create real impact in some of the country’s most complex contexts.

What I’ve learned is that success in government, it’s about coordination, clarity, and commitment. Especially in the refugee sector, where the needs are urgent and the stakeholders many, it takes more than policy to deliver results. It takes trust, collaboration, and systems that outlast any one actor.
Contact