Our Selection Criteria

How creative or innovative is the project in its approach to making bureaucracy fit for the future?

• Does the project show how problems or approaches can be rethought?
• Does the project show how flexibility and adaptability can be used to develop better solutions?
• Does the project demonstrate a collaborative, experimental, transdisciplinary and cross-sectoral approach?
• Does the project demonstrate a culture of openness, transparency, humility and continuous learning?

For more details, read through our “Definitions of Creative Bureaucracy” (below) and find specific examples from our past programme across different topic areas here.

How effectively could the project proposal contribute to systems level change?

• Does the project aim to achieve significant, lasting change within public administrations or in the delivery of public services?
• Are the “issue” (starting context/problem) and “idea” (your creative solution) relevant for other contexts? (across geographies, departments, etc.)
• How well does the project demonstrate a commitment to Diversity, Equity & Inclusion?
• Is there evidence of impact and/or learnings?

Is the proposal well thought through with a strong structure and engaging storytelling?

Does your proposal effectively follow our ‘ISSUE, IDEA, IMPACT’ structure?

• ISSUE: What was the initial trigger for the project? Which problem or mission are/were you addressing?
• IDEA: What was your creative approach? How does it represent Creative Bureaucracy in action?
• IMPACT: What results/learnings have you achieved so far? Where will things head next?

Is the storytelling engaging? Would the proposal inspire others to think differently or take action?

Creativity is about unleashing the ability of the mind to think differently and conceive new ideas. It’s about ingenuity, imagination, responsiveness, adaptability and flexibility. 

Innovation is about the implementation of creative ideas. It’s about turning creativity into action and doing things differently.

Creative bureaucracy is about bureaucrats using their imagination and resourcefulness to solve problems with flexibility and adaptability. Creative bureaucrats are responsive and empathetic towards citizens’ needs and wishes, while never neglecting the legalities and political mandates that are the foundations of modern bureaucracies. Creative bureaucracies are able to work collaboratively and bottom-up around joint missions to experiment in real life settings as a way to identify new and better ways to deliver and solve problems, building bridges between different actors across disciplines and sectors. Creative bureaucracies work openly, transparently and humbly – acknowledging the limits of their knowledge and living a culture of continuous learning.

We use the term “bureaucrat“ to refer to any individual working for a government entity, intergovernmental organisation or any other type of public body. They can be elected or appointed, working as policymakers or at an operational level. We consider “allies“ to be individuals and organisations across sectors who work alongside bureaucracies to help them become future-fit and to advance the common good.

In recognition of the limitations of conventional methods of evaluating impact for truly transformative systems change work, we welcome any relevant evidence of project impact. 

This includes qualitative accounts (feedback, testimonies, commentaries), or relevant research that highlights the need for work in a certain action space. Of course, if available this also includes quantitative data or other documented forms of evidence such as changes to public policy/legislation/regulations/guidelines, statistics on improved efficiency, measures of improved public services, etc.

Our current systems have been built to reinforce certain power dynamics, social norms and mindsets. Without addressing those imbalances, we have no hope of securing healthy democracies and a thriving planetary future.

Diversity, Equity and Inclusion (DEI) is a term used to describe commitments – manifest through policies, programs, campaigns and other actions – to address these power imbalances.

For guidance on best practices, we recommend this DEI Resource Bank by Finnish non-profit Inklusiiv.