The Blavatnik School of Government's People in Government Lab (PeopleGov) will host the second talk of the PeopleGov Speaker Series in collaboration with the World Bank’s Bureaucracy Lab. In this talk, Daniel Rogger, Research Economist at the World Bank; Weubamlak Eshetu, Director General of the Ethiopian Institute of Management; and Ishiyaku Mohammed, Special Adviser to the Governor of Gombe State in Nigeria, will discuss how civil services can use data for effective people and policy management. The conversation will be moderated by Martin Williams, Academic Co-Director of the People in Government Lab and Associate Professor in Public Management at the Blavatnik School of Government.

The use of data in governments is relevant to design public policy and to deliver public services, but also to make bureaucracies more effective. However, developing data management systems for government effectiveness can be challenging. In this conversation, we discuss ways to harness data inside governments, how to improve data systems and the opportunities for policy-relevant research.

Please note: This event takes place online via Zoom, and will also be livestreamed and archived on our YouTube channel. Register below to receive joining instructions closer to the event date.

About the PeopleGov Speaker Series:

The PeopleGov Speaker Series consists of conversations between academics and practitioners – from the public and private sector – on the most pressing topics in people and performance management. Each talk will provide actionable knowledge to address key challenges and opportunities for the public sector. Every two weeks, we will convene outstanding speakers and an audience of participants with expertise on these subjects in order to bring together a community of excellence. The PeopleGov Speaker Series is coordinated by Margarita Gómez, the Executive Director of the People in Government Lab.

Save the date for the next PeopleGov Speaker Series talks:

• Reimagining public service in the wake of COVID-19 – 3 December, 16:00 GMT
• People management: building the bridge between the public and private sector – 17 December, 16:00 GMT

About the speakers

Daniel Rogger is a Research Economist in the Development Impact Evaluation Research Group at the World Bank. He manages the civil service portfolio of the ieGovern initiative that runs rigorous impact evaluations inside government organisations. He is also co-lead of the Bank’s ‘Bureaucracy Lab’, with a focus on the running of large-scale quantitative surveys in civil service organisations. His research focuses on the organisation of the delivery of public goods. Dan holds a PhD in Economics from University College London and was a PhD scholar at the Institute for Fiscal Studies where he is now an International Research Fellow.

Weubamlak Eshetu Mengistu is the Director General of the Ethiopian Management Institute. She has contributed towards the country's growth in different roles working as a member of the National Civil Service Reform Program in different capacities. She holds a Master of Arts in Human Resource Development and Management Learning from Lancaster University (2003, UK) and a Postgraduate Diploma in Human Resource Management from University of Washington (2012, USA). She is a Human Resource Development Specialist and has been recognised as a Certified Trainer by the National School of Government (2008, UK), a Master Professional in Performance Management by George Washington University (2009, USA) and a Certified Management Consultant by the Ethiopian Management Institute (2015).

Ishiyaku Mohammed is the Special Adviser to the Governor of Gombe State, Nigeria. Before his appointment, he was a Deputy Director working in the agricultural and environmental sectors for the Government of Nigeria. He served as Senior Technical Adviser for the Minister of State for Environment where he coordinated the technical team and was responsible for ensuring the implementation of the new narrative of taking climate action, protecting the environment, and empowering people. Ishiyaku was chosen as one of Africa’s emerging leaders by the African Leadership Institute West Africa, which is part of the Aspen Global Leadership initiative. He holds a degree of Doctor of Veterinary Medicine and an MSc in Public Health and Preventive Medicine Excellence.

Martin J Williams is an Associate Professor in Public Management at the Blavatnik School of Government, and Research Fellow at Green Templeton College. His research is on policy implementation, public service delivery and bureaucratic reform, mostly in low- and middle-income countries. He also teaches and conducts research on the roles of evidence, context and external validity in policymaking. Martin is an academic co-director of the People in Government Lab and co-research director of the DeliverEd (Deliver Education Reforms) project. He co-convenes the Master of Public Policy core course on Evidence and Public Policy.