By: Jiyeong Nam, KGGTF 2025 Youth Intern
On Thursday, February 6, 2025, KGGTF interns gathered at the UN Governance Center in Songdo, Incheon, to visit the UN Project Office on Governance (UNPOG), located on the building’s eighth floor. The UNPOG team, led by six experts, welcomed the interns and facilitated a session that provided valuable insights alongside an introduction to the organization. The session covered a wide range of perspectives on governance and the work of international organizations.
The session began with a round of introductions, where each participant, including six UNPOG members, KGGTF members, and interns, presented themselves. Two UNPOG members noted that they had been dispatched from government ministries, while four others shared their prior experiences with international organizations and the UN internship program. KGGTF interns also introduced themselves and expressed their eagerness to learn from the session.
Carolit Grace V. Salvacion, the Associate Networking and Outreach Expert, opened the presentation by explaining UNPOG’s role within the United Nations (UN) system. She clarified its placement under the Division for Public Institutions & Digital Government (DPIDG) within the United Nations Department of Economic and Social Affairs (UN DESA).
“We strengthen public administration offices. So, we work together with public officials and government officials, and then we try to build their capacity,” Salvacion explained, highlighting the UNPOG’s mission. UNPOG focuses on strengthening public institutions, innovating public services, and engaging whole societies. She also presented a list of UNPOG partners, representing various sectors including private industry, national governments and academic institutions. This collaborative approach underscores the UNPOG’s commitment to achieving its objectives through collective efforts.
UNPOG’s work is guided by three core activity pillars: research and policy analysis, capacity development, and networking and outreach. As an expert in networking and outreach, Salvacion stressed the importance of knowledge sharing in these areas, particularly the need to filter “real information.” She outlined UNPOG’s key activities in 2024, which included policy briefs on specific topic of climate governance, capacity development initiatives such as e-learning courses, a workshop during the UN Public Service Forum (PSF), and the Regional Forum - a “flagship event” for UNPOG.
During the Q&A session, UNPOG members provided more detailed insights about the organization, including its member states and partnerships with the private sector.
In response to a question about the gap between ideal and practical governance, the UNPOG experts shared their perspectives on 'good governance.' Ana Cristina Thorlund, a Governance and Public Administration Expert, described governance as the integration of various elements, such as accountability and inclusiveness. “You should not tackle SDGs alone without synergies… Don’t think about isolated aspects,” Thorlund emphasized. She highlighted the importance of systems thinking to anticipate synergistic relationships between different governance elements, particularly in the field of international development.
Additionally, Sang-Gwang Kim, a director from the Ministry of the Interior and Safety, emphasized the importance of involving diverse interest groups in governance to achieve optimal solutions. Drawing from his experience with a recent smart city project, he highlighted UNPOG’s role in facilitating consultations between public developers, private investors and citizens.