In an increasingly complex national and global context, most centres of government play a pivotal role at the heart of government. Governments increasingly recognise that they can no longer rely on traditional decision-making practices or siloed ways of working. Instead, they must take more co-ordinated, agile, and proactive action that is founded on trust in public institutions and evidence-informed decision-making.

Centres of Government are pivotal in this essential transformation. With their central positioning, they act as the bridge between the political and administrative spheres of government, support strategic planning and priority setting, and modernise and transform management practices across the public administration.

The Centres of Government Network provides a forum for discussion by participants from COGs. It provides a trusted and high-level platform for knowledge-sharing on how to best respond and co-ordinate responses to major challenges, while at the same time building a community of practice to enhance governance and effectiveness from the centre of government. The meetings serve three main purposes to: 

• Discuss how to make the centre of national government work more effectively.
• Develop a more in-depth understanding of decision and policymaking systems. 
• Advance broad governance issues fundamental to achieving economic and social public policy objectives.

Meetings are hosted annually at the OECD Headquarters or by a country within the Network.