Building innovation capabilities in East Africa’s public sector

Abstract

Public sector institutions in East Africa operate in increasingly complex environments shaped by digital transformation, climate pressures, demographic shifts, and growing citizen expectations. In practice, many agencies are required to respond to these pressures while working within inherited administrative systems that were not originally designed for rapid adaptation or experimentation. However, many public organisations continue to function within rigid bureaucratic systems that constrain innovation, limit cross-sector collaboration, and slow institutional adaptation. Strengthening innovation capability within the public sector is therefore not optional but central to improving governance performance and public service delivery. The Building Innovation Capabilities (BIC) programme was implemented between October 2024 and May 2025 as a collaborative initiative involving KTH Royal Institute of Technology (Sweden), Strathmore University (Kenya), and the University of Dar es Salaam (Tanzania), with support from the Swedish Institute under the SI Public Sector Innovation Programme. The programme engaged 26 public sector officials from Kenya and Tanzania through a structured, four-module approach combining theoretical grounding, peer learning, stakeholder engagement, and internal change projects. Early outcomes indicate that participating institutions initiated or formalised internal innovation policies, advanced digital transformation initiatives, and strengthened collaboration between public agencies and universities. This policy brief synthesises the key challenges identified, outlines viable policy pathways for institutionalising innovation capability, and presents targeted recommendations for governments, public sector leaders, development partners, and academic institutions seeking to embed sustainable innovation systems across East Africa.