Citra, SL’s Social Innovation Lab launched | Sunday Observer

Citra, SL’s Social Innovation Lab launched

17 February, 2019
 Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe and Non-Cabinet Minister Sujeewa Senasinghe leaf through the First Year Review.
Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe and Non-Cabinet Minister Sujeewa Senasinghe leaf through the First Year Review.

The Citra Social Innovation Lab, co-developed by the Ministry of Science, Technology and Research and the United Nations Development Program (UNDP), was launched by Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe in Colombo recently.

Citra works to strengthen institutions, build capacities of the public sector, and re-engineer public service delivery through specialised foresight and innovation tools, such as design-thinking, user-journey mapping exercises and human-centered design approaches, among others.

The Lab works in alignment with national development priorities and works towards bringing in greater citizen engagement to the formulation of development solutions.

Prime Minister Wickremesinghe said, “Great to see the results of the Citra Social Innovation Lab within a year of its existence - how programs have been carried out, the number of ministries the lab has partnered with, all those engaged and involved in social innovation who want to make a change in society.”

The work of Citra began in the first quarter of 2018 and has already been instrumental in delivering key initiatives of value-addition to the work of the Government through innovative design interventions and particularly through the Foresight and Innovation for Public Sector Excellence program aimed at equipping select public sector officials with the skills and tools to become catalytic agents in Sri Lanka’s development efforts.

Citra’s first annual report ‘Our 1 Year In Review’ was also launched at the event, further detailing the work undertaken and partnerships established in its inception year.

Minister of Science, Technology and Research, Sujeewa Senasinghe said, “The Ministry is proud to be an anchor for Citra Social Innovation Lab within the Government.

The work, the Lab has been carrying out is of definite value to the country, and on behalf of the Ministry, I look forward to continuing our support extended to Citra to ensure they are provide effective solutions to the country’s needs”.

The event was attended by ministers, Government officials, members of the diplomatic community and innovation leads from around Asia Pacific, Founder and CEO of Alberta CoLab in Canada, and the Founder of the UNDP Innovation Lab, MiLab in Moldova.

UNDP Resident Representative, Jorn Sorensen said, “ Being a of Citra’s journey has been a rewarding experience for us at UNDP.

I take this opportunity to thank all our partners, especially the Government, for being with us on this journey. We count on your continuous support, so together we can achieve much more, to realise the vision of a sustainable tomorrow.”

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