Politicians, policy makers and public servants have never faced a situation like this. They immediately need policies that really work. Best practices can serve as an inspiration, a starting point and a proof of concept.
A resource centre for public sector practitioners
The Ash Center at Harvard Kennedy School curates an online platform to provide resources for public sector practitioners.
Banishing car traffic from the city’s streets
To provide bicyclists and pedestrians with more space on the streets for commuting and exercising, the city of Oakland banishes car traffic from 74 miles of its streets.
A government’s call for the general mobilisation of solidarity
Faced with the coronavirus epidemic, the French government calls for solidarity among citizens to support the most vulnerable groups of society.
Self-sufficiency in times of lockdown
A small municipality in Lebanon is increasing its self-sufficiency by handing out seedlings to families with gardens or land.
Bientina Instagram contest
An Italian municipality engages its youth in an Instagram challenge on how to stay positive at home.
Production of antiseptics from confiscated ethyl alcohol
To tackle the shortage of antiseptics, the Greek Ministry of Health decided to produce disinfectants with confiscated products that are currently at hand.
Connecting businesses and individuals to find solutions for key challenges
Life Sciences Hub Wales connects innovators to accelerate the development of urgently needed products and treatments and to ease the pressures on health care services.
Providing information for voluntary services
To allow for smooth and un-bureacratic administrative support for voluntary services, the regional government of Rhineland-Palatine has set up an information initiative.
Successfully organizing blood donations
To make blood donations possible, an online platform was created that allows citizens to book personal appointments in special donation facilities.
Virtual court hearings during Covid-19
To replace in-person court hearings during the coronavirus crisis, video conferencing allows involved parties to go through with court proceedings.
Chatbot provides reliable information on the Covid-19 situation
A chatbot on government websites helps to prevent the spread of misinformation and keeps emergency phone lines free.
A government’s hackathon to tackle challenges in developing countries
With the #SmartDevelopmentHack, the German Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development aims to support the development of digital solutions to overcome Covid-19-related challenges in developing countries. The best solutions receive funding to increase their impact in the long term.