Weekly Briefing: Why we need to measure innovation; blind dates for public servants

Top Stories

If we want innovation to flourish, we have to evaluate it. Even in pioneering Denmark, just one in every two public innovations is measured for impact. Here's why we’re missing out on key data that could lead to a more mature, systemic approach to experimentation. (Lene Krogh Jeppesen, Danish National Centre for Public Sector Innovation)

How public servants should (and shouldn’t) use social media: A guide. Today’s government employees aren’t just expected to do great work — they also need to shout about it. From sharing team photos to engaging with citizens, here’s how to be smart on social. (Amanda Bernardo, Treasury Board of Canada Secretariat)

In Oslo, sick kids fish, chop wood and shoot arrows. A Norwegian hospital built a woodland cabin 650 feet from its building to test nature’s effect on healing. Doctors find that letting children play outside curbs stress and helps heal trauma. (Apolitical)

Pakistan hopes a hotline for new fathers will save babies’ lives. Men can call in for free and ask doctors about pregnancy and infant care. The goal is to boost men’s involvement with children in a country with the worst infant mortality rate in the world: for every 22 babies born, one dies. (Apolitical)

Colombia is learning from startups to get the public sector innovating. Startups continually deploy experiments and get feedback from users, who act as co-creators of their products and services. Here’s how Colombia’s government will start taking the same approach. (Aura Cifuentes & Javier Guillot, Colombia's National Planning Department)

Governance and Citizen Engagement

Canada wants to beat its toxic political culture by sending lawmakers on blind dates. A publicly funded reality show pairs mayors, premiers and party leaders who disagree on divisive issues, from gun control to carbon taxes. The goal is to humanise political discourse. (Washington Post)

Finland is offering foreigners a free summer vacation so they can learn to be happy. To celebrate being named the happiest nation in the world, the country launched a tourism campaign called ‘Rent a Finn’, through which citizens will teach visitors how to find joy in nature. (Rent a Finn)

Evolving Cities

Cities are using home sharing to tackle loneliness and high housing costs. Brussels, London and Seoul are among those matching cash-strapped young people with elderly homeowners who offer up a spare room in exchange for companionship. (Thomson Reuters)

If you buy a new home in Amsterdam, you soon won’t be able to rent it out. The new proposal, expected to be adopted into law this fall, is part of the city’s plan to tackle its escalating housing crisis. One in every five homes in the city is sold to an investor. (The Guardian)

Gender Equality

Japan is using ‘hunky dads’ to sell more equitable parenting. The government’s campaign to make fatherhood look cool and sexy features good-looking men taking care of kids and doing chores. It's boosted paternal leave uptake from 2% in 2012 to 7% in 2017. (Quartz)

Education and Changing Jobs

Ukrainian students who studied media literacy were 18% better at identifying fake news. Journalists and fact checkers help teachers integrate training into existing lessons: pupils study the implications of word choice in literature class, for example, and doctored videos in art. (NPR)

And finally

China cloned the Sherlock Holmes of police dogs to cut training time and costs. Scientists produced the puppy after taking a DNA sample from decorated seven-year-old Huahuangma. Officers expect her to be a fully trained recruit by just 10 months old. (Sky News)

(Picture credit: Pexels)