By Ahmed Oraif, Director, Clients & Markets at KPMG in Saudi City governments face many challenges daily, often needing to catch up on their strategic goal of creating more urban livable environments. To seek constant progress in leveraging the latest available best practices and technologies, the tried and tested approach of establishing a Center of Excellence (CoE) can be a game changer. Here are some of the successful global initiatives that illustrate the transformative power of CoEs: - The New York City Center for Economic Opportunity collaborates with the private sector to develop several innovative public-private partnership (PPP) projects, with more than 40 programs implemented in partnership with 20 city agencies. - The London Centre for Smart City Solutions has worked with the private sector to develop several innovative smart city projects, such as traffic management and water monitoring systems. - The Singapore Smart Nation and Digital Government Office has collaborated with the private sector to attract foreign investment and foster a thriving start-up ecosystem. - The Dubai Future Foundation (DFF) brings together government agencies, startups and organizations to develop and implement solutions to address Dubai's challenges. For example, the DFF worked with the private sector to develop several innovative solutions to tackle challenges from governance and public services to urban development and infrastructure. - In Saudi Arabia, the CoE for PPP, established under the Ministry of Municipal, Rural Affairs and Housing (MOMRAH), enhances the efficiency and effectiveness of municipal and housing assets and services. The CoE is already working on PPP projects across 17 municipalities, including smart parking, waste management, parks, and smart inspections. The model has already proved an effective collaborative platform for MOMRAH, the municipalities, the National Center for Privatization and PPP and the private sector to work toward improving the city services with innovative PPP models, supporting the Vision 2030 objective to position three Saudi cities among the world's top 100 most livable cities by 2023. Establishing a CoE has several advantages as it drives excellence, innovation, and economic growth. Here are some of them: - Improve efficiency: The CoEs bring together experts from different disciplines who can identify and implement solutions to improve the efficiency of city operations. These efficiency gains can unlock resources that can be reinvested in key areas, such as public services or infrastructure. - Foster innovation: By providing a forum for exchanging ideas and best practices, CoEs can promote innovation within cities, leading to the development of new products, services, and technologies that can enhance the quality of life of the residents, as well as attract businesses and investors. - Increasing investment appeal: By demonstrating the city's commitment to improving its economy and quality of life, CoEs can help to increase its investment attractiveness. The enhancements can attract businesses and investors seeking to establish operations within a city. In conclusion, CoE is a pivotal tool in improving the efficiency and effectiveness of municipal services, promoting innovation and drawing investment. It is a key to promoting a better quality of life and a thriving economy for a country.
