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‍SRLA MONTHLY NEWSLETTER January 2025

‍SRLA MONTHLY NEWSLETTER January 2025

SRLA MONTHLY NEWSLETTER January 2025 

From the President’s Desk

Dear reader, beginning of any year marks a new start, new aspirations, new horizons for achievements. Within SRLA we will make sure we provide you with interesting developments in the field of public administration, public governance and policymaking during 2025.  "Knowledge is the only wealth that increases when it is shared," as Socrates supposedly said long time ago. There is so much truth and wisdom in this thought. We will continue mobilizing the expertise of our network to shape the content of the SRLA Newsletter and to share knowledge on how best to deliver public values at local, national, and global levels.


Magda Stepanyan
SRLA President


New tool to assess the impact of AI systems on human rights


The Council of Europe has introduced the HUDERIA Methodology, a comprehensive tool designed to guide risk and impact assessments for Artificial Intelligence (AI) systems. This innovative approach helps public and private organizations identify and mitigate risks to human rights, democracy, and the rule of law across the entire AI lifecycle.


The methodology emphasizes creating a risk mitigation plan to address identified risks. For instance, if an AI system used in hiring is discovered to discriminate against specific demographic groups, the plan might include revising the algorithm or introducing human oversight. By focusing on proactive measures, HUDERIA aims to protect the public from potential harm caused by AI.

Regular reassessments are a key feature of the methodology, ensuring that AI systems remain safe and ethical as technology and societal contexts evolve. This dynamic approach provides ongoing protection against emerging risks.

For risk managers, the HUDERIA Methodology represents a vital step toward ensuring responsible and ethical AI deployment while safeguarding the fundamental principles of human rights and democracy.

https://rm.coe.int/cai-2024-16rev2-methodology-for-the-risk-and-impact-assessment-of-arti/1680b2a09f


Using foresight to anticipate emerging critical risks

A new OECD working paper, "Proposed Methodology on Using Foresight to Anticipate Emerging Critical Risks", introduces an interesting framework designed to help countries prepare for uncertain and complex global risks. Developed as part of the OECD's Framework on the Management of Emerging Critical Risks, this methodology equips policymakers and risk experts with tools to anticipate and address evolving threats that transcend national borders.


The methodology emphasizes proactive risk management through horizon scanning, which identifies weak signals and unconventional data sources such as patent analysis, crowd forecasting, and AI tools to detect emerging risks early. It employs advanced techniques like futures wheels and cross-impact analysis to explore and map interconnected risks, while the Risk-Worlds framework creates scenarios to understand how these risks might manifest and interact in different future contexts. Designed to be dynamic and adaptive, the approach calls for regular reassessments, ensuring governments remain prepared for evolving challenges.


For risk managers, this paper offers practical insights and innovative strategies to enhance readiness and resilience against emerging critical risks.

https://www.oecd.org/content/dam/oecd/en/publications/reports/2024/12/using-foresight-to-anticipate-emerging-critical-risks_c7470065/84820cd8-en.pdf

 

EU annual report 2024 - The state of regions and cities

The "State of Regions and Cities"-report, edited by the European Committee of the Regions, provides a comprehensive analysis of the challenges and opportunities faced by regions and cities across Europe. It underscores the pivotal role of local and regional governments in addressing complex global issues such as climate change, digitalization, inequality, and post-COVID recovery.

The report highlights several critical challenges for risk management in the public sector. Post-pandemic economic recovery remains a top concern, with regions working to rebuild equitable and resilient health and socio-economic systems. Climate-related risks, such as extreme weather events, are testing the sustainability and preparedness of local governments. Accelerated digitalization has brought about significant cybersecurity vulnerabilities, while financial pressures from inflation and reduced revenues strain public budgets. Other key challenges include growing inequalities, migration pressures, and governance gaps that hinder coordinated risk management across sectors and levels of government. Overcoming these challenges demands innovative governance frameworks, strong collaboration, and strategic resilience-building to ensure sustainable outcomes for regions and cities.

https://cor.europa.eu/sites/default/files/2024-09/Report-state-regions-and-cities-EN.pdf