Meaningful Consulting in Public Policy and Management

Working closely with governments on public policy and management systems has proven to be one of the most rewarding and impactful careers. This work involves researching, designing, and implementing evidence-based, contextual, inclusive, innovative, and systemic solutions for governments and their people, while transferring knowledge to build their institutional capacity to ensure the sustainability of the impact.

When Beyond Group was founded in 2010, our goal was not to create another bottom-line-driven consulting firm. We started with a belief in the state's role in ensuring a better quality of life for its people and instilling #justice, #equality, and #freedom in society. We aspired to make a difference by supporting governments in developing policy solutions, building their institutional capacity, and facilitating stakeholders' partnerships for implementation. Fifteen years later, we remain committed to offering meaningful consulting that goes beyond producing Word documents, PowerPoint strategies, or PDF policy papers. Our multidisciplinary, innovative, and contextual approach has provided numerous opportunities to witness the impact of our work.

One of the most demotivating factors affecting our consultants is when a developed policy or strategy remains unadopted or unimplemented. For instance, the Social Protection Strategy for Lebanon was finalized in 2022, adopted in May 2023, and has yet to move into implementation.

This is why #SaudiArabia has been offering a sense of meaningfulness to many consultants like us. Projects we undertake are often adopted and implemented. Government entities request the participation of all stakeholders in the process, such as in our engagement on Jazan Regional and Local Plans, the AlUla Operating Model, or MoMRA Municipal Policy Unit.

We are witnessing similar positive patterns working with governments in #Europe. With recent social, economic, and political challenges, #German institutions are more keen to take policy actions and embrace institutional transformation that we are currently experiencing working with them on projects related to sustainability, social inclusion, and international cooperation.

We consultants seek meaningful work, driven by more than just financial gain. The consulting industry involves real hardships and complex approaches to succeed in developing sectoral policies and strategies, reengineering organizational structures, building human capabilities, and implementing solutions. This sense of meaningfulness is a key driver for our hard work.

After 25 years of working in this field with governments in more than 30 countries, I continue to believe in the consulting industry, albeit with a nuanced perspective. To be effective and find meaning in our work, consultants are invited to adopt different practices:

• Contextualizing Solutions: Adapting solutions to fit the social, cultural, and economic landscape is vital, while still learning from international best practices to ensure successful implementation.
• Engaging Stakeholders: Assisting stakeholders in making decisions requires a thorough and genuine understanding of their relationships, interests, and stakes, both formal and informal.
• Participatory Design and Implementation: Investing in a participatory process is crucial for facilitating knowledge transfer and alignment between actors.
• Integrating Technology: Embracing technology in design and implementation is essential for increased efficiency and scalability.
• Maintaining a Multidisciplinary Approach: Considering social, cultural, environmental, economic, and governance dimensions simultaneously in any solution design, ensures sustainable long-term solutions.
• Transferring Knowledge: Continuously sharing expertise with local partners, through leadership development and change management activities, empowers them to sustain and build upon the impact.
• Internal Culture of Innovation and Collaboration: Bringing together multicultural teams introduces diverse and innovative expertise, fostering an internal culture that thrives on collaboration.

Beyond Group is currently expanding, particularly in the #GCC and #European markets. If you are looking for a meaningful #career, have a passion for finding systemic solutions to impact the public good, possess organizational or sectoral expertise, can communicate with diverse audiences, have a good mix of analytical and systems thinking skills, are hardworking, and enjoy working with multidisciplinary teams, visit our website (www.beyondgroupconsulting.com) and submit your resume.