The centre of government (CoG), also known as the Office of the President, the Chancellery, the Cabinet Office, the General Secretariat of Government, among others, refers to the unit or group of units that serve the Head of the Executive (President or Prime minister and the cabinet collectively). The CoG often plays an important role in bridging the relationship between administrative officials and political appointees. It serves as a conduit for translating government agendas into whole-of-government strategies that guide policymaking across government. The CoG role in steering of public administration is also increasingly expanding into other areas including policy reforms, strategic planning, policy development, coordination between ministries, monitoring and data governance (OECD, forthcoming).

In many Latin American and Caribbean (LAC) countries, the centre of government (CoG) serves as a vital support mechanism for the head of government (i.e., the president) and their respective cabinets of ministers. Traditionally, one of the CoG’s primary roles is to ensure that the policies proposed and implemented by line ministries are aligned with overarching strategic priorities (e.g. high-level outcomes that a government aims to achieve) and national strategies (e.g. comprehensive plans formulated by a government to achieve strategic priorities), typically outlined in the government agenda or programme. Strategic planning and prioritisation tend to involve actors from several areas of the administration as well as external stakeholders, requiring the CoG to take a co-ordinated approach across government. To achieve this, many CoGs collaborate with line ministries to establish targets and define action plans, aligning budgetary resources with these plans. Some CoGs also monitor progress towards defined targets during the implementation of strategies and polices, and provide assistance to line ministries to improve their performance.

The communication functions of centres of government (CoGs) are vital for ensuring effective dissemination of government objectives and to foster transparency, accountability and public engagement (OECD, 2021). Moreover, as digital technology fuels the demand for instant information, CoGs are responsible for ensuring the accurate and timely dissemination of government messages to all segments of society. The digital transformation has also allowed ministries and officials to engage with citizens in real time. Against this backdrop, a co-ordinated and comprehensive communication strategy is essential for fostering trust in the government's integrity and approach (Shostak et al., 2023).

To ensure their relevance and impact, the messages and channels used in public communication campaigns about government policies need to be tailored for different target populations (OECD, 2021). Such targeted communication campaigns can help ensure that people in all segments of the population are informed and engaged and feel heard by their government. Such campaigns can be targeted based on demographics, including young people, the elderly, women, LGBTQI collectives or other under-represented groups. Targeting can also be based on the values different groups have, for example with regard to specific topics. Countries also need to systematically evaluate the impact of their public communication campaigns and strategies, including both their intended and unintended consequences, to determine how well they met their objectives. This can then pave the way for improving future campaigns.

The rule of law is a fundamental pillar of democratic governance, ensuring that all individuals and organisations, including the government, are subject to the same rules, standards and principles. Legal cultures encompass a variety of elements, such as laws, codes, statutes, traditions, procedural rulings and international agreements. These components work together in a system to uphold the rule of law, protecting rights and limiting government powers, ensuring government accountability. It also facilitates the effective provision of public goods and promotes economic development by creating a predictable and transparent legal environment for businesses to operate in fostering economic growth and stability, while acting as a safeguard against breaches of integrity and corruption. Under the rule of law, every person is entitled to equal treatment in accordance with the law and fair judgment from independent and impartial courts (Venice Commission, 2011).

Political parties and election campaigns are the basis of modern democracies, reflecting the interests of citizens and playing a crucial role in the election of representatives. Financial contributions enable individuals and entities to support candidates and political parties that align with their political views. However, unregulated contributions pose a risk of undue influence and policy capture. Ensuring transparency through rules and oversight of electoral finance is therefore crucial for strengthening the integrity of the democratic process.

Identifying, regulating and managing potential conflicts of interest among policy makers, as well as potential undue influence from interest groups, are key elements to strengthen and enhance transparency and accountability. Failure to identify and manage conflicts of interests correctly can undermine the impartiality of policy making and service delivery. If not appropriately regulated, conflicts of interest can also open the door for potential policy capture by private interest groups. Likewise, while interest groups provide valuable insights on public policies, the misuse of lobbying practices can result in them exerting undue influence through the use of covert information or manipulation of public opinion, prioritising their interests over public ones.