PERSPECTIVES ON INTERNATIONAL PUBLIC SECTOR REFORM BECAUSE
Frequently Asked Questions
What is ReformWorks?
ReformWorks is an independent thinktank and consultancy that provides evidence-based research, learning, and change support to international organizations. We provide independent business intelligence that helps leaders and decision-makers effectively manage intergovernmental organizations to maximize their performance and impact. Our tools are based on academic research and recognize that international organizations often need tailored approaches specific to their politically complex and resource constrained environments. To maintain our independence, ReformWorks is funded solely through the revenue we earn when clients purchase our products and services. ReformWorks is a Limited Liability Company (LLC) registered in New York. ReformWorks
What does ReformWorks do?
ReformWorks empowers decision-makers and managers in international organizations by sharing independent research on the effective functioning of international organizations in monthly spotlight articles, in our learning events and by using it to help organizations improve how they manage their human and financial resources to deliver on their mandate with maximum impact. ReformWorks distills concrete policy and operational implications from the research to provide managers and decision-makers with practical solutions that are realistic in terms of the financial and political context in which they are operating. Since 2024, we’ve had more than 16,000 people read our research spotlights. ReformWorks has delivered learning events on managing the risks of different types of funding, how to foster organizational learning and why innovation needs to be approached differently in international organizations to scale effectively. We’ve also evaluated the UN Department of Political and Peacebuilding Affairs’ approach to innovation and undertaken a review of past peace and security reforms and supported UNOPS management reforms and culture change by designing a unique mobility framework for its personnel. ReformWorks has also collaborated with partners in undertaking its own research, creating a toolkit for Fifth Committee members on how to rejuvenate the UN Secretariat, as it considers providing paid internships.
What are the Issue Spotlights blog articles on ReformWorks about?
ReformWorks' Issue Spotlights translate the latest independent research on the performance of international organizations into concrete advice and insights for practitioners and decision-makers in those organizations. The spotlights provide evidence-based analysis of organizational reform proposals and debates such as UN80; governance, accountability and transparency mechanisms; innovation and digital transformation, among others. These resources are designed for diplomats, researchers, and practitioners working to enhance the performance and impact of intergovernmental organizations.
What kind of research does ReformWorks offer?
ReformWorks curates independent research and, in partnership with others, undertakes its own applied research to develop evidence-based toolkits to highlight policy opportunities and risks for decision-makers in international organization. These detailed research studies provide practical policy recommendations and map out the impact of different potential compromises in internal and legislative policy debates on reform initiatives. The toolkits are designed to support informed decision-making ahead of key institutional processes, such as the debate on paid internships within the UN General Assembly’s Fifth Committee. In addition, ReformWorks leads research and evaluation projects for international organizations, such as the evaluation of innovation in the UN Department of Political and Peacebuilding Affairs or the review of peace and security reforms for the UN Secretariat.
What are the ReformWorks Learning Events and who are they for?
Learning Events include webinars and expert-practitioner dialogues that allow managers and leaders in international organizations to explore the structural, political and cultural challenges that can impede programme performance and realistic and implementable ways of mitigating those challenges. Through interactive discussions with experts and peers, participants with concrete advice and tools on how to tackle the challenges facing their programmes and teams. The ReformWorks webinar series ‘Not all Money is Equal’ provided learners with a matrix and method to analyze and mitigate the risks related voluntary and assessed funding for different initiatives, for instance. Learning events are open to anyone working in or with international organizations.
How does ReformWorks support change management in international organizations?
ReformWorks has the knowledge and experience to understand the unique dynamics of change in international organizations and what techniques actually work when designing and managing change and reform efforts. Change and reform processes in international need to address institutional, human and political dynamics to be effective - although often there is too much focus on one aspect at the expense of others. ReformWorks support international organizations in their change efforts through targeted consultancies that provide evaluation and assessment services and/or strategic planning and design of initiatives to improve performance in line with existing capacities and resources. ReformWorks also provides subscriptions for ongoing change management support and coaching for teams undergoing restructuring or downsizing in light of the changing financial landscape. These subscriptions are designed to provide ongoing facilitation of planning retreats, team-coaching and leadership coaching for teams facing continued uncertainty and change.
Who is behind ReformWorks?
ReformWorks was founded by Katja Hemmerich, after 20 years of leadership and change management experience in the United Nations. Having led numerous performance improvement and reform initiatives, she has firsthand insight into what emerging research confirms: the effectiveness of international organizations is deeply shaped by political dynamics among member states and meaningful engagement with beneficiaries. She launched ReformWorks to build a knowledge-policy community and platform that translates research into practical, evidence-based management strategies for international institutions.
Our team also includes contributors like Dr. Hannah Davies, Jose Veliz, Dr. Ronny Patz, Simone Anzboeck, Andraž Melanšek, and Thibault Camelli. Our website and social media presence would not be possible without the support of Evelyn Alberty at One Girl Guru,
How does ReformWorks tailor its support to international organizations?
Unlike generic private-sector models, ReformWorks relies on independent research grounded in the intergovernmental nature of international institutions, ensuring recommendations are contextually relevant. Our interventions recognize and address that performance and change in international organization needs to address the institutional, human and political dynamics, and these dynamics are generally different in organizations made up of member states.
Who benefits from ReformWorks’ offerings?
Our audience spans diplomats, leaders and managers, HR and learning practitioners, researchers, and change agents aiming to improve governance, reform processes, organizational performance, and decision-making effectiveness across the UN system and other international organizations.
How can I get involved or access services?
ReformWorks is always looking to build the community researchers and practitioners working for more effective international organizations. To be part of this community Subscribe Here to get our bi-weekly newsletter with research spotlights and updates on key governance and management issues in the UN system.Researchers interested in sharing their research and collaborating on a research spotlight or a learning event should fill out the Contributor Form. For anyone interested in our change management or coaching subscriptions or interventions or to collaborate on research projects, please email info@reformworks.org to set up a meeting about your needs.
Where can I stay updated?
Subscribe to the ReformWork Newsletter to receive the latest articles, analysis, and event announcements directly. Subscribe Here
How Is AI Used?
ReformWorks sometimes uses Microsoft Copilot, ChatGPT, or Claude to improve clarity and shorten text in its documentation and on its website, with the final editing completed exclusively by humans. ReformWorks does not use AI to draft entire texts. It also uses Gemini, Claude, and ChatGPT to support data analytics, and these outputs are systematically checked by humans. All analytical judgments and conclusions in every ReformWorks product and publication are made by humans.