From agentic workflows to interoperability in action and new AI strategies shaping national agendas. Here’s what caught our attention in October, and why it matters for public sector innovators.
In this edition of our Monthly Insights, we spotlight five timely developments helping public sector leaders make whole-of-government transformation a reality — from new legislation to global peer learning and practical AI guidance.
🔹 1. Big tech is rolling out agentic workflows …
… and governments should take note. OpenAI’s Agentic Commerce Protocol lets ChatGPT handle purchases end to end — from browsing to payment — for Etsy and Shopify stores. The same agentic model could soon power real-world service transactions, including in government.
➡️ Why this matters: “With this transaction layer, it could become possible for a user to access government systems and trigger actions on their behalf within those systems - getting us closer to the conversational digital services future we’ve talked about since before the LLM boom.” - Kristo Vaher, Director of Technology at Digital Nation
🔹 2. Lesotho is getting started with interoperability
Last month, we welcomed a high-level delegation from Lesotho’s Ministry of Information, Communications, Science, Technology and Innovation to Estonia. Through workshops on X-Road, digital service transformation, and digital governance, we explored how to deliver large-scale transformation programmes, including the first concrete steps toward building decentralised interoperability.
➡️ Why this matters: “Many governments ask us where to begin. This visit illustrated what the real starting points look like — aligning around delivery plans and building shared understanding. As with digital transformation more broadly, interoperability is 20% technology and 80% transformation.” - Maksim Ovtsinnikov, Director of Interoperability at Digital Nation
Btw, if you’re looking to take the first steps in interoperability or service transformation, check out the free consultancy tool on our website - Fusion Intellect - to get the first actionable advice tailored to your context immediately!
🔹 3. The Agentic State, final version
First flagged in our May insights loop, the final version of Rethinking Government for the Era of Agentic AI was unveiled at the Tallinn Digital Summit. The paper expands from a 10-layer playbook to a 12-layer operating model, elevating enablement through new chapters on Agent Governance and Cybersecurity & Resilience.
➡️ Why this matters: “This edition moves from ‘how to deploy agents’ to ‘how to govern them’ - making accountability, safety, budgeting, and workforce transition first-class policy concerns. It underlines that citizens and businesses must have meaningful control over agentic systems affecting them, ensuring oversight, redress, and measurable outcomes are built in.” – Sigrit Siht, Director of Data & AI at Digital Nation
🔹 4. DRC launches PNN2 and its first National AI Strategy
On 8 October, the Democratic Republic of Congo’s Minister of Digital Economy announced the formal drafting of National Digital Plan 2026–2030 (PNN2) and the National AI Strategy, supported by a combined public and partner investment exceeding US$1.5B. The plan’s four pillars - infrastructure, digital public services, human capital, and cybersecurity - signal a step change in ambition.
➡️ Why this matters: “DRC’s roadmap sets a clear, funded path for building national digital public infrastructure and scaling digital government services. Its focus on one-stop digital services, security and trust, and capacity building through the AI Academy signals a shift from pilot projects to institutionalised platforms — laying the groundwork for inclusion, service quality, and regional leadership by 2030.” – Helena Lepp, Director of Service Transformation at Digital Nation