Diaspora in Lithuania’s public sector: first-hand experiences from Create Lithuania participants

In Lithuania’s public sector, most positions require fluency in Lithuanian. However, Create Lithuania offers a unique opportunity: participation in English. This approach makes the programme more accessible to members of the Lithuanian diaspora who may not be fluent in the national language but are eager to contribute to improving the country’s economic and governance policies.

For the past three years, non-Lithuanian speakers have taken part in the programme. The 2024–2025 generation includes three members of the Lithuanian diaspora based in the United States. We’ve asked some of them to share their experiences of working in Lithuanian institutions.

Developing innovations in the public sector

Tomas Alsenas, who has been implementing both of his projects at Lithuania’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs, claims that the Lithuanian public sector is filled with dedicated, hardworking civil servants. “The stereotypical image of the lazy, unproductive bureaucrat is, in my experience, far from the truth. Public servants work hard to continue to make Lithuania a better place to live,” he says.

During his first rotation, Tomas created a guide for Lithuanian businesses on how to access funding and other opportunities through various international development cooperation mechanisms. Currently, together with fellow participant Paulė Baziukaitė, he is working on a project focused on enhancing Lithuania’s energy security through international tools, for instance, NATO Energy Security Centre of Excellence.

Another participant from the US, Ieva Juzumaitė, spent her first rotation at the Innovation Agency, where she worked with her teammate Greta Šimeliūnaitė to evaluate Lithuania’s potential in the microbiome sector. She now continues her work at the agency, developing the concept for Lithuania’s first regulatory sandbox for life science innovations.

Reflecting on her eight months in the public sector, Ieva notes that her stereotype of the public sector as a strict, conservative entity was broken. “From talking to people in different ministries, I get the sense that things are also changing there—there’s an openness to improving processes and supporting innovation. There still seems to be a lack of communication between institutions, but I believe that is slowly improving, especially with programs like Create Lithuania,” Ieva points out.

Navigating the Sector in a Foreign Language

According to Lithuania’s Public Management Agency, 24 percent of job descriptions in the public service include a foreign language requirement—most commonly English. Although English is not necessarily widespread across the entire sector, participants of Create Lithuania say that participating in English can be quite smooth.

Ieva explains that in her case, delivering project results in English is actually preferred by the project owners, as it helps to reach a broader audience. “Most of my meetings, however, are in Lithuanian, as it’s more comfortable for most people and usually leads to more detailed conversations,” says Ieva, who can speak Lithuanian even though it is not her native tongue.

Tomas also notes that both the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and his colleagues in the programme have been very accommodating. He has only rarely encountered situations where communication had to be in Lithuanian. “Luckily, for those occasions, my colleagues have stepped in to help get through the jam. The challenge also gives you the opportunity to build interpersonal communication skills that will benefit your future career,” he adds.

Although relocating to Lithuania and working in English may seem daunting, both Tomas and Ieva agree that participating in Create Lithuania is a rewarding experience. They highlight the chance to gain valuable insights into how the Lithuanian state operates, take part in meaningful projects, and contribute directly to the country’s development.

The recruitment process for the 2025–2026 Create Lithuania generation is open until May 5. Interested candidates can apply by filling out the application form available here.