UN Futures Lab

There are many ways to think about the future. At the UN, #foresight is one, and it has been used for decades in many different parts of the organization. One of the things we try to do within the UN is to bring together a lot of these different approaches to drive more collaborative and coherent approaches. To do this, we start by being inclusive in the way in which we help guide people both within and outside the UN, with a focus on networks in the Global South, at different stages of their strategic foresight journey, from those just learning about the discipline to experienced practitioners. Our work is guided by three key priorities:    👉 We grow and build foresight expertise and practice, by sharing guides, tools, and facilitating workshops.  👉 We consolidate and share foresight knowledge, by establishing networks and encouraging collaboration, with a focus on the Global South.  👉 We support decision-makers in planning and action, by providing strategic foresight tools and insights to navigate uncertainties and anticipate future trends.    Through these key priorities, we help to equip people and teams with the tools to develop their foresight skills at global, regional, and local levels. This may include identifying or making sense of global disruptions or shocks, strategic planning, anticipatory decision-making and policy, early warning for conflict, community engagement, and more.     Visit our website: https://un-futureslab.org/ to learn more     #futuresthinking #strategicforesight #unitednations #unfutureslab 

Out now! Young Kenyans Speak on Gen-Z Protests, Finance Bill, and their hopes for the future. 🔊 Young Kenyans are making their voices heard loud and clear as they share their raw experiences and perspectives of young amidst the current wave of protests.   Dive into our new report to understand how the 2024 Finance Bill has ignited a “leader-less, tribe-less, and fear-less” movement. This is more than just protests—it's a call for democratic change and involvement. 🌍✊ We tapped into Shujaaz Inc's national network of young people, providing an on-the-ground guide to this unprecedented time in Kenya. Together with the United Nations in Kenya and UN Futures Lab we’re spotlighting the aspirations of young Kenyans ahead of the UN’s Summit of the Future in September 2024.  Read and share the full report now to join the conversation on the future of Kenya's youth.

We were honoured to take part in the 2024 African Development Bank Group Annual Meeting hosted by Canada’s International Development Research Centre (International Development Research Centre (IDRC)), UN Futures Lab, and the Institute of Economic Affairs. This session was one of 4 that shared knowledge and evidence on inclusive and sustainable trade, economic policy and foresight thinking. Themed "Sustainable Financing: Using Strategic Foresight to Rethink GDP for an Inclusive and Equitable Global Financial Architecture" the event gathered key stakeholders to explore the transformative potential of strategic foresight in reshaping global economic systems. #AfDBAM2024 AIA-N leverages strategic partnerships to restore trust in the private sector, address systemic challenges in large regional markets, and bridge the gap in the 'missing middle'.

We recently had the opportunity to participate in the UN Virtual Worlds Day, organized by the International Telecommunication Union in Geneva. This event provided a valuable platform to explore how the metaverse can contribute to achieving the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). Such discussions are crucial for advancing the conversation and utilizing innovative technologies for real-world solutions. Special thanks to ITCILO for inviting us to this event and the UN Futures Lab for their exploration of extended reality technologies for global good. Our representatives, Iveta Ivanova and Burak Ahiskal, engaged in valuable interactions at the event and highlighted our collaborative efforts with ITCILO. Curious to know more about our collaboration with ITCILO? Discover multiple examples among our success stories at https://lnkd.in/g8ThCDzW Interested in joining the ITCILO VR journey? Learn more at https://lnkd.in/gbcXTakZ #UNVirtualWorldsDay #Metaverse #SustainableDevelopmentGoals #SDGs #Innovation #VirtualReality #Arthur #Collaboration #FutureOfWork

Last week, I was a part of a multidisciplinary workshop organized on thematics 'role of inclusion in conflict resolution and peacebuilding' 'how can water become a tool for conflict transformation and peace building?' held in #Geneva. And ahead of World Water Week (https://lnkd.in/gpbKdkRG - Bridging Borders: Water for a Peaceful and Sustainable Future) this year, it is crucial to explore the role of Diversity Equity Inclusion in this. Keeping a complex system in ideal balanced scenario, efficient adaptation & conflict resolution is often like playing a symphony...one note out of place and symphony is broken. To maintain this harmony, women and male allies are needed to work in sync. More inclusive grassroots level multilateralism in form of global networks initiated by women in all fields (besides climate and water) are playing a vital role in bringing diverse voice forms together. I have come across , nurtured and belong to several women and youth led networks nurturing such spaces that fuel #innovation by being easily accessible, disarming in terms of knowledge sharing and offering safe spaces. Thank you Geneva Water Hub, a Centre of Competence on Water for Peace and UN Futures Lab for inviting me along for such stimulating and much needed discussions. And to the team at UNOPS for their tireless behind the scenes care / logistics efforts. SHE Changes Climate South Asia Young Women in Water Indian Youth Water Network Geneva Water Hub, a Centre of Competence on Water for Peace United Nations UN Futures Lab WIN World Association of Women Warriors Yuukke Global UN Women World Water Week United Nations Water

My thanks also to Geneva Water Hub, a Centre of Competence on Water for Peace and UN Futures Lab for challenging us to imagine what the future of water and peace might look like, and to all the great minds in the room that pushed through this demanding exercise. #strategicforesight #waterdiplomacy

Last week, we partnered with UN Futures Lab to conduct a two-day workshop on the theme of "Foresight on Water and Peace." This workshop brought together professionals from development, humanitarian, and peace mediation sectors, fostering the exchange of impactful ideas. #WaterDiplomacy #PeaceBuilding #WaterManagement

Thanks to the ITU for organizing the UN Virtual World Day https://lnkd.in/d8HHdXfE last Friday in Geneva. It was a great moment to reflect on the various technological hype-cycles that intersect with our work from time to time and to assess our current position. Special thanks to the UN Futures Lab for integrating the metaverse with a strategic foresight teaser. The future will increasingly invite us to engage in interdisciplinary conversations at the convergence of different technologies (not exclusively the metaverse) and to harness their real potential. As always, there are more questions than answers: 👉 How do we work on an inclusive metaverse? https://lnkd.in/d_2AFDap 👉 What are the ways to 'WhatsApp-erize' the metaverse (making it more open and accessible)? 👉 What if we transform the metaverse into a 'pluri-verse' with a more localized view, representing complex narratives that reflect the diverse worlds we currently live in? 👉 How can we increase digital sustainability awareness & solutions to tackle a number of important environmental challenges? 👉What about more in-depth inter-generational dialogues on the topic and move beyond polarized views? Thanks to Arthur https://lnkd.in/dYWGHDnw for the support. Thanks to the World Economic Forum (WEF) for the invitation to the Global Collaboration Village https://lnkd.in/dJ5vtPj8 and finally thanks to Nicole P. for positioning ITCILO as a pioneer in this field. Feel free to reach out if you want to join the ITCILO VR journey: https://lnkd.in/diASytPz Dr. Christina Yan Zhang Bilel Jamoussi, Fred Werner, Christine Housel, Bertrand Levy, Karl-Filip Coenegrachts, Stela Mocan

We are thrilled to announce our participation in the African Development Bank Group Annual Meetings with an event in partnership with Canada’s International Development Research Centre (IDRC), and the Institute of Economic Affairs Kenya (IEA-Kenya).    Join the dialogue on the critical role of African perspectives and strategic foresight in reframing economic performance for an inclusive and equitable global financial architecture. This event includes a foresight exercise and a facilitated panel discussion, designed to be participatory and inclusive. Participants will create visions for a sustainable financial architecture, address critical dilemmas, and highlight systemic issues to move from the current state to the desired future.     The foresight session and panel discussion will be moderated by Dr. Katindi Sivi, an Afri-Futurist and Strategic Foresight Specialist with the UN Futures Lab.    Speakers and Panelists:  ✨ Dr. Kathryn Toure - Regional Director, International Development Research Centre (IDRC), Nairobi  ✨ Ms. Janine Cocker - Head of Cooperation, Canadian High Commissioner, Kenya  ✨ Ms. Ayaka Suzuki - Director, Strategic Planning and Monitoring Unit, United Nations Executive Office of the Secretary-General  ✨ Dr. Tichaona Mangwende, Head of Strategic Planning, African Union Development Agency-NEPAD (AUDA NEPAD)  ✨ Ms. Memory Kachambwa - Executive Director, FEMNET - African Women's Development and Communication Network  ✨ Dr. Marcelin Ndong Ntah - Lead Economist, African Development Bank Group  ✨ Mr. Kwame Owino - Chief Executive Officer, Institute of Economic Affairs Kenya (IEA Kenya)  ✨ Dr. Deon Cloete - Head of the Futures Programme, South African Institute of International Affairs (SAIIA)   Learn more and watch the Livestream here: https://lnkd.in/dvGprDXB Visit our website to learn more about UN Futures Lab: https://un-futureslab.org/   #sustainablefinancing #strategicforesight #unitednations #unfutureslab #AfDBAM2024 Image by: Andrew Esiebo / Panos Pictures

Strategic foresight is a powerful tool for navigating uncertainty and shaping a better today and tomorrow. But what exactly is it?     Strategic Foresight IS:  ✅ A structured process: It uses systematic methods to guide thinking and planning.  ✅ Critical thinking: It helps organizations think critically about the future.  ✅ Identifying opportunities: It focuses on finding potential opportunities in the midst of uncertainty.  ✅ Building resilience: It aims to strengthen an organization’s ability to adapt and thrive.  ✅ Considering alternative futures: It explores different futures scenarios to prepare for a range of possibilities.  ✅ Challenging assumptions: It questions underlying assumptions to ensure robust decision-making.    Strategic Foresight IS NOT:  ❎ Guesswork: It’s not about making bold or abstract predictions.  ❎ A crystal ball: It doesn’t predict the future with certainty.  ❎ Static: It’s a dynamic process that evolves with new information and changing contexts.  ❎ Exclusive: It’s an inclusive and participatory approach that involves diverse perspectives.  ❎ One-size-fits-all: It’s tailored to the specific needs and context of each team and organization.  ❎ Short-term focused: It looks beyond immediate concerns to long-term possibilities and impacts.    To learn more about why and how the UN Futures Lab is using strategic foresight to build a more resilient and anticipatory United Nations, visit our website at https://un-futureslab.org/   #futuresthinking #strategicforesight #unitednations #unfutureslab