The UN Futures Lab/Global Hub and International Science Council (ISC) concluded the event for the launch of a joint report on “Futures Thinking and Strategic Foresight in Action: Insights from the Global South”, as part of the 10th Multi-stakeholder Forum on Science, Technology and Innovation for the Sustainable Development Goals.
Futures thinking and strategic foresight in action: Insights from the Global South
UN Futures Lab/Global Hub and the International Science Council (2025)
This online launch event, took place during the STI Forum 2025 Action Day which highlighted the applications collected in the joint report along with other practices that promote sustainable, inclusive, and evidence-based solutions and innovations for the 2030 Agenda and the Sustainable Development Goals. Speakers included:
You can watch the recording here
At a moment when increasingly complex sets of risks are affecting our societies and a rapid pace of change is challenging existing governance systems, there is a pressing need for innovative and forward-looking approaches in policymaking and decision-making. In this context, the UN Futures Lab/Global Hub and the International Science Council (ISC) issued a call in 2024 for case studies to highlight approaches to futures thinking and strategic foresight in the Global South.
The result is a report featuring 14 unique use cases that integrate futures thinking and strategic foresight with other practices, such as indigenous wisdom, speculative design, and systems mapping to reimagine long-term planning and innovation in addressing contemporary challenges.
This interactive launch event explored how futures thinking and strategic foresight are being applied across the Global South to tackle complex challenges and inform more resilient, inclusive, and anticipatory governance. The panel aimed to foster dynamic ideas exchange between experts, use cases representatives, and participants, engaging a diverse and gender-balanced multistakeholder group.
Panelists shared first-hand insights from the report’s 14 case studies – ranging from community-led innovation to national policy planning – and reflect on the enablers, lessons learned, and practical applications of foresight in diverse contexts.
Participants had the opportunity to engage with case-study representatives and experts during an open Q&A, and leave with concrete examples of how foresight can shape long-term decision-making in support of the SDGs 3 (health & well-being), 5, (gender equality), 8 (work & economic growth), 14 (life below water), and 17 (partnerships).
| Time (UTC) | Activity |
|---|---|
| 4:00 PM – 4:10 AM | Opening Remarks Chris Earney, Head, UN Futures Lab/Global Hub Welcome and key insights from the UN Futures Lab/Global Hub and International Science Council joint report on “Futures Thinking and Strategic Foresight in Action: Insights from the Global South” |
| 4:10 PM – 4:40 PM | Panel Discussion Elena Rovenskaya, Program Director, Advancing Systems Analysis Program, International Institute for Applied Systems Analysis (IIASA) Anantha Duraiappah, Inaugural Director, UNESCO Mahatma Gandhi Institute of Education for Peace and Sustainable Development (MGIEP) Katindi Sivi, Founder and Executive Director, LongView Group Three rounds for panelists to share experiences, promising practices, challenges and lessons learned in their application of futures thinking and foresight in the Global South in support of the SDGs |
| 4:40 PM – 5:05 PM | Open Discussion / Q&A Participants share questions for panelists, own experiences, and lessons learned from the implementation of futures thinking and strategic foresight |
| 5:05 PM – 5:15 PM | Closing Remarks Anne-Sophie Stevance, Senior Science Officer, Head of Unit, International Science Council (ISC) Alana Poole, Deputy Head, UN Futures Lab/Global Hub Chris Earney, Head, UN Futures Lab/Global Hub |
Photo by United Nations Future Lab
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