Futures thinking and strategic foresight in action: Insights from the Global South

The UN Futures Lab/Global Hub-ISC report emerged from a shared dedication to amplify voices and experiences of the Global South in the global foresight landscape.

It is built around 14 diverse case studies, collected through an open call, and presents foresight approaches developed and used in the Global South in decision-making, planning, and action. Historically, examples from the Global North have predominantly appeared in futures thinking and strategic foresight discussions. However, the widespread application of futures and foresight in the Global South provides a rich opportunity to uncover valuable insights and learnings, bridging diverse perspectives, novel approaches, and methods across regions.

Futures thinking and strategic foresight in action: Insights from the Global South

UN Futures Lab/Global Hub and the International Science Council (2025)

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Key highlights

• 14 diverse case studies, ranging from hyperlocal women’s participation in climate action in India to national policy design in Nigeria, from participatory digital futures in Africa to climate adaptation led by Indigenous communities in Bolivia.
• Eight practical typologies of foresight impacts, from local and indigenous knowledge, sources, and practices to multi-stakeholder partnerships and collaboration, organization development and policy innovation.
• Key foresight tools and approaches applied across the case studies, including horizon scanning, scenario development, Casual Layered Analysis (CLA), six pillars and back casting.

Launch webinar

An official webinar to launch the report on “Futures Thinking and Strategic Foresight in Action: Insights from the Global South” was held on 6 May 2025, as part of STI Form 2025 Action Day. The event featured a panel sharing first-hand insights from 14 case studies. The session was an opportunity to engage with case-study representatives and experts and leave with concrete examples of how foresight can shape long-term decision-making in support of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).

A recording of the webinar will be available soon.

Case studies

The selection of 14 case studies presented in this report reflects balance across geographies, themes, sectors, stakeholders, and foresight tools. The case studies illustrate a range of impacts, primarily through a typology of approaches by desired outcomes.

1. India: Women’s participation in climate action at hyperlocal levels: Insights from Jodhpur for strengthened disaster risk governance
2. Bolivia: Urgent integration of ancestral knowledge as resilient strategies for disaster mitigation and response
3. New Zealand: An intergenerational project vital to the ongoing success of Ngāti Whatua Orakei (while not part of the Global South, the case study from New Zealand offers a valuable example from the Southern Hemisphere that highlights indigenous knowledge and approaches to futures thinking.)
4. Kenya | Malawi | Zimbabwe: Systems innovation and foresight for food security and livelihoods
5. Sudan: Innovative partnerships for anticipatory action: Better programming in farming areas
6. United Arab Emirates (UAE): The alternative futures of the International Centre for Biosaline
7. Kyrgyzstan: Scenario-based strategic planning of industrial development
8. Vietnam: The future of food and agriculture – drivers and triggers for transformation: A preliminary result
9. Kenya | Nigeria | Rwanda | Tunisia | Zimbabwe: African digital futures
10. Bangladesh: E-Health future
11. Colombia: Decolonizing futures: Citizen visions in government planning
12. Nigeria: Accelerating the double dividend through horizon scanning: The role of social protection policies
13. Kenya: The impact of “the weight of the past” in strategic decision making
14. South Africa: The future of Port Elizabeth’s northern areas.