STI Forum 2025: UN Global Horizon Scanning: Insights from using digital tools to analyze signals, trends, and drivers of change across the UN system
Thursday, 15 May 2025
09:00 AM – 10:15 AM ET
Virtual Side event (via Zoom)
UN Global Horizon Scanning: Insights from using digital tools to analyze signals, trends, and drivers of change across the UN system
Join the UN Futures Lab/Global Hub and UN Department of Economic and Social Affairs (UN DESA) for a side event at the 10th Multi-stakeholder Forum on Science, Technology and Innovation for the Sustainable Development Goals (STI Forum): “UN Global Horizon Scanning: Insights from using digital tools to analyze signals, trends, and drivers of change across the UN system”. This interactive session will explore a joint initiative to apply digital capabilities in consolidating insights of horizon scanning initiatives across the UN system. Speakers will include:
- Ms. Ayaka Suzuki, Director, Strategic Planning and Monitoring Unit, Executive Office of the Secretary-General (EOSG)
- Mr. Chris Earney, Head, UN Futures Lab/Global Hub
- Ms. Alana Poole, Deputy Head, UN Futures Lab/Global Hub
- Ms. Adriana Alberti, Chief, Programme Management and Capacity Development Unit, Division for Public Institutions and Digital Government, UN Department of Economic and Social Affairs (UN DESA)
- Mr. Gregory McGann, Programme Management and Capacity Development Unit, Division for Public Institutions and Digital Government, UN Department of Economic and Social Affairs (UN DESA)
- Ms. Narue Shiki, Head, Strategy and Futures Team, United Nations Development Programme (UNDP)
- Mr. Jason Jabbour, Senior Programme Management Officer, United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP)
- Mr. Lorenzo Giovanni Bellù, Senior Economist, Lead Policy Intelligence Branch – Global Perspectives Coordinator, Corporate and Regional Strategic Foresight Exercises, Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO)
Bringing together horizon scanning insights across the UN System in an efficient and accessible manner
Horizon scanning brings together the perspectives and collective intelligence of different stakeholders to map possible changes, presenting a wealth of information on signals, trends, and drivers of change that can be harnessed to inform decision-making, planning, and programming.
To this end, UN Futures Lab/Global Hub and UN DESA are developing a digital tool to efficiently harness and analyze insights of horizon scanning initiatives from across the UN system. This joint project aims to help users to draw on existing intelligence to deepen analysis, bridge synergies, facilitate cross-fertilization, and motivate collaboration in advancing their work. By bringing together perspectives and experiences from across the system, this session will support more coordinated and effective foresight efforts by contributing to shaping the next phase of this joint initiative and helping further position strategic foresight as a core enabler of anticipatory action across the UN.
What to expect
The session will feature a live demo of the prototype which draws on horizon scanning reports published between 2022-2024 by UN DESA, FAO, UNDP, UNEP, and WHO. It will be followed by a panel discussion on emerging insights, as well as lessons and opportunities for joint analysis of collective horizon scanning processes towards enhanced impact. Outcomes from this session will feed into further iteration and scaling of this joint initiative.
Programme
Moderator: Mr. Chris Earney, Head, UN Futures Lab/Global Hub
| Time | Activity |
| 9:00am – 9:05am | Opening Remarks Ms. Ayaka Suzuki, Director, Strategic Planning and Monitoring Unit, Executive Office of the Secretary-General Welcome and introduction to the importance of horizon scanning for the work of the UN and opportunities for cross-fertilization of insights |
| 09:05am – 09:25am | Overview: Joint Horizon Scanning Project Mr. Chris Earney, UN Futures Lab/Global Hub Ms. Adriana Alberti, Chief, Programme Management and Capacity Development Unit, Division for Public Institutions and Digital Government, DESA Presentation: Insights collected from Horizon Scanning reports analyzed by the Horizon Scanning tool Ms. Alana Poole, Deputy Head, UN Futures Lab/Global Hub Live demonstration: Presentation of the UN Horizon Scanning tool Mr. Gregory McGann, Programme Management and Capacity Development Unit, Division for Public Institutions and Digital Government, UN Department of Economic and Social Affairs (UN DESA) Objectives for undertaking the project Demonstration of the joint Horizon Scanning tool prototype, with its interface, features, functionalities, and emerging insights |
| 09:25am – 09:50am | Panel reaction: Emerging insights from horizon scanning initiatives in the UN on SDGs 3, 5, 8, 14, 16, and 17 Ms. Adriana Alberti, Chief, Programme Management and Capacity Development Unit, Division for Public Institutions and Digital Government, UN Department of Economic and Social Affairs (UN DESA) Ms. Narue Shiki, Head, Strategy and Futures Team, United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) Mr. Jason Jabbour, Senior Programme Management Officer, United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) Mr. Lorenzo Giovanni Bellù, Senior Economist, Lead Policy Intelligence Branch – Global Perspectives Coordinator, Corporate and Regional Strategic Foresight Exercises, Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) Panelists draw on their experiences in driving horizon scanning and foresight initiatives to reflect on the following: What are the top signals mentioned the most across publications? What are the interconnections? Where do they converge or diverge? |
| 09:50am – 10:10am | Interactive Dialogue with Audience: Questions and Insights Floor opens for the audience to ask questions, share their own experience and lessons learned in driving horizon scanning and foresight initiatives. UN Futures Lab/Global Hub and UN DESA will be on hand to answer any specific questions related to the tool |
| 10:10am – 10:15am | Closing Ms. Ayaka Suzuki, Director, Strategic Planning and Monitoring Unit, Executive Office of the Secretary-General (EOSG) |
Join us
Be part of a dynamic conversation on harnessing digital innovation to make foresight more accessible, actionable, and impactful across the UN System.