STI Forum 2025: UN Global Horizon Scanning: Insights from using digital tools to analyze signals, trends, and drivers of change across the UN system

Wednesday, 7 May 2025

09:00 AM – 10:15 AM EDT

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, UN Department of Economic and Social Affairs (UN DESA)
• Representative from the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) 
• Representative from the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) 
• Representative from the World Health Organization (WHO) 
• Representative from the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP)

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 that have been produced 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 (EOSG)   Welcome and introduction to the importance of horizon scanning for the work of the UN and opportunities for cross-fertilization of insights
09:05am – 09:20am	Overview: Joint Horizon Scanning Project   Mr. Chris Earney, 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)   Live demonstration: Presentation of the UN Horizon Scanning tool  Mr. Gregory McGann, UN Department of Economic and Social Affairs (UN DESA) Overview of the objectives for undertaking the project and a demonstration of the joint Horizon Scanning tool prototype, with its interface, features, and functionalities
09:20am – 09:45am	Presentation: Analysis collected from Horizon Scanning reports analyzed by the Horizon Scanning tool     Ms. Alana Poole, Deputy Head, UN Futures Lab/Global Hub  Panel reaction: Emerging insights from horizon scanning initiatives in the UN on SDGs 3, 5, 8, 14, 16, and 17    UN DESA  FAO UNDP UNEP WHO  Panelists draw on their experiences in driving horizon scanning and foresight initiatives to reflect on the following: How is the UN currently thinking about SDGs 3, 5, 8, 14, 16, and 17 through different lens’ of its different mandates?  What are the interconnections?  Where do they converge or diverge?
09:45am – 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. Reflections on promoting coherence and accessibility of strategic foresight initiatives: What key factors, lessons, and applications should be considered when scaling efforts to consolidate evidence and insight towards enhanced impact?   Learning journey of prototyping digital innovations for participatory foresight: What are the risks and opportunities in the human-technology interface when applying digital innovations to make strategic foresight more inclusive and accessible?  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.