UN Strategic Foresight Community of Practice
The UN Strategic Foresight Community of Practice is managed by the UN Futures Lab/Global Hub with support from the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO). Established in December 2023, the Community has 4,000+ members from across the UN system, supporting knowledge-sharing, collaboration, co-creation, and professional development.
As part of the Community of Practice, the UN Futures Lab/Global Hub hosts bi-weekly webinars on a range of foresight topics, bringing UN staff together to share insights, tools, and best practices. To date, each interactive session has engaged 100+ participants from more than 40 UN organizations, offering a platform for meaningful dialogue and practical learning on integrating foresight into UN operations.
Key to running the Community of Practice, the UN Futures Lab/Global Hub publishes a monthly newsletter which is disseminated across the UN system and showcases activities from the Community, including foresight initiatives, events, news and announcements, recently launched publications, people highlights, uses cases and resources, as well as foresight training and job opportunities.
Central to the Community of Practice is the online Knowledge Hub, a comprehensive repository of best practices, lessons learned, tools, use cases, events, and job profiles. The Community also connects with other UN 2.0 Communities of Practice focused on data, innovation, behavioural science, and digital transformation.
- Inclusive participation: Designed for people at all stages of their foresight journey, from beginners exploring foundational concepts to experts seeking advanced tools and collaboration opportunities
- Global engagement: Over 4,000 UN staff members actively participating across the system
- Interactive learning: 24 webinars in 2024 with 100+ participants per session
- Ongoing updates: Monthly newsletters sharing insights and developments
Why it matters
The UN Strategic Foresight Community of Practice strengthens the UN’s foresight ecosystem by nurturing a network of changemakers who share tools, insights, and innovative approaches. By making foresight resources accessible to individuals at all levels of expertise, it ensures that everyone has the opportunity to contribute to and benefit from strategic foresight practices. Bridging foresight with other transformative UN 2.0 practices, it empowers teams across the organization to anticipate challenges, co-create solutions, and build a future-ready UN.
