Resources & Guides
UN Strategic Foresight Guide
Whether you are new to foresight or want to dig even deeper, this Guide will support you in your foresight journey. You will learn about key concepts of strategic foresight, get an overview of foresight tools, and find expert tips on framing and designing your first foresight engagement.
UN Strategic Foresight Community of Practice newsletter archive
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. 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.
[Please note: Some links in the newsletters may lead to platforms or resources that are only accessible to UN colleagues – if you are not part of the UN system, theses links may not work for you].
Foresight Directory
The Global Foresight Directory, managed by the UN Futures Lab/Global Hub, is a resource designed to connect foresight practitioners, institutions, and organizations worldwide. Originally funded by Canada’s International Development Research Centre (IDRC) and developed by the School of International Futures (SOIF), this dynamic catalogue emphasizes foresight expertise in the Global South, creating opportunities for collaboration and inclusion across the sector.
Coming Soon: The Global Foresight Directory is undergoing updates to enhance its functionality and user experience. Stay tuned for more updates.
Foresight work from across the United Nations system
Discover strategic foresight initiatives from various United Nations entities
Development Coordination Office (DCO)
Cabo Verde: A Foresightship Journey
Cambodia: A Foresightship Journey
Department of Economic and Social Affairs (DESA)
Department of Political and Peacebuilding (DPPA)
UN Economic Commission for Africa (ECA)
The Sahel 2043 Prospective Study
Training on Strategic Foresight and System Dynamics Modelling
UN Economic Commission for Europe (ECE)
UN Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific (ESCAP)
Harnessing Geospatial AI for Disaster-related SDGs
Reimagining Asian and Pacific Cities
Social Outlook for Asia and the Pacific 2022
UN Global Pulse
Collection of foresight tools and templates
Scenario Exploration System: The Future of Data Governance
Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO)
The Future of Food and Agriculture
International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA)
Symposium on International Safeguards: Reflecting on the Past and Anticipating the Future
International Telecommunication Union (ITU)
Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA)
United Nations Development Programme (UNDP)
Foresight Practices in the Public Sector in Europe
Signals Spotlight 2023: Illuminating Futures Trends
UNDP Future of Development Series
UNDP Foresight Playbook for Asia and the Pacific
Reimagining Indonesia’s New Capital City
Youth Engagement in Climate Policies
United Nations Office for Disaster Risk Reduction (UNDRR)
Satellite Imagery and Risk Modeling in Fiji
United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP)
United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO)
Humanistic Futures of Learning
ALS: Alternative Learning System
United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA)
United Nations International Children’s Emergency Fund (UNICEF)
United Nations Institute for Disarmament Research (UNIDIR)
Road-Mapping the Future of International Peace and Security Starts Today
United Nations Industrial Development Organization (UNIDO)
United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR)
United Nations University – Centre for Policy Research (UNU-CPR)
World Food Programme (WFP)
FamPred: Forecasting Food Crises with HungerMap live
World Health Organization (WHO)
WHO Foresight: Monitoring emerging technologies and building futures-thinking
Foresight approaches in global public health: a practical guide for WHO staff
Foresight approaches in global public health: Training course
2023 emerging technologies and scientific innovations: a global public health perspective + preview of horizon scan results
World Meteorological Organization (WMO)
Weather Extremes in a Changing Climate