OECD, 2023.

The Future of Rural Manufacturing provides insights on the transformations that have occurred in manufacturing across rural regions in recent decades. It describes opportunities and challenges in this context, highlighting those relating to climate and demographic change and digitalisation, as well as shifting patterns in globalisation. With support from the European Commission, the project combines a wide range of both quantitative and qualitative analysis.

United Nations Environment Programme
International Science Council, 2024.

To help navigate current and future uncertainty and disruptive change, while effectively delivering on its mandate, UNEP has been implementing an institutionalized approach to strategic foresight and horizon scanning with the view to developing an anticipatory and future-oriented culture. This mirrors the growing interest and demand for foresight that is also reinforced by the United Nations reform agenda and the Secretary-General’s report on ‘Our Common Agenda’, which calls for all UN agencies, as well as all UN member states, to engage foresight practices more deeply and apply the derived insights to address global systemic risks. This process has culminated in the development of the present report “Navigating New Horizons – A Global Foresight Report on Planetary Health and Human Wellbeing”, produced by UNEP in collaboration with the International Science Council.

United Nations Department of Economic and Social Affairs, 2023.

The report covers the dependencies between population growth and the Sustainable Development Goals, focusing on regions were population numbers are rising fast. The analysis elaborates on the social, economic and environmental implications of population growth. It highlights demographic trends and drivers of population change, namely fertility, mortality and international migration and describes the complex interaction between of population growth and poverty, hunger, health, education and human capital, gender equality, sustained economic growth and decent work. It further investigates the impact of population growth on the environment.

United Nations Department of Economic and Social Affairs, 2023.

The report covers the dependencies between population growth and the Sustainable Development Goals, focusing on regions were population numbers are rising fast. The analysis elaborates on the social, economic and environmental implications of population growth. It highlights demographic trends and drivers of population change, namely fertility, mortality and international migration and describes the complex interaction between of population growth and poverty, hunger, health, education and human capital, gender equality, sustained economic growth and decent work. It further investigates the impact of population growth on the environment.

Alberto Behar and Sandile Hlatshwayo. International Monetary Fund, 2021.

This note explains the value of strategic foresight and provides implementation advice based on the IMF’s experience with scenario planning and policy gaming. Section II provides an overview of strategic foresight and some of its tools. Scenario planning and policy gaming have been the Fund’s main foresight techniques so far, though other tools have been complementary. Accordingly, section III focuses on the scenario planning by illustrating applications before detailing the methods we have been using, while section IV describes policy gaming including the matrix policy gaming approach with which we have experimented so far. Section V summarizes the key points. In so doing, the note extends an invitation to those in the economics and finance fields (e.g., researchers, policymakers) to incorporate strategic foresight in their analysis and decision making.

International Organization for Migration, 2024.

In the face of the world’s unprecedented pace of change, the necessity for foresight in governance and multilateral cooperation has never been more acute. Recognizing this, IOM engaged School of International Futures, a global nonprofit organization, to draw upon its “three horizons” methodology and work with some of the leading migration practitioners and scholars in the world to “re-imagine migration and mobility”. Through a collaborative approach, involving a wide array of external partners and stakeholders, this project leverages IOM’s global convening power to foster strategic foresight on migration and mobility. This initiative aligns with the United Nations Secretary-General’s vision outlined in the United Nations Common Agenda and is one modest component of IOM’s contribution towards the United Nations Summit of the Future in September 2024. This publication offers the chance for reflection on migration and mobility in a highly competitive and contested world towards a more constructive and evidence-based narrative on migration that underpins informed decision-making going forward.

OECD Public Governance Reviews, OECD Publishing, 2024.

Given the important role of strategic foresight in policymaking and resilience, the Government of Flanders has been taking steps to improve its capabilities in this area. This report outlines the main findings and recommendations of the OECD assessment of the strategic foresight system of the Government of Flanders. It includes a blueprint and roadmap for incorporating strategic foresight into the public administration of Flanders over the next five years.

Bruno Monteiro and Rodrigo Dal Borgo. OECD Working Papers on Public Governance, 63/2023.

This working paper discusses strategic foresight initiatives and methodologies that support decision making and process design. It highlights case studies, international benchmarks, and best practices, as well as methodological recommendations and options for promoting the adoption and use of strategic foresight in government. The paper has four sections, each centred on a critical action to improve decision making through strategic foresight: (i) framing strategic foresight, (ii) building its fundamental components in governments, (iii) fine-tuning foresight interventions to specific contexts, and (iv) undertaking concrete activities to solve specific policy challenges. Given its exploratory nature, this working paper and its proposals should be seen as contributing to ongoing debates about the use of strategic foresight for decision making in government. The ultimate purpose of this paper is to help governments become more proactive and prospective.

United Nations Executive Office of the Secretary-General (EOSG), 2023.

The challenges that we face can be addressed only through stronger international cooperation. The Summit of the Future in 2024 is an opportunity to agree on multilateral solutions for a better tomorrow, strengthening global governance for both present and future generations. The present policy brief contains suggestions for practical steps to fulfil our long-standing commitment to meet the demands of the present in a way that safeguards the interests of future generations and preserves their ability to effectively enjoy all human rights. These include: an envoy to serve as a voice for future generations at the global level; better use of foresight, science and data; a declaration to define and make concrete our duties to future generations; and a dedicated intergovernmental forum to advance implementation of the declaration and share best practices.