Virtual Workshop on Sound Policymaking for Sustainable Development
Welcome. You're here because you're either interested in taking part in our survey on preparing for the future, you came to read the CEPA strategy guidance note on Strategic planning and foresight, or you wanted to find out more about some of the programmes and resources mentioned during one of the Virtual Workshops.
We appreciate your interest and participation!
If you'd like more information or want to get in touch email Cat Tully cat@soif.org.uk
Read the CEPA Guidance note on Strategic planning and foresight
The UN Department of Economic and Social Affairs through its Division for Public Institutions and Digital Government (DESA/DPIDG) engaged experts to prepare guidance notes on eight commonly used strategies for addressing the principle of sound policymaking, including strategic planning and foresight. Strategic planning and foresight is one of the strategies identified by the Committee of Experts on Public Administration (CEPA) for addressing sound policymaking. Sound policymaking is one of 11 principles of effective governance adopted at the 17th session of CEPA and endorsed by the Economic and Social Council in its resolution 2018/12. This resolution highlights the need for pragmatic and ongoing improvements in national and local governance capabilities to achieve the Sustainable Development Goals.
Cat Tully and Lynn Houmdi of SOIF authored the guidance note on strategic foresight and were invited to present it at Virtual Workshops facilitated by DESA/DPIDG in February 2021. The paper encourages governments to create both demand for (political appetite) and supply of (capability) credible strategic, systemic thinking to deliver insights into the future which are not only listened to, but also acted upon.
Watch the workshop presentation
Programmes
Next Generation Foresight Practitioners
When we look at the world, we see new foresight practitioners enabling their communities to collectively imagine and create their own futures. We see diverse voices democratising the futures field. Our NGFP community of Fellows and sensing network across the globe has now almost 350 members in 69 countries. They are diverse voices that are effectively democratising the futures field.
The NGFP Programme supports our fellows to develop their ideas and connect with policy-makers and strategists. Applications for the 2021 NGFP awards are now open. The awards recognise those helping to shape the future and improve lives through innovative strategic foresight.
Putting Intergenerational Fairness Into Practice
Cutting across all our work is our aspiration to use foresight to help build a better, fairer world for future generations – and to involve future generations worldwide in both exploring and building those futures. We are proud to be working with the Gulbenkian Foundation on a new global methodology to assess whether proposed government policies meet the test of intergenerational fairness.
The framework – which allows for the systematic evaluation of public policies for intergenerational fairness – can be applied by national and local government, international organisations, foundations, businesses and special interest groups.We welcome interest from institutions or practitioners who might like to pilot the framework.
Leading Thinking
A selection of recent and relevant publications.
The long pandemic: after the COVID-19 crisis
In this paper, SOIF looks at the possible futures that the COVID-19 crisis has revealed and its implications.
Stewardship of the Future - Using Strategic Foresight in 21st Century Governance
Our paper on the importance of strategic foresight as a key tool in the achievement of the UN Sustainable Development Goals.
Applying Foresight and Alternative Futures to the United Nations Development Assistance Framework
Our paper on how the UN Development Assistance Framework process can make better use of foresight, including examples of foresight and public sector innovations.
OECD Development Co-operation Report 2018
Our chapter in the OECD's Development Co-operation report 2018 on why we need strategic foresight to adapt development co-operation for the future.
Governance for sustainable development
Our chapter on accelerating the UN 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development through foresight published by the Friends of Governance for Sustainable Development.
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