UN Futures Lab Network Joint Programme 

Objectives

The UN Futures Lab supports the development of foresight capabilities across the UN System and beyond, integrating futures thinking into planning, policymaking, and decision-making.  The initiative is structured through a Global Hub, building on existing structures and partnerships with UN entities and multistakeholder actors (Governments, academia, civil society, the private sector, and philanthropy) at global, regional, and national levels. The Global Hub advances strategic foresight and future-proofing initiatives related to pressing global development challenges, ensuring proactive planning and adaptation to emerging trends, such as migration, food security, education, peace and security, water, climate change, urban development, and inclusion.

The project employs a multi-faceted strategy to achieve its objectives, focusing on capacity building, knowledge creation, and advocacy:

• Capacity Support: The initiative provides targeted support to UN staff and partners to integrate foresight into their strategic planning and decision-making processes. Activities under this component include producing foresight tools, updating the Strategic Foresight Guide, and managing expert rosters, training providers, and communities of practice.
• Knowledge Creation: A robust framework ensures the aggregation, mapping, and dissemination of foresight activities, best practices, and tools. By deepening the understanding of critical uncertainties and decision-making processes, the project creates actionable insights and research streams to anticipate future needs.
• Advocacy and Engagement: Through both internal and external advocacy efforts, the project aims to influence the behaviors and strategies of stakeholders, including civil society, Member States, and private sector entities. This is achieved via hosting events, managing communications, and fostering partnerships.
• Strategic Integration: The initiative is closely aligned with the broader UN 2.0 portfolio, ensuring coherence and synergy across systems. Cross-entity collaboration mechanisms and the creation of an external advisory board further strengthen its impact.

Inputs
The foundation of the project includes mobilized funds, strategic partnerships, and resource allocation.

Activities

• Foresight Development: Production of tools, strategic frameworks, and knowledge hubs to make foresight accessible and actionable.
• Capacity Building: Training programs and expert rosters ensure stakeholders are equipped to apply foresight methodologies.
• Advocacy and Communication: Hosting events, managing partnerships, and running targeted advocacy campaigns raise awareness and drive adoption of foresight practices.
• Knowledge Management: Aggregating best practices, creating research streams, and updating foresight guides to foster continuous learning.

Outputs

• Opportunities for stakeholders to engage with and apply foresight.
• Comprehensive mapping of foresight practices and tools.
• Enhanced understanding of critical uncertainties and decision-making processes.
• Research outputs that anticipate emerging challenges and support innovative programming.

Outcomes

• Improved capacity among UN staff and partners to understand and use foresight.
• Broader and more inclusive strategic framing for planning and interventions.
• Advocacy efforts creating an enabling environment for foresight-driven action.
• Effective communication of foresight practices internally and externally.

Impact

• A more resilient and adaptive multilateral system.
• Enhanced foresight-driven global governance that anticipates and addresses emerging challenges effectively.

Financing Streams

• Mobilized funds and strategic partnerships provide financial support for:
• Developing foresight tools and resources.
• Conducting training and capacity-building initiatives.
• Running advocacy and outreach campaigns.
• Hosting global, regional, and national foresight programs.

Governance

Joint Programme Steering Committee
The Steering Committee is the formal decision-making body of the joint programme. It provides guidance, oversight, and strategic direction for the project.

The Steering Committee includes an equal number of members from both participating UN organizations: Executive Office of the Secretary-General (EOSG) and United Nations Office for Project Services (UNOPS). EOSG serves as the Steering Committee Chair. The Steering Committee may also decide to invite representatives from donors, in an observer capacity, should that be a condition of funding. The Steering Committee meets twice per year until the completion of the project and communicates on a regular basis to review implementation of the workplan, review funding availability, and help resolve any roadblocks.

Joint Programme Implementing Team
The UN Futures Lab consists of a multidisciplinary team, operating on a project platform provided by UNOPS as implementing organization. The team works and coordinates with EOSG as well as the key partners of the Futures Lab Network on a daily basis, either on joint projects or on strategy alignment and realignment.

The Structure of the team consists of a Global Hub including management, foresight expertise, communications, and operations specialists.

Participating Organizations
Participating United Nations Organizations develop project and programme proposals, and report on implementation and financial processes and outcomes. Each Participating Organization assumes full programmatic and financial accountability for funds disbursed to it by the Administrative Agent.  

Administrative Agent
Recipient Organizations receive funds through the Administrative Agent, the MPTF Office. The Administrative Agent is responsible for the receipt, administration and management of contributions from donors, disbursement of funds to Recipient Organizations, and consolidation and dissemination of progress reports to donors. 

Projects

UN Futures Lab Network Joint Programme

UN Futures Lab Network Joint Programme is currently supporting count_projects ongoing projectscount_globalInterregional and count_countries country-specific. This table shows the most recently approved ongoing projects.

All project financial information can be found in the Financials section, including delivery analysis by organization, theme and project; project financial status by country and by theme.

UN Futures Lab Network Joint Programme

Results

Results Framework

Impact

• Increased multilateral system resilience, foresight-driven global governance

Outcomes

• Provide capacity support to UN staff and partners to make foresight understood, accessible, and used
• Support decision makers to broaden framings and visioning for planning and action, contributing to the use of foresight in the UN's policy, programming, and project interventions for those it serves.
• Advocate for the use of strategic foresight, futures thinking, and specific outputs to support an enabling environment for the work of the UN Futures Lab and its partners
• Communicate effectively about the work of the UN Futures Lab and those it partners with both internally and externally

ContactsPoints of contact