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TRAINING TOOLKIT
WEST AND CENTRAL AFRICA
Developing skills and capacity in applying
foresight for climate resilient agricultural
development in West and Central Africa
Citation | Chesterman S, Neely C, Parramon Gurney M, Fuller EJ, Segnon AC,
Lamien N, Zougmoré R. 2022. Regional Foresight Community of Practice Training
Toolkit. Accelerating Impacts of CGIAR Climate Research for Africa.
The Accelerating Impacts of CGIAR Climate Research for Africa (AICCRA) project, led
by the Alliance Bioversity International and CIAT helps deliver a climate-smart African
future driven by science and innovation in agriculture. AICCRA works to make climate
information services and climate-smart agriculture technologies more accessible to
millions of smallholder farmers across Africa.
Contact | Alcade C. Segnon, PhD, West Africa Science Officer AICCRA, Alliance of
Bioversity International and CIAT, Dakar - Senegal
A.Segnon@cgiar.org
1
ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS
This WCA Regional Foresight Toolkit was designed and developed as As an umbrella organization, CORAF delivers on three activity
part of foresight training to support a regional Community of Practice pillars related to:
(CoP) of foresight experts in the West and Central Africa Region. A
regional training was held in Dakar, Senegal in October 2022, led A. Scaling technologies and innovations for impact;
by Sabrina Chesterman, Constance Neely, and facilitated by Marie
B. Regional integrated capacity strengthening and
Parramon Gurney, with support from Emma-Jane Fuller. Alcade
coordination; and
Segnon and Robert Zougmoré provided leadership to the partnership
and co-design of the entire training series and foresight application C. Knowledge management, foresighting and anticipation,
approach. In addition, Alcade co-facilitated key foresight sessions in each of which can address the urgent need to improve the
Dakar and lead stakeholder relationships through the entire process. knowledge base and evidence-based dialogue upon which
practice and policy responses to climate change are built.
We owe much gratitude to the expertise of the CORAF team, namely
CORAF’s 2018-2027 Strategic Plan particularly emphasizes the
Dr Nieyidoba Lamien, Dr Emmanuel Njukwe, Dr. Amadou Ngaiado and
role of foresight analysis – using historical data and modelling
Pauline Ngandoul Diouf for all their valuable discussions and insights
future scenarios to draw conclusions about actions to be taken
into structuring this froesight training and the establishment of a
in the present - to build consensus and inform decision-making
regional CoP to support the application of foresight across the region.
on research priorities.
The West and Central Africa Council for Agriculture Research and
A huge thanks to the regional foresight Community of Practice
Development (CORAF) is a core partner of the AICCRA West Africa
for all their hard work and support throughout the training
cluster. CORAF is an international non-profit association of national
(10 – 14 October 2022), their co-facilitation support during the
agricultural research systems from 23 West and Central African
application week (17-21 October 2022), and their eagerness
countries. Together with ASARECA (Association for strengthening
to be foresight ambassadors in the region. Ayodeji Rauf, Dr
agricultural research in Eastern and central Africa), CCARDESA (Centre
Hadja Oumou Sanon, Dr Adolphe Mahyao Germain, Edward H.
for Coordination of Agricultural Research and Development for
Decker, Dr. Ihegwuagu Nnemeka Edith, Dr Wouedjie, Thegue
Southern Africa) and NASRO (North African Sub-Regional Research
Alice-Norra, Dr. Nathalie Kpera, Dr. Djondang Koye, Aminata Bâ
Organization), it forms the four sub-regional organizations that make
Dia, Dr Amadou Abdoulaye M. Bahari, and Nestor Ngouambe.
up the Forum for Agricultural Research in Africa, FARA.
2
The Accelerating Impacts of CGIAR Climate Research for Africa (AICCRA)
project, led by the Alliance Bioversity International and CIAT helps deliver a
climate-smart African future driven by science and innovation in agriculture.
AICCRA works to make climate information services and climate-smart
agriculture technologies more accessible to millions of smallholder farmers
across Africa. With better access to technology and advisory services—linked
to information about effective response measures—farmers can better CORAF is an international non-profit association
anticipate climate-related shocks to take preventative action that helps their of national agricultural research systems from
communities safeguard livelihoods and the environment. AICCRA is being 23 West and Central African countries. Together
implemented across scales (continental, regional and country levels) in Africa. with ASARECA (Association for strengthening
agricultural research in Eastern and central
The West Africa regional level implementation led by AICCRA West Africa Africa), CCARDESA (Centre for Coordination
Cluster (AICCRA WA) collaborates with the West and Central Africa Council for of Agricultural Research and Development for
Agriculture Research and Development (CORAF), an association of national Southern Africa) and NASRO (North African Sub-
agricultural research systems from 23 West and Central African countries, Regional Research Organization), it forms the
and AGRHYMET Regional Centre, a specialized institute of the Permanent four sub-regional organizations that make up the
Interstate Committee for Drought Control in the Sahel (CILSS), to ensure that Forum for Agricultural Research in Africa, FARA.
effective large-scale intra-regional and south-south adoption within various
www.coraf.org
value chains are taking place through innovative delivery models for climate
services and CSA from West Africa. AICCRA aims to increase access to climate
information services and climate-smart agriculture technologies in Africa.
aiccra.cgiar.org
3
ACRONYMS AND
ABBREVIATIONS
AICCRA Accelerating the Impact of CGIAR Climate Research for
Africa
AU African Union
CAADP Africa Agriculture Development Programme
CEMAC Economic and Monetary Community of Central Africa
CILSS Permanent Interstate Committee for Drought Control in
the Sahel
CoP Community of Practice
CORAF West and Central Africa Council for Agriculture Research
and Development
CSA Climate Smart Agriculture
ECCAS Economic Community of Central African States
ECOWAS Economic Community of West African States
EWS Early Warning Systems
FAO Food and Agricultural Organisation
FAW Fall Army Worm
IDRC International Development Research Centre
IPPC International Plant Protection Convention
LECRDS Low Emission Climate-Resilient Development
MSP Multi-Stakeholder Partnerships
NARIs National Agricultural Research Institutes
NARS National Agricultural Research Systems
RVF Rift Valley Fever
SHARED Stakeholder Approach to Risk Informed and Evidence-
based Decision-making
WCA West and Central Africa
WOAH World Organisation for Animal Health
WHO World Health Organisation
Photo: ©Ollivier Girard (CIFOR)
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CONTENTS
THE AIM OF THE REGIONAL FORESIGHT 5
TRAINING TOOLKIT
FORESIGHT COMMUNITY OF PRACTICE 6
TRAINING TOOLKIT
Introduction to Foresight
MODULE 02 79
REFERENCES 246
5
FORESIGHT COMMUNITY OF PRACTICE
TRAINING APPROACH
3.
HOW AND
WHEN TO APPLY
DIFFERENT STEPS
OF METHOD
4.
TOOLS 5.
PRACTICAL
2. EXERCISE FOR IMMERSING THE
COP MEMBERS TRAINING RELATED
UNPACK THE TO DEEPEN TO PESTS AND
KEY STEPS OF LEARNING DISEASES LINKED TO
METHODS OR AGRICULTURE AND
TOOLS CLIMATE RESILIENCE
1. AND ADD A INSECT
NEAR CROPS AS
INTRODUCE
INDICATION OF PESTS
THE FORESIGHT
METHOD OR
APPROACH
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FORESIGHT KEY FRAMEWORK STAGES
DATA , EVIDENCE, KNOWLEDGE AND CREATIVITY
Context What is What do we want What might happen What might we want What will we do
Why is it happening?
happening? to experience in the that we have not to do to get there? differently?
future? What might thought about?
Scope get in our way?
Historical Systems
trends mapping Backcasting
Theme or analysis Developing Develop
Visioning
key topic scenarios road map
Cross
Geopolitical Horizon sectoral Pathway
boundary scanning and multi- Causal Scenario development Sequencing
stakeholder analysis implications & trade-offs relationships
Understand approaches
relevant Multi-
structures Network Transformation
mapping actions stakeholder
and policies co-ordination
Setting the
timelines Behaviour shift
mapping
Mapping the
stakeholders
Influence
and power
relations
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STRUCTURE OF THE TOOLKIT
The toolkit comprises six modules structured to both show the both the foresight tools, methods, and key steps but also to embed
methodology but also to be applied, by building a clear case study and case studies and practical examples to better apply those methods
examples of climate-resilient development in agricultural systems with into their own national and institutional contexts.
relevance to the WCA region. This allows the user to gain insights into
Application of the
An introduction A breakdown An explanation of method in the context
to the foresight of the key how and when to Background of developing a regional
method or steps of the apply the different on the preparedness and
approach in method or steps of the content; and response strategy plan
question; tool; method or tool; to pest and disease
outbreaks in the region.
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GLOSSARY OF KEY TERMS
FORESIGHT
Term Description Term Description
Backcasting The process of working backwards from the Critical Are drivers that are both highly impactful and
definition of a possible future to determine Uncertainties highly uncertain.
what needs to happen to make the future
unfold and connect to the present.
Barrier Identified obstacle that could stop the
achievement of an activity.
Cross-cutting Issues or challenges that affect more than a
Issues single interest area, institution, or stakeholder,
and that need to be addressed from all points
Black Swan An event that could absolutely not be of view.
predicted.
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Term Description Term Description
Feasible Possible and practical. Grey Rhino These are the large, obvious dangers that will
sooner or later emerge but whose exact timing
is unknown.
Forecast An estimate or best guess of what might Impact Refers to the potential scale of impact of a
happen in the future i.e. not a definitive driver on a scenario theme.
prediction.
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Term Description Term Description
Not Predictive Participatory with multiple viewpoints, bringing Scenarios Are storylines/narratives, answering ‘what if’
in quantitative and qualitative evidence but not questions that describe multiple alternative
predictive. futures spanning a key set of critical
uncertainties. Scenarios identify future drivers
of change and then plot out plausible directions
Pathway A trajectory in time, reflecting a sequence
that they may take.
of actions and consequences against a
background of separate developments, leading Scenario An approach to understanding highly impactful
to a specific future situation. Development and highly uncertain drivers and to describe
possible future states.
Plausible It is reasonable to assume the scenario could
happen. Plausibility does not mean that a future Although they address uncertainty, scenarios
situation will happen. are not predictions or forecasts - they are not
‘true’ or correct/wrong - only plausible.
Predictability The degree of confidence in a forecasting Scenario planning Is a technique of strategic planning that relies
on tools and technologies for managing the
system based either on law derived from
uncertainties of the future
observations and experience, or on scientific
reasoning and structural modelling.
Social Network A tool to identify the importance and influence
Projecting A quantitative technique that can be used in
Mapping of stakeholders as well as how they exchange
the analysis phase of the foresight process.
information or are connected.
Projecting or time series analysis are used when
several years of data are available, and trends
are both clear and relatively stable.
Strategic foresight The combination of foresight and strategic
Projection An expected value of one or more indicators
management
at particular points in the future, based on the
understanding of selected initial conditions and
drivers.
Resilience A system’s ability to cope with and recover from Time Frame The complete period (past-to-future) considered
shocks or disruptions, either by returning to the in a foresight exercise.
status quo or by transforming itself to adapt to
the new reality.
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Term Description Term Description
Transformation An agriculture and food systems transformation Unknown Issues and situations in organisations that have
is a significant redistribution - by at least a third Unknowns yet to surface and which are blind spots for
- of land, labour and capital, and/ or outputs, planners who are unaware that they do not
and outcomes (e.g. types and amounts of know about them.
production and consumption of goods and
services) within a time frame of a decade.
Trend A general tendency or direction of a movement Viable Able to be done or could occur.
or change over time e.g. increasing erratic
seasonal rainfall patterns.
Trend Impact Collecting information and attempting to spot a Vision A compelling image of a (usually preferred)
Analysis pattern, or trend, and assess its influence from future.
the information.
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CLIMATE RESILIENCE
Exposure Refers to the inventory of elements in an area Vulnerability The propensity or predisposition of a system to
in which hazard events may occur. be adversely affected by an event. Vulnerability
is a function of a system's sensitivity, and its
adaptive capacity.
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AGRICULTURAL SYSTEMS
Term Description Term Description
Agriculture Is the science, art, or practice of cultivating Elements The different, discrete elements within a
soil, producing crops, and raising livestock system (e.g. farms, organisations, inputs, and
and in varying degrees the preparation and soil).
marketing of the resulting products.
Agricultural Value Includes the people and activities that bring Interconnections The relationships that connect the elements
Chain a basic agricultural product such as maize to (e.g. rules, ideas, funding, or service
the consumer. The activities include obtaining relationships, among others).
inputs and production in the field right
through to storage, processing, packaging,
and distribution. Land Degradation A process in which the value of the
biophysical environment is affected by a
Biological Diversity The variability among living organisms from combination of human land-use activities. It
all sources, including terrestrial, marine, and is viewed as any change or disturbance to the
aquatic ecosystems. land perceived to be undesirable.
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Term Description
Productive Inputs These are used to increase yields and range
from improved seeds, genetics, fertilisers
and crop protection chemicals to machinery,
irrigation technology and knowledge.
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Photo: ©Adobe Stock
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Introduction to foresight
MODULE 01
MODULE 01
Introduction
to foresight
MODULE 01
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Introduction to foresight
MODULE 01
OVERVIEW OF MODULE ONE
OBJECTIVES
OF MODULE
ONE
1. Provide an
introduction to Scope for a
foresight
Establish foresight exercise
2. Collaboratively map Introduce learning goals
learning goals for foresight Trends Analysis
the week
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LEARNING EXERCISE
Introduction to foresight
MODULE 01
What is your understanding of futures thinking?
Through the following set of questions. Once you pose the questions,
you can reflect with your key audience what their current comfort level
is regarding thinking and working in the future.
Consider the following How comfortable are you Thinking about the future for
questions and choose the thinking about the future? me is,
answers that apply:
1. Too uncertain
1. Very comfortable
The future is,
1. 2. Limited and a bit abstract
Uncertain 5. Certain 2. Comfortable
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WHY WE NEED TO PLAN
Introduction to foresight
MODULE 01
FOR THE FUTURE
Climate-related stresses are “long-term trends or pressures
Life in the 21st century is complex, we are faced with
that undermine the stability of a system and increase
‘great disruptive forces’ such as climate change,
vulnerability within it”
technological advances, urbanisation and globalisation,
to name a few. These forces are not new to the world, the Examples of climate-related stresses include:
unique challenge is that they are occurring at the same time,
and at a large scale (UNDP, 2017). The accelerating pace of Decreased Delayed onset Higher
the forces, how they interact, and their resounding impact is average of the rainy temperatures
causing change that is exceedingly difficult to anticipate. annual rainfall season
• Predictability; Shocks are normally acute events that either slowly emerge (e.g.,
droughts) or rapidly emerge (e.g., flooding).
• Clear causality;
•
Examples of climate-related shocks include:
Eliminating uncertainty;
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Introduction to foresight
MODULE 01
IMPACTS OF CLIMATE CHANGE ON
Other key stressors
AGRICULTURE SYSTEMS
include:
LIVESTOCK
Rural poverty Diseases
Feed and
and pests
water
availability
Population
growth
Heat
Unequal CROPS stress
distribution/
access to natural Timing
resources and length
of growing
season
Land degradation Invasive
and deforestation species in
pasture
Nutritional
Water
content of
Lack of water availability
feed
access/
Invasive
infrastructure species
Gender inequality
Diseases
and
pests High
temperatures
Erratic
rainfall
events
Photo Top: ©Apollo Habtamu (ILRI)
Photo Bottom: ©Freepiks
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FORESIGHT Climate lens
Introduction to foresight
MODULE 01
FOR CLIMATE A tool or approach used to examine a strategy, policy, plan,
program or regulation in light of climate change.
RESILIENT AGRI-
FOOD SYSTEMS Climate-compatible or climate-
smart development
Development which minimises harm caused by climate impacts,
while maximising the many human development opportunities
and delivers benefits across all three priority areas: climate
mitigation, climate adaptation and poverty eradication.
Climate-proofing
A process that makes projects, strategies, policies and measures
“Climate resilience”
resilient to climate change, including climate variability, by
climate-related stresses Integrating these ways into programming and projects, i.e.,
Introduction to foresight
MODULE 01
Risk - intersection of hazards, exposure and vulnerability
• Considers impacts of climate hazards will be
hazard, also about the socio-
mitigated by socioeconomic processes. ecological system – exposure to
• Extent of climate hazards will also be mitigated by the hazard and vulnerability of the
socioeconomic processes – our ability to mitigate system to the effects of the hazard
GHG emissions.
IMPACTS
CLIMATE SOCIOECONOMIC
Vulnerability PROCESS
Natural Socioeconomic
Variability Pathway
Adaption and
Anthropogenic Mitigation
Climate
Hazards RISK Actions
Change
Governance
Exposure
EMISSIONS
and Land-use Change
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KEY TERMS
Introduction to foresight
MODULE 01
Hazard - possible, future occurrence of natural or human induced physical events that may have adverse effects on
vulnerable and exposed elements.
IMPACTS
CLIMATE SOCIOECONOMIC
Vulnerability PROCESS
Natural Socioeconomic
Variability Pathway
Adaption and
Anthropogenic Mitigation
Climate
Hazards RISK Actions
Change
Governance
Exposure
EMISSIONS
and Land-use Change
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Introduction to foresight
MODULE 01
CLIMATE HAZARDS OF CONCERN
IN WEST AND CENTRAL AFRICA
• Droughts • Landslides
• Forest fires
seasonal patterns
https://daraint.org/risk-reduction-index/west-africa/
disaster-risk-in-west-africa/
Photo: ©Freepiks
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Introduction to foresight
MODULE 01
FORESIGHT TO
ADDRESS RISK
How do we
“DO” Foresight
Foresight is not conducted by a small group of
experts or academics but involves a number of
different groups of actors concerned with the
issue in question (European Foresight Platform,
n.d.). The results of a foresight exercise are
shared with a large audience from which
feedback is actively sought.
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Introduction to foresight
MODULE 01
QUESTIONS & ANSWERS
It takes specific attention to actively engage and get the input of women
into these processes. From a trainer’s/facilitator’s perspective, we often
work with both mixed gender groups as well as allow women to talk
among themselves and provide input. Sometimes in mixed groups you
may find that women get relegated to writing the cards or keeping notes.
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KEY TERMS REMEMBER!
Introduction to foresight
MODULE 01
Risk not just about the climate hazard,
Exposure - refers to the inventory of elements also about the socio-ecological system –
in an area in which hazard events may occur.
exposure to the hazard and vulnerability
of the system to the effects of the hazard.
IMPACTS
CLIMATE SOCIOECONOMIC
Vulnerability PROCESS
Natural Socioeconomic
Variability Pathway
Adaption and
Anthropogenic Mitigation
Climate
Hazards RISK Actions
Change
Governance
Exposure
EMISSIONS
and Land-use Change
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UNPACKING CLIMATE EXPOSURE
Introduction to foresight
MODULE 01
INFRASTRUCTURE ECOSYSTEM &
FARMING / AGRO- economic, social,
ECOLOGICAL SYSTEM ENVIRONMENT
PEOPLE & cultural assets functions, services,
LIVELIHOODS resources
IPCC CLIMATE RISK FRAMEWORK
IMPACTS
CLIMATE SOCIOECONOMIC
Vulnerability PROCESS
Natural Socioeconomic
Variability Pathway
Adaption and
Anthropogenic Mitigation
Climate
Hazards RISK Actions
Change
Governance
Exposure
EMISSIONS
and Land-use Change
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KEY TERMS
Introduction to foresight
MODULE 01
Vulnerability - the Sensitivity - the degree to which a system Adaptive capacity
propensity or predisposition of a is affected, either adversely or beneficially, by - the ability of systems,
system to be adversely affected climate variability or change. institutions, humans,
by an event (IPCC, 2014) and other organisms
Some elements may be quite robust and able to adjust to potential
Vulnerability is a function of to cope with/absorb quite large changes, damage, to take advantage
a system’s sensitivity, and its others are more sensitive and even a small of opportunities, or to
adaptive capacity (IPCC, 2014). change in climate can have large impact. respond to consequences.
Health
Soils Risk perception
Coping capacity
Socio-economic
Ecosystems
Land Tenure
Habitats
Species
Net loss
overall in
agricultural
potential
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YIELD RESPONSE MODELS
Introduction to foresight
MODULE 01
4 staple
crops are
likely to
decline
Yield response models (Schlenker & Lobell, 2010)
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THE SHIFT FROM CLIMATE RISK
Introduction to foresight
MODULE 01
TO CLIMATE RESILIENCE
Photo: ©Freepiks
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Introduction to foresight
MODULE 01
FORESIGHT
Foresight is the process of looking to the past
and present to envision and prepare for different
futures, which then allow us to make strategic
decisions today.
Introduction to foresight
MODULE 01
Institutionalising
the use of strategic This regional
foresight requires CoP aims to
considering demand, embed foresight
capacity, institutions, capacity within
embeddedness, and
RESIGHT AMBASSADORS the WCA region
feedback FO
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BUILDING FUTURE’S THINKING AND FORESIGHT FACILITATION CAPACITY
Introduction to foresight
MODULE 01
The capacity of an organisation to do foresight depends on the quality of the futures thinking and
the ability of decision makers to use it.
As you build your foresight skill set you will influence in the region:
Systems: the governance architecture and Interventions: the particular activities, studies and
incentives that sustain a culture and practice processes during which the future is considered, and
of regular, useful, impactful foresight and its a strategic dialogue is undertaken with the purpose of
subsequent use in decision-making. better identifying emerging developments, producing
better strategies, or future-proofing an existing strategy.
A great facilitator values and respects the power of the group. They believe better
decisions; better ideas and better outcomes can be achieved when the intelligence in
the room has been leveraged. By combining their knowledge, skills and personality
in an effective way a top-notch meeting leader will be able to facilitate trust and
draw the best out the group.
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Out of your silo
Introduction to foresight
MODULE 01
WHAT MAKES AN EFFECTIVE
FORESIGHT FACILITATOR?
• Effective communication skills Everyone is Any idea is valid
•
•
•
Open to change
Keen observation skills
Demonstrates unwavering positivity
creative
• Authentic
•
A neutral
??
Maintains constant neutrality
•
!!
Energetic personality
•
•
Promotes constructive feedback
Asks versus tells
viewpoint
• Patient
https://facilitationfirst.com/top-10-characteristics-of-
an-excellent-group-facilitator/
A RADICALLY
CURIOUS MIND
Jim Dator
Traditional strategic
planning reinforces the
Don’t hold
cognitive bias of humans
that makes us simply
onto old ideas
extrapolate into the that are no
future what we know of longer needed
today and what we have
experienced in the past.
Introduction to foresight
MODULE 01
What is cognitive bias?
Cognitive biases refer to systematic (predictable) deviation from rationality in
judgment or decision-making.
For example, a confirmation bias is when we only take in only information that
confirms our existing beliefs.
Oh, that’s me!
KEEP ASKING!
Are you addressing the
urgent issues, or only the
immediate issues?
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Introduction to foresight
MODULE 01
STRATEGIC FORESIGHT
Strategic foresight is a
systematic way of looking
beyond the expected to
engage with uncertainty
and complexity”.
As with any field, foresight has its own terminology. Foresight is closely associated with the term ‘futures’. Futures refers to a wide academic and
professional field inclusive of research, methods and tools that can be used to develop foresight capacity (Conway, 2014).
Unlike strategic plans that typically include a short term vision of the future, foresight approaches use a longer time frame i.e. 10 to 20 years
or more, and thereby encourage thinking beyond our current conditions (Conway, 2014). It is important to note that foresight does not replace
existing planning methods, but can be used in conjunction with them, and thereby enhance the planning process.
Futuring - is the act, art, or science of identifying Foresight - involves structured tools, methods
and evaluating possible future events. and thinking styles to enable the capacity to consider
multiple futures and plan for them.
Future studies - explore how people can
navigate the past and use different methods to Strategic foresight - the combination of
think about and prepare for different possible foresight and strategic management.
futures (Forward Thinking Platform, 2014).
Strategic planning - tends to focus on producing
Futures thinking - describes the practice of tangible plans rather than on the thinking processes
thinking about the future in a structured way, that informs the plans (Conway, 2014).
and the methods and approaches that are used
to do so. Forecasting an estimate / best guess of what might
happen in the future but not a definitive prediction.
Scenario planning - is a technique of strategic
planning that relies on tools and technologies for Drivers are factors that cause change, thereby
managing the uncertainties of the future. affecting or shaping the future.
Regardless of the term used, those who work in this field use the future to inform action today and accept responsibly for future
generations (Conway, 2014).
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Introduction to foresight
MODULE 01
QUESTIONS & ANSWERS
Is it important to reduce the definitions to exclusive ones, or could a mix be acceptable?
Are there many ways of doing foresight?
There are many different planning methods, understand what is happening (analysis) range of actions that will take our plan
however most planning methods take into and why it is happening (interpretation). from being an iterative one to being a
account the current state of affairs (input, transformative one.
analysis and interpretation) and planning steps In our planning stage, we clearly
based on an identified desired outcome (vision) articulate a vision and go deep into In response to the second question,
which considers what needs to happen, when, understanding the underlying causes there are different ways of doing
and by whom to achieve the outputs that lead and behaviours that may keep us from foresight so yes, you incorporate the
to the outcome. So, there is overlap and some achieving the vision. Prospection allows mix of methods that work best for your
foresight methods fit nicely into traditional us to look at multiple drivers and define situation and often that is dependent
planning approaches. When we do foresight, a number of plausible scenarios so upon the scope, the time allotted to the
we add more methods into the mix to better that our strategy takes into account the process, the people involved, etc.
The premise of
foresight is that the
future is still in the
making and can be
actively influenced
or even created.”
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3 CORE TIME FRAMES IN A FORESIGHT PROCESS
Introduction to foresight
MODULE 01
2.
Assessing 3.
1. what is
happening Anticipating
Back into in the the future
the past present
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Introduction to foresight
MODULE 01
FORESIGHT
• Foresight is a set of tools and
methods to practically help us to
move toward the future we want.
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FORESIGHT - THE IMPORTANCE OF SUPPORTING EVIDENCE
Introduction to foresight
MODULE 01
DATA , EVIDENCE, KNOWLEDGE AND CREATIVITY
Context What is What do we want What might happen What might we want What will we do
Why is it happening?
happening? to experience in the that we have not to do to get there? differently?
future? What might thought about?
get in our way?
TYPES OF EVIDENCE
Scientific Participatory Qualitative data
evidence and consultative ‘who, which, what,
evidence when, where and why?’
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Introduction to foresight
MODULE 01
Evidence
We define evidence as the integration of raw data constituting numbers, words, images,
and insights emerging from diverse knowledge sources.
Box plot
Testimonials
“FMNR improved
productivity on my farm
and improved nutrition for
my livestock” Data Maps
Photos
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EVIDENCE AND INCLUSION - LOCAL KNOWLEDGE AND LANGUAGE
Introduction to foresight
MODULE 01
The importance of bringing local knowledge into foresight
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Introduction to foresight
MODULE 01
Consultation processes Capture and integrate
using participatory local knowledge –
tools dedicated local formalizing input from a
meetings in local language participatory consultation
using tools that are suitable process into stakeholder
for low literacy situations and engagement meetings – e.g.
potential future insights. grazing routes mapped onto
spatial development plans.
47 RETURN TO CONTENTS
Introduction to foresight
MODULE 01
FORESIGHT KEY STAGES
Context What is What do we want What might happen What might we want What will we do
Why is it happening?
happening? to experience in the that we have not to do to get there? differently?
future? What might thought about?
Scope get in our way?
Historical Systems
trends mapping Backcasting
Theme or analysis Developing Develop
Visioning
key topic scenarios road map
Cross
Geopolitical Horizon sectoral Pathway
boundary scanning and multi- Causal Scenario development Sequencing
stakeholder analysis implications & trade-offs relationships
Understand approaches
relevant Multi-
structures Network Transformation
mapping actions stakeholder
and policies co-ordination
Setting the
timelines Behaviour shift
mapping
Mapping the
stakeholders
Influence
and power
relations
48 RETURN TO CONTENTS
Introduction to foresight
MODULE 01
Applying foresight processes to
influence policy and strategic planning
THERE IS NO STANDARDIZED WAY
OF DOING FORESIGHT
Distributed engagement
Hierarchical
from a wider system
Creation of meaningful
Which foresight methods public value
49 RETURN TO CONTENTS
APPLYING A FORESIGHT APPROACH IN STRATEGIC PLANNING
Introduction to foresight
MODULE 01
Policy objective How foresight can help Questions to ask
Strategic planning for development • Explore possibilities, scenarios and • What future developments should
Objective: elaboration of national/ organisational options as an integral part of the we be aware of in planning and
visions and development plans, which reflect how standard strategic or policy planning resourcing to succeed?
interrelated policies and objectives might interact in process.
different futures.
Organisational purpose/ continuity • Build vision and gain buy-in under • Why are we here and how can
Objective: to develop and obtain agreement on an conditions of change. we achieve our goals in this very
inclusive purpose for an organisation in the context of different future?
a changing/uncertain environment.
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Introduction to foresight
MODULE 01
Policy objective How foresight can help Questions to ask
Sector/ community vision and engagement • Brings stakeholders together to think • What might our joint futures look
Objective: to develop and obtain agreement on collectively about an existing sector or like?
network.
an inclusive vision for an organisation, sector or • What can we collectively do to
community in the context of a changing/ uncertain • Unites a community around a move change in the desired
environment. common future vision. direction?
Intergenerational equity • Ensures intergenerational equity. • What are the concerns of younger
Objective: to ensure no one is left behind and generations regarding the social,
• Assesses the impact of today’s policies
that decisions made today reflect the interests of environmental and economic
on future generations.
future generations or the future interests of current legacy they will inherit?
generations • What are their expectations of
consequences of policies, which
last far longer than electoral cycles,
particularly in the context of the
post COVID-19 recovery?
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Introduction to foresight
MODULE 01
“BE CLEAR AS TO
WHERE YOU ARE
GOING AND BE
FLEXIBLE AS TO HOW
TO GET THERE”
Foresight will equip
you with adaptable
skills and the ability to
assess, change and plan
for different futures.
Context What is What do we want What might happen What might we want What will we do
Why is it happening?
happening? to experience in the that we have not to do to get there? differently?
future? What might thought about?
get in our way?
52 RETURN TO CONTENTS
Introduction to foresight
MODULE 01
FORESIGHT KEY STAGES
Context What is What do we want What might happen What might we want What will we do
Why is it happening?
happening? to experience in the that we have not to do to get there? differently?
future? What might thought about?
Scope get in our way?
Historical Systems
trends mapping Backcasting
Theme or analysis Developing Develop
Visioning
key topic scenarios road map
Cross
Geopolitical Horizon sectoral Pathway
boundary scanning and multi- Causal Scenario development Sequencing
stakeholder analysis implications & trade-offs relationships
Understand approaches
relevant Multi-
structures Network Transformation
mapping actions stakeholder
and policies co-ordination
Setting the
timelines Behaviour shift
mapping
Mapping the
stakeholders
Influence
and power
relations
53 RETURN TO CONTENTS
INPUT
Introduction to foresight
MODULE 01
Scope Theme or Geopolitical Understand Setting the Mapping the Influence
key topic boundary relevant timelines stakeholders and power
structures relations
and policies
SCOPE
TIP
Every time you do a foresight exercise you have to define your boundaries – around your
theme, geography and timeline.
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Introduction to foresight
MODULE 01
STEP 1
BREAKING DOWN YOUR THEME INTO PARTS
Agri-food systems example
55 RETURN TO CONTENTS
Introduction to foresight
MODULE 01
ECONOMIC TECHNOLOGY
WHAT ARE WE
TAKING INTO Communications
Infrastructure Finance CONSIDERATION & Technology
WITH AN AGRI-
FOOD SYSTEM Insurance
Markets Investment and Risk
Wealth Climate
Trade Distribution Commercial Information
and smallholder
farmers
GDP
contribution Livestock
and
fisheries
Employment
Value
addition
Extension
services
Access to
inputs
Food
storage Market
access
Crop
production Production
systems
AGRICULTURE
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Introduction to foresight
MODULE 01
ECONOMIC TECHNOLOGY
WHAT ARE WE
TAKING INTO Communications
Infrastructure Finance CONSIDERATION & Technology
WITH AN AGRI-
FOOD SYSTEM Insurance
Markets Investment and Risk
Wealth Climate
Trade Distribution Commercial Information
and smallholder
farmers
GDP
contribution Livestock
and
fisheries
Employment
Value
Value
addition POLITICAL
addition
Extension
services Governance
Access to
inputs Regulations
Tenure
Food
storage Market
access
Crop
production Production
systems
ENVIRONMENTAL
Natural Capital
57 RETURN TO CONTENTS
Introduction to foresight
MODULE 01
ECONOMIC TECHNOLOGY
WHAT ARE WE
TAKING INTO Communications
Infrastructure Finance CONSIDERATION & Technology
WITH AN AGRI-
FOOD SYSTEM Insurance
Markets Investment and Risk
Wealth Climate
Trade Distribution Commercial Information
and smallholder
farmers
GDP
contribution Livestock
and
fisheries
Employment
Value
Value
addition POLITICAL
addition
Extension
services Governance
Access to
inputs Regulations
Tenure
Food
storage Market
SOCIO-CULTURAL access
Crop
production Production
systems
Population Demographics ENVIRONMENTAL
58 RETURN TO CONTENTS
WHAT ARE WE TAKING INTO CONSIDERATION
WITH AN AGRI-FOOD SYSTEM
Introduction to foresight
MODULE 01
Communications
Economic
•
& Technology
•
Infrastructure
Insurance •
•
GDP growth
•
Access
•
Roads
and Risk
•
Dams
•
Wealth distribution
•
Finance
• Reducing agriculture
Cell phone usage
•
Income, main (radio communities)
•
Ports (trends, Access to finance
•
risk
•
income earners Digital ICT in extension
•
plans, status)
•
Rural financing
•
Social safety nets
•
Employment
•
Export zones Credit loans for
Input insurance
Sectoral distribution
•
Industrialisation agriculture
trends/plans (including high Agriculture subsidies Landscape Climate
value commodities) Information
• •
Planning
•
Tenure Weather data
•
Land use systems
(trends related Access/
Commercial to agriculture, distribution
Investment Trade and smallholder
• • farmers rangeland
management)
•
Investment corridors Trade agreements, GDP
arrangements and contribution Livestock
Government/private and
flows
•
sector investment plans Governance
•
fisheries
•
Adaptation investors
•
Regulatory structures
Identified investment Employment
Regional and continental
Value
priorities bodies: mandate, level
addition
•
Markets of operation
Key commodity
Extension
•
markets
services
Access to rural Access to
inputs Tourism
•
market systems
•
Market Growth
access
•
Population Food Trends
Demographics storage Market
•
Employment contribution
• •
Socio-cultural access
•
Demand and sourcing
•
Migration
Pastoralist, chiefdoms
Development plans
•
Growth Crop
•
structures
production Production
•
Age systems
•
Community-led initiatives
Urbanisation Women, youth and
marginalised groups in
•Natural Capital
•
agriculture Water
AGRICULTURE
•
Soil
•
Forestry
Energy
Labour
availablity • Soil and water
•
Access
•
Education conservation initiatives
• •
Health
•
Electrification
•
Crop failures
•
Rural education access Nutrition sensitive
•
Demand growth
•
priorities
•
Degradation
•
Literacy levels
Access to off grid
•
Environmental awareness Diet transitions Germination
(education programs, Preferential foods solar technology
outreach initiatives)
59 RETURN TO CONTENTS
LEARNING
Introduction to foresight
MODULE 01
EXERCISE
Write down your thoughts on BOUNDARY
what makes up, affects, or is
Setting the Geopolitical Boundary
affected by, the system at the core
of your theme. Group the external High-level gathering of data, knowledge, and evidence is
systems and drivers of change important in understanding the context of the chosen theme. The
according to categories for example next step of the scope method, STEP 2, is to set the geopolitical
technology, economic, political, boundary. It is important from the outset to clearly define the
environmental, or socio-cultural. scale of the intended foresight exercise.
Highlight key dimensions and Are we zooming in to a specific project zone, or even a
drivers related to pest and disease? department in a Ministry, or are we scaling up and looking at a
broader system with multiple layers and actors?
60 RETURN TO CONTENTS
How can we manage unreliable data/information/archives in the WCA region?
Reliable data is an issue not just in Africa but globally. Ground level weather station numbers
Introduction to foresight
MODULE 01
have declined considerably. New methods using remote sensing in combination with ground
level weather data is common. Some websites pull together household datasets from around
sub-Saharan Africa. Other options include crowdsourcing and alternative big data techniques.
LEARNING
EXERCISE
3. Add this information to the map so that you can visualise it.
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Introduction to foresight
MODULE 01
FARMING SYSTEM
TION, FAMILY COMP
IC LOCA OSIT
C T ERIST I SH /TREE SYSTEM SYS ION
A RA S TO CK/F TEM (AG
H IV E ILY L A B C E, G
R C P /L FA M O UR OM
P ON END
LDE , CRO A L L O C AT I ON EN
O ZE TS ER),
SEH D SI AN FA
U ER D R
HO E H AC M A
M SIZ TI
V HOUSEHOLD
N
FI E A R
D S
CROP/LIVESTOCK/FISH/
LD
IT
PRODUCTION
IE
TREE PRODUCTION AND AND DECISION
DECISION PROCESSES PROCESSES
Child rearing,
Livestock care and
Management
Output (milk, education
decisions
crop-livestock-fish- manure, fiber)
tree, productive
inputs (fertility,
Crop/grass
species, varieties,
output Healthcare
pest management,
(grass, crops,
water harvesting,
plant residues)
intercropping,
grazing, feed, family
or hired labor by age,
gender, experience, Tree outputs
information, etc.) (fruits, timber, Social-cultural
nutrients, activities
fodder)
Land health,
nutrients,
water cycle, Food preparation,
Aquaculture
biological consumption,
outputs (fish)
diversity, nutrition, waste
climate
QUESTION?
Where do knowledge and data management
fits within the systems diagram?
62 RETURN TO CONTENTS
Introduction to foresight
MODULE 01
UNDERSTANDING RELEVANT STRUCTURES AND POLICIES
STEP 3
Who is key to planning and decision-making and what level(s) is relevant to our objective?
Climate change and agriculture related visions and policies occur at and transcend multiple scales
(global, continental, WCA, member state, provincial and local).
LEARNING EXERCISE
63 RETURN TO CONTENTS
RELEVANT STRUCTURES AND POLICIES
Introduction to foresight
MODULE 01
GLOBAL VISION for climate
AND development
COUNTRY
Climate-specific VISION Development
goals and plans goals and plans
National Green
NDCs NAMAs level growth
NAPAs
goals
NDPs
Post-COVID
19 green
Sectoral Climate growth
targets Bill Sectoral recovery
targets plans
Sub-
national
2030 level 2030
Long-term Climate-
resilient development
2050 / 2060
64 RETURN TO CONTENTS
POLICIES AND STRUCTURES RELEVANT TO PEST AND DISEASE MANAGEMENT IN
WCA EXAMPLE
Introduction to foresight
MODULE 01
GLOBAL LEVEL GOALS
WHO Agreement on Sanitary and Phytxosanitary Measures (SPS Agreement)
The International Plant Protection Convention (IPPC) - Governed by the Commission on
Phytosanitary Measures
International Standards for Phytosanitary Measures (ISPMs)
Strategic Framework for the International Plant Protection Convention
(IPPC) 2020–2030
Disaster Risk
Management Strategy ECOWAS pesticide, pest and phytosanitary
agreements and policies
Regional locust
emergency action plan
QUESTION?
If your client has not specified a timeframe – how
do you go about choosing a timeframe?
TIP
INPUT STAGE – we are still at the start of or foresight exercise – we are understanding the
context
This is where bringing in more data, knowledge and evidence is important
Photo: ©Freepiks
66 RETURN TO CONTENTS
AU Agenda 2063
TIMELINE
Introduction to foresight
MODULE 01
UN SDGs ECOWAS Vision 2050
AU Climate
Change Strategy
ECOWAS
Climate
ECOWAS Strategy
NDCs
It is key to invite policy makers to stakeholder events to get their buy-in, but to also have them present so they can
listen to the other experts in the room and see the importance of integrating foresight analysis into their planning.
It is also equally as crucial to communicate effectively with policy makers – showing them why it is important to
integrate the research findings into the policies – what happens if they do not. Use language that policy makers are
familiar with. Demonstrate how it can support their development plans and longer term visions for the country.
67 RETURN TO CONTENTS
Introduction to foresight
MODULE 01
How do you manage
stakeholder engagement
STAKEHOLDER where there is no project
setting and attendance varies
MAPPING according to personal will? The
What is it stakeholders keep changing
Mapping of individuals, and there is no continuity?
groups and organizations
In West Africa, CCAFS set up
that have a stake in the
a science policy stakeholder
topic or issue of focus.
platform and embedded it in a
Why we use it national structure. It was funded,
To identify stakeholders but the allocation was minimal.
that are present and those Those involved had to produce
that need to be engaged. Annual Work Plans, this kept the
momentum going. It is important
to use a national organisation to
STEP 5 embed the work within and to take
to it on.
Understanding the
stakeholders through a However, if this is not possible,
mapping exercise. encourage attendance by getting
people to make a commitment.
A Who are the actors in
Make the sessions invigorating so
our theme (agri-food
that people want to attend. Use
system).
a formal social networking tool
B How do they relate or surveys to see why people are
and influence one disinterested, interpret the data,
another. and re-evaluate your sessions.
68 RETURN TO CONTENTS
Introduction to foresight
MODULE 01
LEARNING
EXERCISE
What is the ideal stakeholder composition? the circle showing perceived importance Use lines with arrows
between circles to show connections and inter-relationships
It is most important to clarify your theme and the between stakeholders that interact and label the relationships.
type of system (e.g. community production for food Use colours to illustrate the driver of the relationship.
security, policy development for increasing green jobs)
you are working on. You can use system mapping
and stakeholder mapping (Module 2) to identify key
actors and look at causal relationships around key
issue areas to identify key stakeholders to be involved
in implementation. We are not inviting stakeholders
just to have many actors in the room, we can work
to understand those stakeholders that will be more
strategic in terms of representation.
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Introduction to foresight
MODULE 01
STAKEHOLDERS IN OUR THEME
REGIONAL
FINANCIAL ECONOMIC
COMMERCIAL/ INSTITUTIONS COMMUNITIES
PRIVATE
PLAYERS GOVERNMENT
GRASSROOTS/
COMMUNITY-
BASED
ORGANISATIONS MULTILATERAL
ORGANISATIONS
KEY QUESTIONS?
When mapping stakeholders how do we make sure we include all relevant
stakeholders including marginalized groups?
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Introduction to foresight
MODULE 01
ROLES OF STAKEHOLDERS
REGIONAL
FINANCIAL ECONOMIC
COMMERCIAL/ INSTITUTIONS COMMUNITIES
PRIVATE
PLAYERS GOVERNMENT
GRASSROOTS/
COMMUNITY-
BASED Role Role
ORGANISATIONS MULTILATERAL
Project finance, Facilitate regional
ORGANISATIONS
Role understanding development Role
Partnerships, long-term and integration, Policy
innovation, economic investment coordination, development,
perspectives, risk, market regional legislation,
commercial resources solutions leadership, and leadership,
agenda setting strategic direction
Role
Role
Local, on-
Transnational
the-ground
development
perspectives,
cooperation,
indigenous
technical
knowledge and
guidance,
wisdom, voice of
CIVIL SOCIETY MEDIA AND financial
the people
JOURNALISTS support,
Role MANAGERS SCIENTIFIC transnational
Advocacy, information OF LOCAL COMMUNITIES Role
decision
sharing, awareness RESOURCES & & ACADEMIA Advocacy,
making, agenda
creation, advisory, LABOURERS information
Role setting
capacity building, Role sharing,
Knowledge
network building, Livelihoods and awareness
generation,
change agents, voice income generation, building,
evidence-based
of the people, affected local farming practices alternative
information,
and interested people and knowledge, perspectives
bridging the
sustainable science-policy
management, and interface
exploitation of natural
resources
71 RETURN TO CONTENTS
I am working with smallholder
Introduction to foresight
MODULE 01
UNDERSTANDING RELATIONSHIPS farmers in producing vegetables
BETWEEN STAKEHOLDERS for the export market. How
do I go about the stakeholder
Who is working with whom? engagement process?
What is being exchanged?
Firstly, you need to consider all levels
What are the power dynamics? of institutions and policies for the
Who is missing? export market- this would include the
international level right down to the
local level. Start off by brainstorming
stakeholders, even if they may not
all seem relevant at the start. The
stakeholders can be narrowed down
as you progress through the foresight
process.
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Introduction to foresight
MODULE 01
Youth have a renewed
interest in intergenerational
justice, frustrated by the state
of the world that has been left Lastly, it is important
behind for them and future to understand and
generations. Additionally, with map influence. The
the growing youth population exercise should
in WCA it is going to be document vested
important to engage with them interests and power
and receive their input for dynamics.
inclusive decision-making.
As you can imagine, developing green jobs and entrepreneurial opportunities that contribute to adaptation and
mitigation to climate change will need to be operationalised and they will need to be done in a transformative
way. So, determining the roles of youth in building resilient and sustainable food systems will be spread across our
analysis, interpretation, plan, prospection, reflection, and strategy stages. The opportunities should start to emerge
particularly in the last four stages.
Introduction to foresight
MODULE 01
GOVERNMENT
SECTORS /
COORDINATING
BODY
Civil society Consumers
Women and
Commercial/
youth groups
private
player
WATER COORDINATING
BODY MINING Local
Multi-lateral authorities
organizations INDUSTRY
ENVIRONMENT
ENERGY
NGOs
Sub-national
Local
Media and advocates
journalists
Managers of Financial
local resources Marginalized Institutions
& labourers groups
74 RETURN TO CONTENTS
WHO ELSE NEEDS TO BE THERE?
Introduction to foresight
MODULE 01
REGIONAL LOCAL
FINANCIAL ECONOMIC ADVOCATES
COMMERCIAL/ INSTITUTIONS COMMUNITIES
PRIVATE
PLAYERS GOVERNMENT
POLICY
CHAMPIONS
GRASSROOTS/
COMMUNITY-
BASED
MULTILATERAL
ORGANISATIONS
ORGANISATIONS
WHO ELSE
NEEDS TO BE AT
THE DECISION-
MAKING TABLE?
WOMAN
LEARNING EXERCISE
Review initial stakeholder mapping
75 RETURN TO CONTENTS
Introduction to foresight
MODULE 01
INFLUENCE AND POWER RELATIONSHIPS
What is it
Analysis and interpretation of the interest, power and relationships of and
between stakeholders.
Why we use it
When developing stakeholder engagement and management plans, it is
REFLECTIONS AND important to understand levels and kinds of influence among stakeholders
that may affect the relationships.
GUIDING QUESTIONS
STEP 6
Stakeholder mapping is a
continual process Stakeholder interest – power grid
For this analysis, stakeholders would be asked the level of their engagement
As the foresight exercise evolves
in the topic or theme of interest and how much they influence the allocation of
from the design document
resources, policy development, implementation of programs and information
stakeholder mapping, so
dissemination. This can be done through surveys in workshops and meetings or
too might the stakeholders.
through interviews or over email. This information informs the interest-power grid.
Mapping stakeholders and
updating your engagement
plan allows as the foresight
exercise continues helps ensure
that relevant stakeholders are
included.
Different
Stakeholder engagement runs
stakeholders may
across all phases of the foresight relate to different
framework. policy areas and
may differ at
different levels
76 RETURN TO CONTENTS
Introduction to foresight
MODULE 01
LEARNING
EXERCISE
High
• Engage closely • Aim to increase
and influence level of interest
• Aim to increase • Engage later
IMPORTANT KEY PLAYERS level of interest
• Keep satisfied
POWER
• Engage later
• Keep satisfied
Low
level of interest • Secure interest
LEAST AFFECTED
• Inform later • Inform now
IMPORTANT • Monitor • Keep Informed
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Introduction to foresight
MODULE 01
LEARNING EXERCISE
78 RETURN TO CONTENTS
sectoral and Systems Linkages
Understanding Trends and Multi-
MODULE 02
MODULE 02
Understanding
Trends and
Multi-sectoral and
Systems Linkages
MODULE 02
MODULE 01
79 RETURN TO CONTENTS
sectoral and Systems Linkages
Understanding Trends and Multi-
MODULE 02
OVERVIEW OF MODULE TWO
WHAT WILL
YOU LEARN?
Module 2 covers the analysis
and interpretation stages of
the foresight process. The
analysis stage is important
Scope for a for understanding ‘what is
foresight exercise happening’ by using trends
Establish
analysis, horizon scanning
Introduce learning goals and evidence gathering.
foresight Trends Analysis The interpretation stage
then investigates ‘why it is
happening’.
80 RETURN TO CONTENTS
LEARNING EXERCISE
‘How one thinks about and anticipates the future.’ ‘The appropriate use of data to predict future scenarios.’
‘An estimation of best-case scenarios.’
‘Helpful with future predictions.’
‘Planning tools that help create clarity of sight into the future.’
‘A system used to establish how to move towards a desired
‘A strategic approach for approaching future scenarios.’ future.’
81 RETURN TO CONTENTS
sectoral and Systems Linkages
Understanding Trends and Multi-
MODULE 02
FORESIGHT KEY FRAMEWORK STAGES
DATA , EVIDENCE, KNOWLEDGE AND CREATIVITY
Context What is What do we want What might happen What might we want What will we do
Why is it happening?
happening? to experience in the that we have not to do to get there? differently?
future? What might thought about?
Scope get in our way?
Historical Systems
trends mapping Backcasting
Theme or analysis Developing Develop
Visioning
key topic scenarios road map
Cross
Geopolitical Horizon sectoral Pathway
boundary scanning and multi- Causal Scenario development Sequencing
stakeholder analysis implications & trade-offs relationships
Understand approaches
relevant Multi-
structures Network Transformation
mapping actions stakeholder
and policies co-ordination
Setting the
timelines Behaviour shift
mapping
Mapping the
stakeholders
Influence
and power
relations
82 RETURN TO CONTENTS
ANALYSIS
83 RETURN TO CONTENTS
sectoral and Systems Linkages
Understanding Trends and Multi-
MODULE 02
TRENDS ANALYSIS
Key Steps
Historical analysis
Developing timelines
KEY TERMS
Review existing
data Trend - is a “general tendency” or direction of a movement/change over
• Desk study
time e.g. Increasing erratic seasonal rainfall patterns.
• Statistical models
Megatrend - is a long-term change that affects governments, societies
• Key informant and economies permanently over a long period of time. e.g. growing youth
interviews population across African continent.
• Surveys
• Workshop discussion
84 RETURN TO CONTENTS
HISTORICAL ANALYSIS
Key people to
interview
Sources to
review
Access to
research and
previous work
• Historical analysis
Think about your theme and what your time frame should be.
QUESTIONS
Consider how valuable data from 10, 20, 50 years ago would be. & ANSWERS
Think about when you were unpacking your theme in Who should do a trends
Module 1, what drivers of change did you identify? analysis – a specialist?
86 RETURN TO CONTENTS
sectoral and Systems Linkages
Understanding Trends and Multi-
MODULE 02
Photo: ©Adobe Stock
HISTORICAL TIMELINE
Between 1970 – 2021 focused on climate and agriculture related trends and events
1978 First
cholera outbreak 2014 Ebola 2020-
in DRC outbreak in 2021
2007-2009 DRC Covid 19
1976 First 1976 Ebola Ebola outbreak in Pandemic
Ebola outbreak outbreak in DRC DRC
in DRC
2010-2014 DRC
87 RETURN TO CONTENTS
DROUGHT – Example from Southern Africa
2002 DRC
Mount Nyiragongo
volcanic eruption
2003-2004
severe drought in
WCA region
88 RETURN TO CONTENTS
sectoral and Systems Linkages
Understanding Trends and Multi-
MODULE 02
LEARNING
Violent Events – West Africa 1997-2020
EXERCISE
Foresight Relevant to the Regional
Application on Pest and Diseases
In working groups. Review and organize available
evidence. For example, for the topic of pest and diseases,
collect key evidence for trends on climate change and pest
outbreaks in the region. Reflect what are the key trends
you are seeing. Identify any other evidence that is missing.
FALL ARMYWORM
Introduction
QUESTION?
The Fall Armyworm (FAW) (Spodoptera frugiperda)
is an insect-pest which causes major damage to many
economically important crops, such as maize, rice,
sorghum, wheat, sugarcane, vegetables and cotton.
In your lifetime
smallholder farmers and consumers. It is estimated
that, for 12 African countries alone, FAW could cause
losses of 8.3 million to 20.6 million metric tonnes of
maize annually, equivalent in value to USD 2.5 billion
name a trend
to USD 6.2 billion, and enough to feed 40 million to
100 million people.
you have
Control: Action framework 2020–2022. Working
together to tame the global threat. Rome.
Reference: https://doi.org/10.4060/ca9252en
witnessed?
Reference: https://www.cabi.org/isc/abstract/20187200544
1
AICCRA_CORAF Poster_Foresight Case Study_01.indd 1 2022/10/06 17:14
89 RETURN TO CONTENTS
sectoral and Systems Linkages
Understanding Trends and Multi-
MODULE 02
Planners must ‘Immerse themselves in the
periphery’, since events that are outside of
an organization’s focal interests may have
the greatest impact on its survival.
*Haeckel, 2004 & Neugarten, 2006
REFLECTIONS
90 RETURN TO CONTENTS
sectoral and Systems Linkages
Understanding Trends and Multi-
MODULE 02
What is Horizon Scanning
Scanning for weak
• The process of examining diverse signals must be
information sources to identify distinguished
potential signals of change and
from searching
future impacts from trends
for information.
identified.
In searching, the
• Applied at the beginning of a research scope is fairly
forward-looking activity is applied well defined, often
for identifying “things to come,” based on an analyst’s
GUIDING often new science and technology.
particular interests
QUESTIONS
• Helps identify emerging issues, and expertise on a
weak signals of change and events topic. Scanning looks
What seems to that could lead to changes in for new insights
be happening? behaviour, strategy or policy. outside an analyst’s
• Identifies early signs of
existing mental
What’s really model. In scanning,
happening? change not yet on the policy radar
or addressed adequately. the foresight
practitioner does not
What do
we want to
• Relies on collective sense-making necessarily know
sessions of the scanned signals
happen? what they are looking
and validation through further
research.
for, hence the scope is
What might broad, often shedding
happen? light on previously
The European Commission uncharted unknowns.
What do we
need to do? uses horizon scanning K.E. Cuhis, 2019. https://onlinelibrary.wiley.
com/doi/full/10.1002/ffo2.23
detect emerging issues that
could have significant future
implications for policy. Photo: ©Freepiks
91 RETURN TO CONTENTS
sectoral and Systems Linkages
Understanding Trends and Multi-
MODULE 02
Decision criteria for conducting a
HORIZON SCANNING scan or reviewing the policy impact
Key Steps Credibility: Is the source reputable? Are there
What do we want Summarise trends into
confirmations elsewhere?
to detect? major categories Novelty: Is the hit new? Or has it been widely
reported?
New trends: Non-obvious or
Analyse key Likelihood: What are the chances that the hit will
very recently identified trends
questions occur, and that it will amount to something?
likely to weigh significantly
on future events (e.g. virtual Impact: Will it change the future? If so, how big a
working mode). change will that be?
92 RETURN TO CONTENTS
CATEGORIES FOR
UNDERSTANDING
S Social
Write STEEP vertically on a piece of paper. What trends can you think
of that are relevant to your theme that fit into these categories?
T
Are there trends which fall into more than one category?
Thinking of the categories, which one are you most likely to omit when
Technological
thinking of the future?
E Economic
E Ecological /
Environmental
Gender
must be
P
incorporated
throughout
Political the STEEP Photo: ©Shashank Hudkar (unsplash)
categories
S
Social
T
Technological
E
Economic
E
Ecological /
P Political
Environmental
Demographics Technology incentives, Economic growth, Legal and Institutional
(population growth, age level of innovation, exchange rates, e.g. weather, e.g. trade, food safety,
distribution), income automation, research inflation rates, climate change, land tenure, water
distribution, health and development activity, interest rates, environmental use, environmental
consciousness, cultural technological change, disposable income policies, natural and social, human
barriers, norms, technological awareness of consumers and resources, ecosystem rights. Institutional
customs, values. and capacity levels. unemployment rates. goods and services. relationships.
93 RETURN TO CONTENTS
STEEP
STEEP
UNEMPLOYMENT
94 RETURN TO CONTENTS
REFLECTING ON
??
knowns)?
economic data sets.
What do we still
!!
need to find out
(known unknowns)?
95 RETURN TO CONTENTS
sectoral and Systems Linkages
Understanding Trends and Multi-
MODULE 02
HORIZON SCANNING
Key Steps
Summarise trends into Analyse key
major categories questions
EXAMPLE Is land
Land degradation degradation
reversible? REFLECTIONS AND
GUIDING QUESTIONS
Are there
Is the rate examples in What do we think we
of land the region know (known knowns)?
degradation where it has
increasing? occurred? We now want to know
how much do we know
about the pest and
diseases in WCA? Can you
share two things that you
feel confident that you
know a lot about?
96 RETURN TO CONTENTS
EXAMPLE
97 RETURN TO CONTENTS
sectoral and Systems Linkages
Understanding Trends and Multi-
MODULE 02
FACILITATING A HORIZON
LEARNING ‘SCAN’ EVENT REFLECTIONS AND
EXERCISE USING AN EVIDENCE WALL GUIDING QUESTIONS
What is it
What do we think are How might insights and
key questions for a A physical or virtual display of multiple experience fit in within your
evidence forms across themes and sectors. evidence wall?
horizon scan for pests
and disease in the Why we use it
Climate events can have a high
region? • Encourages dialogue and discussion on impact but data availability is
the meaning, relationships, relevance, and poor, how do we manage this?
implications of the information.
• Allows scientists, technical officers, NGO
In the context of climate data, the
number of ground level weather
partners, and Private Sector to explain
stations has declined globally.
information in an interactive way.
Fortunately, with advances in technology
Ask the • Display information across different there are new data gathering methods.
participants to themes/sectors to understand relationships
present what and implications. For example, remote sensing and
we are doing • Brings preliminary, results and data other big data sources can be used in
and why into discussion space to discuss and combination with existing ground level
weather data (where available) to fill
understand complex data.
• It can be used in different contexts.
the gaps. Furthermore, some websites
pull together household datasets such
• It helps teams identify gaps in information as from household weather stations
that may be needed. around Sub-Saharan Africa.
98 RETURN TO CONTENTS
MODULE 02
Understanding Trends and Multi-
sectoral and Systems Linkages
RETURN TO CONTENTS
POPULATION GROWTH
Social
99 Photo: ©Freepik
Social Social
POPULATION GROWTH POVERTY
Social
FOOD INSECURITY
UNDERNOURISHMENT
RETURN TO CONTENTS
URBANIZATION
Social
102
Social Social
RURALITY
104
Photo: ©Adobe Stock
RETURN TO CONTENTS
Ecological / Environmental
Photo: ©Freepiks
LEARNING
EXERCISE
Analyzing trends
Learning
QUESTION?
The interpretation stage
follows on from the analysis
stage. This is where foresight
differs from strategic
planning, here we include a
‘pause’ to understand why
something is happening?
Context What is What do we want What might happen What might we want What will we do
Why is it happening?
happening? to experience in the that we have not to do to get there? differently?
future? What might thought about?
get in our way?
LEARNING EXERCISE
Using the above definition of a system, think of a school,
SYSTEMS what elements does it consist of and how are they
THINKING connected? What is the purpose of the system? Using
different coloured pens and a large piece of paper, map
Key Steps the elements of a school system and their relationships.
Does your map look similar to the example on the right?
Diagram the • Identify the drivers that are influencing the system; and
FARMING
SYSTEM
Biological
diversity
Waste Mineral
cycle
Climate Energy
Diseases
Retail
provisioning
Consumption
Processing
• Food
• Nutrition
• Products
Labour
Employment
Money Storage
distribution
Transport Export
ECONOMIC
Financial
Services
Pollution/
FARMING Transport waste
SYSTEM trade
Biological
Aggregators
diversity
farmgate
Product
Mineral • Livestock
Waste • Tree
cycle • Crop
• Fish
Productive
Pollution ENVIRONMENT Water cycle inputs
• Seeds
• Amendment
• Equipment
Climate Energy
Diseases
Gender Retail
youth Media provisioning
Consumption
Processing
• Food
SOCIO- • Nutrition
CULTURAL • Products
Labour
Employment
Money Storage
Health distribution
nutrition
EL
L
VE
EL
LE
V
LE
V
AL
L LE
Y
Education ON
NIT
Transport Export
N AT I O N A
S U B N AT I
CO M M U
ECONOMIC
Financial
Services
Technology
Pollution/
FARMING Transport waste
SYSTEM trade
Biological
Aggregators
diversity
farmgate
Product
Mineral • Livestock
Waste • Tree
cycle • Crop
• Fish
Productive
Pollution ENVIRONMENT Water cycle inputs
• Seeds
• Amendment
• Equipment
Climate Energy
Diseases
Gender Retail
youth Media provisioning
Consumption
Processing
• Food
SOCIO- • Nutrition
CULTURAL • Products
Labour
Employment
Money Storage
Health distribution
nutrition
EL
L
VE
EL
LE
V
LE
V
AL
L LE
Y
Education ON
NIT
Transport Export
N AT I O N A
S U B N AT I
CO M M U
ECONOMIC
Financial
Services
Technology
Pollution/
FARMING Transport waste
SYSTEM trade
Biological
Aggregators
diversity
farmgate
Product
Mineral • Livestock
Waste • Tree
cycle
T
• Crop
EN
• Fish
NM
RO
Productive
Pollution ENVIRONMENT Water inputs
VI
cycle
EN
• Seeds
• Amendment G
N
LI
• Equipment
Climate
AB
Energy
N
-E
Diseases EM
ST
SY
I C AL
I T
POL
117 RETURN TO CONTENTS
Once the systems map and drivers are complete it is important to consider the drivers carefully
ENVIRONMENTAL DRIVER
Land degradation Info research
Social
organization
extensions
Import
Gender Retail
youth Media provisioning
Consumption
Processing LOWER INCOME,
SOCIO-
• Food
• Nutrition
PURCHASING
CULTURAL • Products POWER
Labour
Employment
Money Storage
Health distribution
nutrition
MIGRATION
EL
L
VE
EL
LE
V
LE
V
AL
L LE
Education
ON
NIT
Transport Export
N AT I O N A
S U B N AT I
CO M M U
Product
Mineral • Livestock
Waste • Tree
cycle
T
• Crop
EN
• Fish LOWER
NM
PRODUCTION
Productive
RO
Pollution inputs
ENVIRONMENT Water
VI
cycle • Seeds
EN
• Amendment
• Equipment G
N
Climate LI
AB
Energy
LOSS OF N
BIODIVERSITY -E
M
Diseases
S TE
Y
A LS
ITIC REDUCED
POL WATER HOLDING
CAPACITY
N
FIE AR
D S
LD
F
IT
IE
119 RETURN TO CONTENTS
sectoral and Systems Linkages
Understanding Trends and Multi-
MODULE 02
Photo: ©Eka Sariwati (unsplash)
FARMING SYSTEM
TION, FAMILY COMP
IC LOCA OSIT
CTERIST /FI SH /TREE SYSTEM, SY ION
R A O C K S T EM C (AGE
C HA /LIVEST OM ,
R
DE , CRO
P P O GEN
L NE D
HO SIZE NT ER)
E S AN , FA
US E R D D RM
O
H EH AC A
M SIZ TI
V HOUSEHOLD
N
FI E A R
D S
CROP/LIVESTOCK/FISH/
LD
PRODUCTION
F
IT
TREE PRODUCTION AND
IE
AND DECISION
DECISION PROCESSES PROCESSES
Child rearing,
Livestock care and
Management
Output (milk, education
decisions
crop-livestock-fish- manure, fiber)
tree, productive
inputs (fertility,
Crop/grass
species, varieties,
output Healthcare
pest management,
(grass, crops,
water harvesting,
plant residues)
intercropping,
grazing, feed, family
or hired labor by age,
gender, experience, Tree outputs
information, etc.) (fruits, timber, Social-cultural
nutrients, activities
fodder)
Land health,
nutrients,
water cycle, Food preparation,
Aquaculture
biological consumption,
outputs (fish)
diversity, nutrition, waste
climate
FARMING SYSTEM
TION, FAMILY COMP
IC LOCA OSIT
CTERIST /FI SH /TREE SYSTEM, SY ION
R A O C K S T EM C (AGE
C HA /LIVEST M ILY L A B O OM ,
R P F A UR P O GEN
L DE , CRO A L L O C AT I ON NE D
HO SIZE NT ER)
E S AN , FA
US E R D D RM
O
H EH AC A
M SIZ TI
V HOUSEHOLD
N
FI E A R
D S
CROP/LIVESTOCK/FISH/
LD
PRODUCTION
F
IT
TREE PRODUCTION AND
IE
AND DECISION
DECISION PROCESSES PROCESSES
Child rearing,
Livestock care and
Management
Output (milk, education
decisions
crop-livestock-fish- manure, fiber)
tree, productive
inputs (fertility,
Crop/grass
species, varieties,
output Healthcare
pest management,
(grass, crops,
water harvesting,
plant residues)
intercropping,
grazing, feed, family
or hired labor by age,
gender, experience, Tree outputs
information, etc.) (fruits, timber, Social-cultural
nutrients, activities
fodder)
Land health,
nutrients,
water cycle, Food preparation,
Aquaculture
biological consumption,
outputs (fish)
diversity, nutrition, waste
climate
Distribution and
Value chain stages Food Environment
Processing Trade
Pre-production
Access and availability of inputs Transport
Farm gate
links
aggregators
Access to
finance Cold chain
Off-farm
Access to Labour manufacturing Export
credit Employment
Productive inputs
• Seeds Production
• Amendment Consumption
• Equipment
Marketing
Trees Crop
Dietary Nutritional
diversity status
Access to
Fish Livestock food stands,
kiosks, stores,
ENVIRONMENTAL restaurants
DIMENSIONS
Distribution and
Value chain stages Food Environment
Processing Trade
Pre-production
Access and availability of inputs Transport
Farm gate
links
aggregators
Access to
finance Cold chain
Off-farm
Access to Labour manufacturing Export
credit Employment
SOCIO-CULTURAL Productive inputs
DIMENSIONS • Seeds Production
• Amendment Consumption
• Equipment
Marketing
Trees Crop
Dietary Nutritional
Health & Info research Social diversity status
nutrition status extensions organization Access to
Fish Livestock food stands,
kiosks, stores,
ENVIRONMENTAL restaurants
DIMENSIONS
Gender Technology Media
& youth
Distribution and
Value chain stages Food Environment
Processing Trade
Pre-production
Access and availability of inputs Transport
Farm gate
links
aggregators
Access to
finance Cold chain
Off-farm
Access to Labour manufacturing Export
credit Employment
SOCIO-CULTURAL Productive inputs
DIMENSIONS • Seeds Production
• Amendment Consumption
• Equipment
Marketing
Trees Crop
Dietary Nutritional
Health & Info research Social diversity status
nutrition status extensions organization Access to
Fish Livestock food stands,
kiosks, stores,
ENVIRONMENTAL restaurants
DIMENSIONS
Gender Technology Media
& youth POLITICAL SYSTEM
- ENABLING
Biological Waste Pollution Climate ENVIRONMENT
Education diversity
NATIONAL LEVEL
SUB-NATIONAL LEVEL
LANDSCAPE /
COMMUNITY LEVEL
Processing Trade
Pre-production
Science & Equity & Women & youth Access and availability of inputs Transport
technology agency Farm gate
engagement links
aggregators
Access to
finance Cold chain
Off-farm
Access to Labour manufacturing Export
credit Employment
Trees Crop
Dietary Nutritional
Health & Info research Social diversity status
nutrition status extensions organization Access to
Fish Livestock food stands,
kiosks, stores,
ENVIRONMENTAL restaurants
DIMENSIONS
Gender Technology Media
& youth POLITICAL SYSTEM
- ENABLING
Biological Waste Pollution Climate ENVIRONMENT
Education diversity
LANDSCAPE /
COMMUNITY LEVEL
Land Trans- Climate
degradation boundary change
disease
128
Photo Left: ©Michael Tewelde (FAO/IFAD/WFP)
Photo Right: ©Random Institute (unsplash) RETURN TO CONTENTS
sectoral and Systems Linkages
Understanding Trends and Multi-
MODULE 02
REFLECTIONS
Context What is What do we want What might happen What might we want What will we do
Why is it happening?
happening? to experience in the that we have not to do to get there? differently?
future? What might thought about?
Scope get in our way?
Historical Systems
trends mapping Backcasting
Theme or analysis Developing Develop
Visioning
key topic scenarios road map
Cross
Geopolitical Horizon sectoral Pathway
boundary scanning and multi- Causal Scenario development Sequencing
stakeholder analysis implications & trade-offs relationships
Understand approaches
relevant Multi-
structures Network Transformation
mapping actions stakeholder
and policies co-ordination
Setting the
timelines Behaviour shift
mapping
Mapping the
stakeholders
Influence
and power
relations
Example from
BOTSWANA
BOTSWANA
BOTSWANA
In an ideal situation you would include stakeholders from all sectors, and they would have a systems
view. They would focus on their respective area but understand, respect, and interact with the other stakeholders. The outcome of this
would be the ability to talk freely about what stakeholders give and what they get from each other i.e. the different sectors, ministries,
and departments, within the given theme.
building relationships throughout the foresight exercise is important for enhancing cross-
In summary,
sectoral coordination and stakeholder collaboration for strategy development and implementation. The end products
are transformative strategies for development which are much more inclusive.
The IPCC framework shows the interaction between socio-cultural and environmental processes. This highlights the need
for a multi-stakeholder and cross-sectoral approach. Specialists can gather data for in depth assessments within their
areas of expertise and bring the evidence to the table for discussion with people from different backgrounds and with
different perspectives. They can use systems mapping to identify areas that have not been thought of.
A systems
understanding among
the stakeholders is the
first step to creating
meaningful change
in the system – and
developing a robust
strategy through the
foresight process.
MODULE 03
MODULE 02
MODULE 01
Learning
reflections Practical
Practical
exercise
exercise Horizon
scanning
S Social
T
In the scope method what information do you need to define?
Technological
E Economic
E
Scope Theme or Geopolitical Understand Setting the Mapping the Influence
key topic boundary relevant timelines stakeholders and power
structures relations Ecological /
and policies Environmental
P Political
Context What is What do we want What might happen What might we want What will we do
Why is it happening?
happening? to experience in the that we have not to do to get there? differently?
future? What might thought about?
Scope get in our way?
Systems
Historical mapping
trends Developing Backcasting Develop
Theme or Visioning
analysis scenarios road map
key topic
Cross
Geopolitical Horizon sectoral Pathway
boundary and multi- Causal Scenario development Sequencing
scanning analysis implications relationships
stakeholder & trade-offs
Understand approaches
relevant Multi-
structures Network Transformation
mapping actions stakeholder
and policies co-ordination
Setting the
timelines Behaviour shift
mapping
Mapping the
stakeholders
Influence
and power
relations
SOUTH AFRICA
South Africa follows
a low-carbon growth
trajectory while making
a fair contribution to the
global effort to limit the
average temperature
increase, while ensuring
a just transition
and building of the
country’s resilience to
climate change”
South Africa’s Low
Emission Development
Strategy 2050.
GUIDING PRINCIPLES
Building on the Gambian concept of ‘tesito’ (self-reliance, drawing upon one’s own resources) several key principles underpin
the development of our 2050 Climate Vision and long-term strategy:
Scientific
Information.
Draw on the best
scientific knowledge Innovation
Sustainable available so that and Learning.
Development. policy decisions and Foster a culture
Maintain a decent programmes of action of innovation,
environment and are well-informed and continuous
ensure sustainable evidence based. learning and take a
flexible, pragmatic Precautionary
development.
approach. Measures. Take
Inclusivity. Use
precautionary
inclusive processes
measures to
based on informed
anticipate, prevent
participation,
or minimise the
equity (including
causes of climate
intergenerational
change and mitigate
equity) and social
its adverse effects.
inclusion.
Climate Justice.
International
Achieve climate
linkages. Develop
justice and adopt
international
the principle of
cooperation and
‘polluter pays’.
solidarity.
BENIN
The overall objective of the strategy is to contribute
to the sustainable development of Benin,
by integrating climate considerations into
the country’s strategic sectoral operational
plans, to make them lower in carbon
intensity and more resilient to climate
change.
What barriers (identified obstacles that could stop the achievement of an activity)
could prevent the achievement of the defined Draft Vision Statement? What are the
underlying causes of the barriers i.e. why are the obstacles in place?
You should now understand the visioning method of the plan stage of the foresight process. You
would have followed the key steps and drafted a vision statement of a desirable future. This is the
first step in creating a powerful strategy and provides the basis for developing interventions, services,
policies, and partnerships that will be required to achieve that future.
CAUSAL ANALYSIS
What is it
A root cause analysis or We often treat symptoms instead of the root causes of our
simple causal analysis is used issues when we make are planning our interventions.
to understand what issues
underpin identified barriers to
achieving a desired outcome.
Why we use it Key Steps
• When a critical look at
identified barriers is
Brainstorm the different barriers and prioritize the barriers.
undertaken, there are
often underpinning or root
causes that reflect deeper Identify initial causes in a chain of levels to identify the root
economic, social, cultural, cause.
environmental, institutional,
and political reasons as well Consider the implications of this barrier if it is not addressed.
as different world views or
behavioral drivers.
Looking across the root causes and implications, categorize
• To raise awareness on those that are social, economic, institutional, political,
the systems nature of any cultural, environmental, etc.
identified problem
• To understand the symptoms Looking across the root causes and categorise the types of
versus the causes. stakeholders that would have to be involved to solve the
underlying causes of the barrier.
High youth
unemployment Conflicts within
Deforestation and across Consuming of
borders resources (natural
Water scarcity / capital)
droughts (seasonal Vested interests
Lack of trust Food
unpredictability)
insecurity
Growing Lack of green
Inequities infrastructure
Land Degradation Corruption and industry
Transboundary
Diseases and
Pandemics
Migration Profit over
Ineffective people
Pests monopolies?
Government
Agricultural
price Widening
fluctuations Inequities
STEP 1
IDENTIFY INITIAL CAUSES IN A LET’S TAKE THE EXAMPLE OF
CHAIN OF LEVELS TO IDENTIFY WATER SCARCITY
THE ROOT CAUSE
IMPLICATIONS
LEARNING
EXERCISE
WATER SCARCITY
WATER SCARCITY
Unequal Overuse of
access available
to water water
resources resources
CAUSES
Lack of
Exploitation awareness of
by large scale urban users
agriculture
and other
corporations
Lack of
conservation
orientation
Greed
WATER SCARCITY
Unequal Overuse of
access available
to water water
resources resources
CAUSES
Lack of
Exploitation awareness of
by large scale urban users
agriculture
and other
corporations
Lack of, or
ineffective, water
management
policies
Lack of
conservation
orientation Single sector
Greed orientation, lack
of integrated
development
plans
WATER SCARCITY
Unequal Overuse of
access available
to water water
resources resources
CAUSES
Lack of
Exploitation awareness of
by large scale urban users
agriculture
and other
corporations
Lack of, or Unsustainable
ineffective, water agricultural
management practices
policies
Lack of
conservation
orientation Single sector
Greed orientation, lack
of integrated Lack of
development education,
plans Weak or
awareness and
ineffective
information
extension
availability
services
WATER SCARCITY
Reduced
Unequal Overuse of rainfall due
access available to changes
to water water in weather
resources resources patterns
CAUSES
Lack of
Exploitation awareness of Siltation
by large scale urban users of dams
agriculture Bare
and other ground
corporations
Lack of, or Unsustainable Soil
ineffective, water agricultural runoff
management practices from land
policies
Loss of
Lack of biodiversity,
conservation
orientation Poor land loss of
Single sector
Greed management vegetation
orientation, lack
cover and loss
of integrated Lack of of soil
development education,
plans Weak or
awareness and
ineffective
information
extension
availability
services
Reduced
capacity to
adapt to climate
Increased time change and
seeking water by shock events
women and girls
IMPLICATIONS
Electricity
loss due to
low water
levels in
dams
WATER SCARCITY
Reduced
Unequal Overuse of rainfall due
access available to changes
to water water in weather
resources resources patterns
CAUSES
Lack of
Exploitation awareness of Siltation
by large scale urban users of dams
agriculture Bare
and other ground
corporations
Lack of, or Unsustainable Soil
ineffective, water agricultural runoff
management practices from land
policies
Loss of
Lack of biodiversity,
conservation
orientation Poor land loss of
Single sector
Greed management vegetation
orientation, lack
cover and loss
of integrated Lack of of soil
development education,
plans Weak or
awareness and
ineffective
information
extension
availability
services
QUESTIONS &
Social ANSWERS
Peace and
Social Security Social With such a broad vision
Livelihoods Health with numerous barriers
and root causes, how
do you decide which to
Environmental focus on or prioritise?
Economic
Social IMPLICATIONS Social The longer aspirational
Labour
visions, as seen at the start
of some policy and strategic
planning documents, help
WATER SCARCITY
to probe critical thinking.
However, often after
reading such visions one
CAUSES Environmental is left wondering where to
Social start. In such a case, the
vision should be broken
down and topical areas
should be allocated to
Economic Institutional stakeholder groups with the
Political relevant expertise.
• Agricultural
scale farmers’ Companies • UN: FAO, UNEP,
Department (livestock,
organisations
• Aggregators and UNICEF
aquaculture, crop • Health, education, Processors • Media
production, extension) agricultural,
• Local Farmers’ • Bilateral Donors
environmental
• Environment/NRM
International and
Markets
Department
local NGOs • Sustainable
• Health Department
• Youth groups and
Charcoal and
Wood fuel
• Finance and Planning entrepreneurs
Vendors
• Trade Department • Women’s
• Transportation
• Education
Organizations
companies
Department • Community
• Forestry, Wildlife,
• Department of
Based
Tourism operators
Organizations
Culture, Youth, Gender
When we understand the system that we are working in, we have a better
sense of how drivers of change impact different dimensions of the system.
LEARNING EXERCISE
Brainstorm barriers to effective preparedness to responding to a livestock
disease or crop pest and disease
MODULE 04
MODULE 03
MODULE 02
MODULE 01
Learning
reflections Practical
Practical
exercise
exercise Horizon
scanning
Building Scenarios
MODULE 04
DATA , EVIDENCE, KNOWLEDGE AND CREATIVITY
Context What is What do we want What might happen What might we want What will we do
Why is it happening?
happening? to experience in the that we have not to do to get there? differently?
future? What might thought about?
Scope get in our way?
Systems
Historical mapping
trends Developing Backcasting Develop
Theme or Visioning
analysis scenarios road map
key topic
Cross
Geopolitical Horizon sectoral Pathway
boundary and multi- Causal Scenario development Sequencing
scanning analysis implications relationships
stakeholder & trade-offs
Understand approaches
relevant Multi-
structures Network Transformation
mapping actions stakeholder
and policies co-ordination
Setting the
timelines Behaviour shift
mapping
Mapping the
stakeholders
Influence
and power
relations
KEY TERMS
Scenarios - Storylines / narratives, answering ‘what if’ questions that describe multiple alternative futures
spanning a key set of critical uncertainties. Scenarios identify future drivers of change and then plot out plausible
directions that they may take.
165 RETURN TO CONTENTS
Building Scenarios
MODULE 04
UNCERTAINTY IN LONG TERM PLANNING
Long term planning is subject to great uncertainty, such as: CORE GUIDING
QUESTIONS OF
1. Future climate impacts;
FORESIGHT
2. Technological innovation and deployment;
What seems to
3. Policy development and implementation be happening?
4. Availability of large-scale solutions; and
What’s really
5. Reliability of current data, models and skills to interpret evidence . happening?
What do
we want to
happen?
What might
happen?
What do we
need to do?
Key Steps
Building Scenarios
MODULE 04
Scenarios are used as a method to think about
Developing Scenario
scenarios implications possible future states and how uncertainties
might play out.
• Because a potential outcome has already • Not predictive - participatory with multiple
been thought through and actions viewpoints, bringing in quantitative and qualitative
documented, there is no need to scramble in evidence but not predictive.
time of crisis.
Define focal issue and Group drivers into Select high impact & Build scenario
relevant time frame categories high uncertainty drivers storylines
1 5 6 7
2 3 4
Define focal issue and Group drivers into Select high impact & Build scenario
relevant time frame categories high uncertainty drivers storylines
1 5 6 7
2 3 4
Building Scenarios
MODULE 04
issues or trends that force of change for example driver - external
cause change thereby social drivers within a farm force of change, for
affecting or shaping or community and directing example political
the future. decision making of a farmer. or market drivers.
BRAINSTORMING
AND
CATEGORIZING
DRIVERS
Building Scenarios
MODULE 04
Natural Resource
Management
(NRM) and
Environment
Socio-
cultural
Governance
/ Political /
Institutional
Agriculture
Economic
Productivity
172 Photo: Top left - ©E.W. Cordon (ILRI), Bottom Left (CIAT) RETURN TO CONTENTS
Building Scenarios
MODULE 04
BRAINSTORMING AND CATEGORIZING DRIVERS
Define focal issue and Group drivers into Select high impact & Build scenario
relevant time frame categories high uncertainty drivers storylines
1 5 6 7
2 3 4
Define focal issue and Group drivers into Select high impact & Build scenario
relevant time frame categories high uncertainty drivers storylines
1 5 6 7
2 3 4
Define focal issue and Group drivers into Select high impact & Build scenario
relevant time frame categories high uncertainty drivers storylines
1 5 6 7
2 3 4
Building Scenarios
MODULE 04
to regional integration high youth unemployment
Regional
integration /
trade
National
borders
closing
Define focal issue and Group drivers into Select high impact & Build scenario
relevant time frame categories high uncertainty drivers storylines
1 5 6 7
2 3 4
Building Scenarios
MODULE 04
Socio-cultural, BUILDING STORYLINES
education,
Let’s assume we are trying to write a
gender, youth
storyline that describes our future
climate resilient agriculture system in
the region.
Agriculture
productivity:
livestock,
crops and
aquaculture QUESTION?
Can you describe in
Economic, a sentence what the
investment economy might look
and trade in the future under this
scenario?
Building Scenarios
MODULE 04
Regional
integration /
trade
Socio-cultural, Socio-cultural,
education, education,
gender, youth Environmental state, gender, youth Environmental state,
ecosystem function, ecosystem function,
forest cover, soil health forest cover, soil health
Economic, Economic,
investment investment
and trade Agriculture and trade Agriculture
productivity: livestock, productivity: livestock,
crops and aquaculture crops and aquaculture
Political / Political /
Institutional Institutional
LOW HIGH
youth youth
unemployment Socio-cultural, Socio-cultural, unemployment
education, education,
gender, youth Environmental state, gender, youth Environmental state,
ecosystem function, ecosystem function,
forest cover, soil health forest cover, soil health
Economic, Economic,
investment investment
and trade Agriculture and trade Agriculture
productivity: livestock, productivity: livestock,
crops and aquaculture crops and aquaculture
Political / Political /
Institutional Institutional
National
borders
closing
Building Scenarios
MODULE 04
• It is important to dedicate some time to explain that you are exploring
possible futures, and not only the futures you want.
• It is important to embed the scenarios exercise in the broader policies
process and include key decision makers to make sure.
• Recommendations are really taken forward.
Regional
integration /
trade
LOW HIGH
youth youth
unemployment unemployment
Economic,
investment
and trade
National
borders
183 closing RETURN TO CONTENTS
SCENARIO 1 REFLECTIONS AND GUIDING QUESTIONS
If you want to review an existing policy do you look at the
policy first before developing the scenarios or develop
Building Scenarios
MODULE 04
The scenarios then review the policy?
• Both options are possible. However, if you work with a draft version of
the policy first the impact of the scenarios.
• Work might be more concrete.
HIGH
youth
unemployment
Socio-cultural, education, gender, youth Political / Institutional
Unemployment leads to
feed families, increases in
deforestation, degradation
Agriculture productivity: livestock, crops of resources, increased
and aquaculture hunting for bushmeat,
Need for productivity increases but based on potential conflict over
inputs within national border. transboundary waters?
National
borders
closing
Building Scenarios
MODULE 04
LOW YOUTH UNEMPLOYMENT
Regional
integration /
trade
Agriculture
productivity: livestock,
crops and aquaculture
LOW HIGH
youth youth
unemployment unemployment
National
borders
closing
185 RETURN TO CONTENTS
SCENARIO 1
Building Scenarios
MODULE 04
Regional
integration /
trade
LOW HIGH
youth youth
unemployment unemployment
National
borders
closing
Building Scenarios
MODULE 04
high climate risk high disease prevalence/spread
LOW disease
prevalence
LOW HIGH
climate climate
risk risk
HIGH
disease
prevalence
Building Scenarios
MODULE 04
HIGH climate
risk
Socio-cultural, education, gender, youth Agriculture productivity: livestock, crops
Widening wealth gap, nutrition and and aquaculture
food insecurity, school dropouts, greater
Loss of crops, livestock to drought, potential
impact on women - alternatively women
for greater climate disease risk, severe
farmers become more important,
challenges meeting food security needs of
social safety nets are diminished,
population.
potential increases in displacement
due to droughts, floods, enhanced
disease prevalence; Inequitable impact
of disease across society (poor and Political / Institutional
marginalized, elderly, women), health
resources overstretched, district and Likely power grabs by government leaders,
backlash to lockdowns. move to more authoritarian government
through shutdowns, loss of trust between
GO and other societal sectors.
Environmental state, ecosystem
function, forest cover, soil health
Reduced sources of livelihoods lead to Economic, investment and trade
enhanced conflict over resources leading Dramatic reduction in national
to destruction, loss of wildlife, vegetative productivity and GDP, potential damage
cover, forest, water quality, concerns over to infrastructure, focus on self-sufficiency
sources of disease lead to destruction of (staples), closing of business across value
resources. chains.
HIGH disease
prevalence
Define focal issue and Group drivers into Select high impact & Build scenario
relevant time frame categories high uncertainty drivers storylines
1 5 6 7
2 3 4
Building Scenarios
MODULE 04
SCENARIO 1
Regional SCENARIO 2
integration /
trade SCENARIO 3
LOW disease
prevalence
LOW technology
investment
HIGH youth
unemployment
HIGH
climate risk
HIGH
political
support
LOW youth
unemployment
LOW
climate
LOW
risk
political
support
National
borders
closing
HIGH disease
prevalence HIGH technology
investment
Building Scenarios
MODULE 04
True value lies in enhancing
aspects in the next five or 10 years that the ‘cognitive agility’ of
need urgent attention planners by extending long-
term thinking and exploring
future developments.
Agriculture
productivity:
livestock, crops
and aquaculture
Socio-cultural,
education,
gender, youth
Economic,
investment
and trade
Environmental
state, ecosystem
function, forest Political /
cover, soil health Institutional
Building Scenarios
MODULE 04
Looking across multiple scenarios we find storylines that represent
preferred futures and the futures we hope to avoid
SCENARIO 1
Regional SCENARIO 2
integration /
trade SCENARIO 3
LOW disease
prevalence
LOW technology
investment
HIGH youth
unemployment
HIGH
climate risk
HIGH
political
support
LOW youth
unemployment
LOW
climate
LOW
risk
political
support
National
borders
closing
HIGH disease
prevalence HIGH technology
investment
Foresight is the ability to create high-definition forward views, and to apply them in an organized way
Building Scenarios
MODULE 04
Socio-cultural, education, gender, youth Agriculture productivity: livestock, crops
Students are staying in school to and aquaculture
increase opportunities of better Loss of crops, livestock to drought, potential
employment. Social safety nets are in for greater climate related disease risk,
place to provide women and youth with severe challenges meeting food security
nutrition foods and vocational training. needs of population.
Investments are focused on preventative
health approaches in conjunction with
emergency response.
Political / Institutional
Likely power grabs by government
leaders, move to more authoritarian
Environmental state, ecosystem government through shutdowns, loss
function, forest cover, soil health of trust between GO and other societal
Investments are made in land health sectors.
and diverse land cover to enhance
carbon capture prevent transboundary
disease transfer.
Economic, investment and trade
Dramatic reduction in national
productivity and GDP, potential damage
Agriculture productivity: livestock, crops to infrastructure, focus on self-sufficiency
and aquaculture (staples), closing of business across value
chains.
Farming systems are diversified through
agro-ecological to reduce climate risk,
increase water holding capacity and
enhance nutrition.
Building Scenarios
MODULE 04
Socio- Agricultural Technology &
Economic Environment Institutional
cultural productivity Information
Private sector Nationally Market-oriented Energy sources Climate change Rural and urban
and government appropriate diversified small are increasingly measures are farmers have
invest in social protection farms using based in built into all connectivity
decent, green systems (health, agro-ecology renewable national policies, market products
employment nutrition and dominate resources. strategies shorten
with a focus livelihoods) Southern and planning. supply chains
on women, cover needs African Sectoral plans and increase
youth and of poor, agriculture. adequately transparency.
marginalized marginalized integrate
groups. and vulnerable. climate risks
and resilience
+
and are clearly
Climate proof Education and linked across
infrastructure continued sectors.
learning are
Supporting deeply valued
+
Mechanisms for Green jobs and Mechanisms to Mechanisms Create Means of Mechanism
private sector to entrepreneurship enhance farmers to incentivize guardrails monitoring for are place
invest in value of youth organizations’ and coordinate in policies and preparing for effective
chains and capacities multi-
entrepreneurship agroecological and stakeholder and to support for climate- local and
nutrition smart multi-sectoral governance oriented disease distance
practices efforts and disaster learning
MODULE 05
MODULE 04
MODULE 03
MODULE 02
MODULE 01
Learning
reflections Practical
Practical
exercise
exercise Horizon
scanning
Transformative Change
Scenario Implications and
MODULE 05
Test Your Learning of the West and Central Africa Foresight Framework
Before continuing with Module 5, test your understanding of building scenarios
based on information given in Module 4, by answering the questions below:
In a scenario process, what are the key factors that cause change that we
are trying to understand?
Context What is What do we want What might happen What might we want What will we do
Why is it happening?
happening? to experience in the that we have not to do to get there? differently?
future? What might thought about?
Scope get in our way?
Systems
Historical mapping
trends Developing Backcasting Develop
Theme or Visioning
analysis scenarios road map
key topic
Cross
Geopolitical Horizon sectoral Pathway
boundary and multi- Causal Scenario development Sequencing
scanning analysis implications relationships
stakeholder & trade-offs
Understand approaches
relevant Multi-
structures Network Transformation
mapping actions stakeholder
and policies co-ordination
Setting the
timelines Behaviour shift
mapping
Mapping the
stakeholders
Influence
and power
relations
Transformative Change
Scenario Implications and
MODULE 05
to avoid unfortunate scenarios and toward more resilient and
preferred scenarios.
Developing Scenario
scenarios implications
SCENARIO IMPLICATIONS
STEP 1 STEP 2
Review Implications Brainstorm actions across multiple scenarios
SCENARIO 1 SCENARIO 2
Regional SCENARIO 3
integration /
trade LOW disease
prevalence
LOW technology
investment
HIGH youth
HIGH
unemployment
climate risk HIGH
political
support
LOW youth
unemployment LOW
climate LOW
risk political
support
National
borders
closing HIGH disease
prevalence HIGH technology
investment
Transformative Change
Scenario Implications and
MODULE 05
SCENARIO 1
Regional
Integration /
trade Increase agricultural Create green jobs for
diversity, productivity, youth.
integrated systems.
HIGH youth
unemployment
Focus on vocational
Build synergies and
education.
coordination across
government sectors
LOW youth and stakeholders.
unemployment
Enhance production/
nutrient flows across
the country.
National
Create policies to
borders support/subsidize
closing integrated farming.
Transformative Change
Scenario Implications and
MODULE 05
Operational local
Invest in climate
SCENARIO 2 and national savings
proof infrastructure
to respond to
LOW disease emergencies
prevalence
Enhanced linkages
via digital networks Investment in resilient,
shock responsive food
systems
HIGH disease
prevalence
Foresight allow us to build action plans –
we can analyze policy and implementation
plans with a notion of what future states
might be and what changes are needed.
Transformative Change
Scenario Implications and
MODULE 05
STEP 3
Prioritization of
actions by looking at
impact and likelihood
Prioritization is the
art of combining
everything we think
we know about
HIGH
the past with the
Must do
fixed resources and
processes we have
right now to predict
the order in which to
do things to improve Nice to have
our collective future. Impact
Won’t do
LOW
SOONER LATER
Urgency
Security, regulatory
Subsequent
policy and governance.
high pressure on
natural resources.
Erratic rainfall.
Transformative Change
Scenario Implications and
MODULE 05
SCENARIO
PLANNING (TSP)
• A diverse set of stakeholders
deliberated the factors that could
trigger a positive impact on
agriculture, natural resource and
food security challenges.
• Building relationships,
working collaboratively, and
developing cross-sectoral
Climate Smart Education Soil Improved
understanding were identified as Water Infrastructure Improvements Seeds
critical to devise and implement By 2035, strategic investments will target agriculture and natural resource
adaptation plans to transform conservation to ensure food security and improve household income in the Koutiala
agriculture and improve regional district. New, updated training sessions will allow communities to make better use of
food security. the scarce water resources and variable rainfall in the region. This will be combined
with improved rainwater and soil management and the promotion of improved seeds.
MALI EXAMPLE
Scope
Uncertainty – in scenarios
refers to how much or how
clear we are on how a driver
will emerge or play out in the
future. High uncertainty does
Food Security, Mali, 2050
not mean ‘high improbability’, Environments, West Africa
high uncertainty can mean Livelihoods
having little knowledge of how
something may pan out.
The drivers of change
Transformative Change
Scenario Implications and
MODULE 05
Dominate
Short Long
Term Term
Priorities Priorities
Dominate
Non-State
Actors Dominate
Transformative Change
Scenario Implications and
MODULE 05
Dominate
Socio-cultural,
Socio-cultural,
education,
education,
gender, youth Environmental state, gender, youth Environmental state,
ecosystem function,
ecosystem function,
forest cover, soil health
Economic, forest cover, soil health
Economic,
investment
investment
and trade Agriculture
and trade Agriculture
productivity: livestock,
productivity: livestock,
crops and aquaculture
crops and aquaculture
Political /
Political /
Institutional
Institutional
Short Long
Term Term
Priorities Priorities
Dominate
Socio-cultural,
Socio-cultural, education,
education, gender, youth Environmental state,
gender, youth Environmental state, ecosystem function,
ecosystem function, forest cover, soil health
Economic,
forest cover, soil health
Economic, investment
investment and trade Agriculture
and trade Agriculture productivity: livestock,
productivity: livestock, crops and aquaculture
crops and aquaculture Political /
Political / Institutional
Institutional
Non-State
Actors Dominate
Transformative Change
Scenario Implications and
MODULE 05
Dominate
Short Long
Term Term
Priorities Priorities
Dominate
Non-State
Actors Dominate
Transformative Change
Scenario Implications and
MODULE 05
Short
Term
Priorities
Socio-cultural, education, gender, youth
CSOs focus on emergency issues. Rural livelihoods are decreasing and there
are massive movements to urban areas.
Political /Institutional
Non state actors are the driving force, governments are corrupt, passive
and unstable.
Agriculture productivity
Livestock, crops and aquaculture – Fiercely expansive presence of
commercial agricultural.
Transformative Change
Scenario Implications and
MODULE 05
Short
Term
Priorities
Transformative Change
Scenario Implications and
MODULE 05
Socio-cultural, education, gender, youth
State Actors
Investments in education.
Dominate
Political /Institutional
A slow difficult transition to sustainable governance of food security,
environments or livelihoods.
Agriculture productivity
Direct investments in agriculture.
Long
Term
Priorities
After Palazzo et al, 2016 Dominate
Transformative Change
Scenario Implications and
MODULE 05
State Actors
Dominate
Long
Term
Priorities
After Palazzo et al, 2016 Dominate
Transformative Change
Scenario Implications and
MODULE 05
scenarios along the axes of uncertainty
MODULE 06
MODULE 05
MODULE 04
MODULE 03
MODULE 02
MODULE 01
Learning
reflections Practical
Practical
exercise
exercise Horizon
scanning
Context What is What do we want What might happen What might we want What will we do
Why is it happening?
happening? to experience in the that we have not to do to get there? differently?
future? What might thought about?
Scope get in our way?
Systems
Historical mapping
trends Developing Backcasting Develop
Theme or Visioning
analysis scenarios road map
key topic
Cross
Geopolitical Horizon sectoral Pathway
boundary and multi- Causal Scenario development Sequencing
scanning analysis implications relationships
stakeholder & trade-offs
Understand approaches
relevant Multi-
structures Network Transformation
mapping actions stakeholder
and policies co-ordination
Setting the
timelines Behaviour shift
mapping
Mapping the
stakeholders
Influence
and power
relations
TRANSFORMATIVE PATHWAYS
AND TRADEOFFS
Suggested
Outcome Stakeholders Actions Existing
Assets
What
Scope &
Timeline Who
By when
How
Output
Associated
outcome
Overall outcome
Overall outcome
Farmers (women, men and youth) are applying • Existing projects and programs.
ecosystem based, agroecological, climate smart
and water saving practices and technologies to
adapt farming systems to effects of climate change Barriers
and improve food security and profitability.
• Lack of understanding of relationship between land
management and water availability.
• Labour sharing across farms. • Limited access to local and higher scale markets
• Promote participatory governance of food for diverse products.
systems. • No cross-sectoral planning processes for water
• Expand regenerative and conservation farming. management and climate resilience actions.
Activity 01 Who
How
Associated
outcome
Policy and enabling
environment that
By when A technical committee / expert
working group to provide evidence, promotes a policy incentive
What Agriculture, water, environment, and implementation path
Year 1 technical backstopping and input
into policy amendment process for ecosystem based
Develop a Research organizations working approaches in farming
climate smart, on livestock, aquaculture, climate Lobby and establish key relevant systems
ecosystems smart agriculture and landscapes policy contacts and relationships
based strategy Overall
/ enabling National Farmers Associations
Draft practical guidance for
implementation of climate smart
outcome
environment and ecosystem based approaches Output Farmers (women, men
NGOs promoting agroecological and and youth) are applying
water saving approaches Amended language, ecosystem based, climate
targets and goals to smart and water saving
FAO relevant policy and practices and technologies
strategic frameworks to adapt farming systems to
to explicitly mention effects of climate change and
ecosystem based and improve food security and
agro-ecological principles profitability.
Markets for
small grains Outcome
Would farmers potentially trade
Awareness Increased demand
campaign on the off maize subsidies for drought
for producing,
benefits of small resilient crops
processing,
grains marketing and
consuming small
grains
Promoting subsidies and
fertilization versus agro-
ecological approaches
Digital
extension Outcome
Develop linked radio
and mobile phone Functioning
communications for distance extension
distance extension services to support
service remote farmers in applying
communities climate smart
practices
Context What is What do we want What might happen What might we want What will we do
Why is it happening?
happening? to experience in the that we have not to do to get there? differently?
future? What might thought about?
Scope get in our way?
Systems
Historical mapping
trends Developing Backcasting Develop
Theme or Visioning
analysis scenarios road map
key topic
Cross
Geopolitical Horizon sectoral Pathway
boundary and multi- Causal Scenario development Sequencing
scanning analysis implications relationships
stakeholder & trade-offs
Understand approaches
relevant Multi-
structures Network Transformation
mapping actions stakeholder
and policies co-ordination
Setting the
timelines Behaviour shift
mapping
Mapping the
stakeholders
Influence
and power
relations
As opposed to incremental
adaptation, which
Today’s interim report the IPCC says aims to
from the UNFCCC is a
maintain existing systems
red alert for our planet.
It shows governments through measures such as
are nowhere close to introducing more drought-
the level of ambition resistant varieties of crops
QUESTION? needed to limit climate or using more efficient
When you hear the term change to 1.5 degrees irrigation, transformative
transformative change and meet the goals of adaptation is intended to
what do you think of or the Paris Agreement
how would you define it?
change the fundamental
Secretary-General António
attributes of agricultural
Guteres on the report
findings (February 2021) systems in response to
actual or expected climate
and its effects, often at a
UN Climate Panel tells us we have
scale and ambition greater
10 years left to begin a radical than incremental activities.
transformation of this civilization to move World Resources Institute
quickly to a zero emissions society… we
need a new economic vision and a game
plan ….we are moving from the age of
progress to the age of resilience”
Jeremy Rifkin
Photo: ©Freepik
TRANSFORMATIVE
CHANGE
• Transformative change
requires sometimes
radically new REFLECTIONS AND
interventions, policies
and partnerships. GUIDING QUESTIONS
• It requires disruptive WHAT MIGHT TRANSFORM?
technology which can be Transformational Shifts
defined as any innovation
that dramatically changes
• Markets to networks
the way consumers, • Transactions to Flows
businesses and industries • Ownership to Access
operate.
• Sellers and Buyers in
• Moves us beyond negotiation- to producers
incremental change and users in networks
and results in major
long-term changes in
• Gross Domestic Product to
the way systems operate. Quality of Life
• Productivity to Regenerative
Jeremy Rifkin
Photo: ©Freepik
OUTCOME MAPPING
What is it
A framework developed by the International Development Research
Using foresight Centre (IDRC) for systematic capture and tracking of observable
changes in the behaviours, actions, activities and relationships of
tools and
targeted stakeholders.
methods, we
Why we use it
can plan the
To plan, track and adapt engagement with target stakeholders
transformational
(boundary partners) to towards desired outcomes.
change that will
be needed to
move towards the KEY ELEMENTS AND STEPS
future we want. • Intentional Design.
• Outcome and Performance Monitoring.
• Evaluation Planning.
EVALUATION
PLANNING
• STEP 12: Evaluation
Broad policy issue Targeted Outcome Planned
Plan
or implementation Stakeholder(s) Challenge Progress
OUTCOME & PREFORMANCE challenge being Markers
MONITORING
•
addressed
STEP 8: Monitoring Priorities
• STEP 9: Outcome Journals
• STEP 10: Strategy Journal
• STEP 11: Performance Journal Planned Actual Evidence for Change/lesson/
engagement engagement progress on activities for
strategies undertaken outcome next year
for year challenge &
progress markers
Context What is What do we want What might happen What might we want What will we do
Why is it happening?
happening? to experience in the that we have not to do to get there? differently?
future? What might thought about?
Scope get in our way?
Systems
Historical mapping
trends Developing Backcasting Develop
Theme or Visioning
analysis scenarios road map
key topic
Cross
Geopolitical Horizon sectoral Pathway
boundary and multi- Causal Scenario development Sequencing
scanning analysis implications relationships
stakeholder & trade-offs
Understand approaches
relevant Multi-
structures Network Transformation
mapping actions stakeholder
and policies co-ordination
Setting the
timelines Behaviour shift
mapping
Mapping the
stakeholders
Influence
and power
relations
KEY STEPS
• Personal Introduction
• Personal Meetings
• Phone Calls
• Political Meetings
• Workshops
• Corridor Conversations
INFORMATIONS FLOW
2
• Roles and mandates of MSPs vary but the aim
Trace how that information (e.g. nutrition
is to develop collaborative decision-making and
status, dietary diversity) goes from a
multi-level governance processes that enable
household level to a decision making level
shared perspectives, new understanding, and
(e.g. district budget allocation for nutrition)
collective commitment for solutions
3 Along your flow, highlight the format of • Unlock people’s potential to cooperate and
information (e.g. verbal, ledgers or hand- innovate to reach sustainable development goals.
written) and the quality.
FORESIGHT PROCESS
FLOW FOR A FULL STRATEGIC FORESIGHT PROCESS
Timebound
Prioritize outcomes, reflection current
Scope, problem backcasting, identifying and probable
definition, initial Causal analyses, transformative actions, developments and
system mapping drivers, and testing existing plans review strategy
uncertainties or policies
1 7
3 5
2 4 6
Trend analysis and Strategy
Development of
strategic horizon development and
scenarios and
scanning (signals implementation
visioning
and unknowns) plan
242 RETURN TO CONTENTS
FLOW FOR A FULL STRATEGIC FORESIGHT PROCESS
1 3 5
2
4 6
Analyse the trends
and scan the horizon Strategy
Development of
development and
• Create a plan to identify, scenarios and
implementation
develop and analyse visioning
relevant historical trends • Test existing plans or
• Develop scenario
• Using the STEEP policies
story lines
framework, collect and describe • Use transformative
diverse information possible futures actions to identify
sources who, what, when,
• Analyse the trends • Develop three-
outputs and
to detect ‘signals’ of part vision
outcomes
disruption or new trends • Reconcile vision
• Define roles and
• Define known with scenario
responsibilities
unknowns desired futures
Input - what is the context? What is happening right now? Prospection - what might happen that we
have not thought about? This is a critical
Analysis - deepening the understanding of the above input stage of the foresight process and it requires
questions; thinking of multiple different potential
futures;
Plan - what do we want to experience in the future and Strategy - what will we do differently? This
what might get in our way? Here we consider what we might is where we build our new strategy based on
do to get there; our insights of what the future may be like.
Context What is What do we want What might happen What might we want What will we do
Why is it happening?
happening? to experience in the that we have not to do to get there? differently?
future? What might thought about?
Scope get in our way?
Historical Systems
trends mapping Backcasting
Theme or analysis Developing Develop
Visioning
key topic scenarios road map
Cross
Geopolitical Horizon sectoral Pathway
boundary scanning and multi- Causal Scenario development Sequencing
stakeholder analysis implications & trade-offs relationships
Understand approaches
relevant Multi-
structures Network Transformation
mapping actions stakeholder
and policies co-ordination
Setting the
timelines Behaviour shift
mapping
Mapping the
stakeholders
Influence
and power
relations
Bourgeois, R. (2012). The state of foresight in food and agriculture and the Jackson, M. (2013). Practical foresight guide. Shaping tomorrow.
roads toward improvement. Presented at the Global Conference on Agricultural
J., Abdou Kadi, H., Sibiry Traore, P.C. & Thornton, P.K. (2016). The future of food
Research for Development.
security, environments, and livelihoods in Western Africa Four socio-economic
Carter, R., Ferdinand, T., & Chan, C. (2018). Transforming agriculture for climate scenarios. Working Paper No. 130 CGIAR Research Program on Climate Change,
resilience: a framework for systemic change. Washington DC: Working Paper. Agriculture and Food Security (CCAFS)
World Resources Institute.
Le Coq, J.-F., Meza, L., Veeger, M., Martinez Baron, D., & Loboguerrero, A. (2019).
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