Foresight

Trainings

Governance

Design

Intelligence

Crisis Intelligence

We are part of the world’s largest humanitarian network. Together, we support 160 million people every year…

The IFRC network of 192 Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies acts before, during and after disasters and health emergencies to meet the needs and improve the lives of vulnerable people.

Our frontline operations provide long-term services, development programmes and disaster response. We work in virtually every community on earth.

The Solferino Academy strategic foresight team directly support these operations. We work with the decision makers, external experts and frontline staff to develop scenarios and intelligence on possible futures.

This information is used by them to shape service delivery and sharpen the options for action.

Ukraine crisis intelligence

In the early days of the Ukraine crises, the Solferino Academy did a rapid research project to generate future scenarios.

We worked with the IFRC’s global network to surface new information and emerging trends. We combined this with input from external experts and specialists from different sectors, countries and perspectives.

The scenarios were interrogated to identify potential impacts and implications for humanitarian action and the people we support. This insight proved to be highly valuable to the operational team.

Strategic foresight

As the crises progressed, we were asked to embed strategic foresight in operational decision-making. We helped to coordinate the information coming from our frontline services and the network of experts and communities sharing intelligence on emerging trends and challenges.This work helped to expand the information available to decision makers, as well as extending the time horizon we were planning for.The model established in this crisis will contribute to redesign the IFRC’s approach to crises and service management.

Strategic foresight training

Learning how to interrogate possible futures sharpens our analysis of a shifting world.We run courses tailored to your needs, from taster sessions to deep dives into emerging challenges using our creative tools and extensive expert network.

Anticipatory governance

We help retool conventional decision-making processes to embed strategic foresight and anticipation.

Our team works with you to develop anticipatory governance, from initial design and implementation, through to testing and iteration of new approaches.

Speculative design

Imagination and storytelling are vital for strategic foresight.We work with change-makers, speculative designers, artists and the IFRC network to explore possible futures and bring back art, fiction, and experiences from the worlds they have created.

Crisis Intelligence

Strategic foresight can directly support humanitarian operations.

We work with communities,  frontline staff  and external experts to develop intelligence on possible futures.These scenarios help shape service delivery and sharpen the options for action.

Share your ideas

We are here to make understanding and acting in a changing world easier for you and your team. We are developing tools, content and connections which will help us all. We want to hear from you. If you are pushing the boundaries, experimenting with new ways of working, or testing ideas which you believe will help people in the future, get in touch. Together, we will create opportunities to learn from each other and develop shared infrastructure that helps everyone.

“The future is bound to surprise us, but we don’t have to be dumbfounded”

Kenneth Boulding, peace activist