Strategic Foresight for Humanitarian Organisations

29-30 June – Nairobi, Kenya

The future is uncertain, and it is essential for humanitarian organisations to prepare for what is to come. Strategic foresight is a systematic approach to anticipating and shaping the future by identifying and analysing trends, patterns, and signals.

This two-day masterclass on strategic foresight aims to help humanitarian organisations learn advanced skills needed to run their own foresight projects.

The masterclass will provide a deeper understanding of the strategic foresight process, cover advanced tools and techniques used in strategic foresight specifically as they relate to humanitarian work, and provide practical experience.

Objectives

1. 1. Provide a deeper understanding of the strategic foresight process and its importance in shaping the future of humanitarian organisations.
   2. Gain a more in-depth knowledge of the tools and techniques used in strategic foresight, including scenario planning, trend analysis, and environmental scanning.
   3. Learn advanced methods to apply strategic foresight to real-world situations and develop foresight projects specific to humanitarian organisations.
   4. Gain practical experience in using foresight tools and techniques through case studies and simulations.

Course Outline

Day One

1. Overview of Strategic Foresight for Humanitarian Organisations

This part will provide a more in-depth understanding of strategic foresight, its importance, and the challenges that humanitarian organisations face when trying to anticipate and shape the future. Participants will learn about the strategic foresight process and the key steps involved, with a focus on how to apply it to humanitarian contexts.

2. Environmental Scanning and Trend Analysis

This part will focus on the tools and techniques used in environmental scanning and trend analysis, specifically as they relate to humanitarian organisations. Participants will learn how to use these techniques to identify and analyse trends and signals, and how to interpret the data to make informed decisions in the context of humanitarian work.

3. Scenario Planning for Humanitarian Organisations

This part will cover scenario planning and how to develop scenarios that can be used to plan for the future in the specific context of humanitarian organisations. Participants will learn how to create scenarios, test them, and select the best course of action based on the scenarios.

Day Two

4. Applying Strategic Foresight to Humanitarian Organisations

This part will focus on how to apply strategic foresight to real-world situations specific to humanitarian organisations. Participants will learn advanced methods to develop foresight projects tailored to humanitarian contexts and how to communicate their findings effectively to stakeholders. This part will also cover how to integrate foresight into strategic planning and decision-making processes within the humanitarian context.

5. Case Studies and Simulations

In this part, participants will gain practical experience in using foresight tools and techniques through case studies and simulations specific to the humanitarian context. These exercises will be designed to reinforce the concepts learned in the previous parts and to provide participants with the opportunity to apply what they have learned to real-world situations.

After the Masterclass, you will:

1. Have a deeper understanding of the strategic foresight process and its importance in shaping the future of humanitarian organisations.
2.  Have a more in-depth knowledge of the tools and techniques used in strategic foresight, including scenario planning, trend analysis, and environmental scanning in the context of humanitarian work.
3. Be able to apply advanced methods of strategic foresight to real-world situations specific to humanitarian organisations and develop foresight projects tailored to humanitarian contexts.
4. Have gained practical experience in using foresight tools and techniques through case studies and simulations specific to the humanitarian context.

Who Should Apply

We have 20 places available for the masterclass. We will prioritise applications from those who:

1. Have a role within their National Society that enables them to use strategic foresight in program, department or organisational processes. We are also interested in people who have roles where they can teach others in their NS how to use strategic foresight
2. Would be interested and could commit to supporting other National Societies or program areas in other countries/NSs to use strategic foresight approaches. Note that some travel may be required for this. We would provide funding for travel if this is needed.
3. Would be interested in being part of a virtual global team of experts who sensemake shifting trends and their impact on the IFRC network and provide virtual guidance/inputs into other foresight projects happening in other parts of the world.
4. Have a personal passion for innovation, change and futures/foresight and experience with facilitating workshops/learning journeys.

How to Apply

Applications are now closed. Shortlisted applicants will be contacted during the week of May 15, 2023 to discuss final selection.

The masterclass is free but participants need to pay for their own travel, accommodation and meals.

Applicants to the masterclass wishing to attend the Global Innovation Summit can register to the Summit and book the 3-day accommodation and meals independently; selected participants will be informed about the extra costs and procedure for accommodation and meals for the masterclass.

Innovation

24-25 June – Nairobi, Kenya

Innovation has become increasingly important for humanitarian work as the world faces more and more complex and long-lasting crises. Responding to the needs of those affected by disasters or conflicts requires fresh approaches to longstanding and emerging problems. Innovative solutions can make humanitarian operations more efficient, effective, and sustainable. Furthermore, innovation can empower local communities by enabling them to take control of their own development, fostering resilience and sustainability over the long term. As such, innovation is a crucial component of humanitarian work that can positively transform the lives of millions of people.

Objectives

1. Understand the importance of innovation in humanitarian action and how it can improve the effectiveness and efficiency of the IFRC network in supporting communities.
2. Learn about the different phases of the innovation process, from understanding the problem to validation, ideation, design, experimenting and learning and the necessary tools and techniques to successfully apply each phase.
3. Foster a culture of innovation within the RCRC network, promoting creativity, experimentation, and continuous learning as tools for improving humanitarian action.
4. Gain practical experience in using innovation methodologies through a series of hands-on exercises.

Course outline

Day 1

1. Essentials for Innovation

This block will cover the important concepts about innovation, and the potential challenges that will appear when applying innovation. Additionally, we will explore the importance of creativity and lateral thinking for innovation. Participants will understand the importance and value that innovation has for humanitarian work and community development.

2. Innovation Process and Approaches

This block will explore the different approaches that we can use for innovation, its benefits and their main characteristics. Participants will also learn about the general innovation process and how to apply it to their work.

3. Innovation Systems and Ecosystems

Innovation requires a systemic approach inside the organization that is connected to a bigger ecosystem. This block will explore the concept of innovation systems and ecosystems and its importance to foster and support innovation. Participants will learn the basics to create their own innovation system and how to identify the innovation ecosystems around the organization.

4. Partnering for Innovation

Innovation is a team sport, which means that we can not do it alone. This block will cover the role that partners have in the process, how to identify the perfect partner for our innovation and how to build a win-win relationship with them.

Day 2

During this day participants will go through a short innovation challenge. We will use the design thinking methodology to address selected problems from the IFRC Network. The goal is to devise creative and practical solutions that enable organisations to improve their efficiency and effectiveness, optimize their resources, and increase their capacity to respond to the needs of communities.

Through the Design Thinking approach, participants of the masterclass will work in teams, using empathy to understand the needs of volunteers and communities, creativity to ideate innovative solutions, experimentation to test and improve the solutions, and implementation to put the designed solutions into an action plan.

After the masterclass, you will:

1. Have a deeper understanding of the innovation process, and its potential to solve humanitarian challenges more effectively.
2. Understand the value of local innovation ecosystems and how to get involved and develop them.
3. Gain practical experience in the use of innovation tools to design creative solutions for complex humanitarian problems.
4. Take back to their National Societies a practical, fast, easy-to-apply experience to explore innovation

Optional Extra

There will be an opportunity during the Summit for the participants to share the innovations created during the masterclass with other participants for feedback and comments. This can become potential projects with cooperation opportunities.

Who Should Apply

We have 20 places available for the masterclass. We will prioritise applications from those who:

1. Have a role within their National Society that enables them to use innovation in their programmatic activities, department or organisational processes. We are also interested in people who have roles where they can teach others in their NS how to use Innovation.
2. Would be interested in supporting other National Societies or program areas in other countries/NSs to use Innovation approaches. Note that some travel may be required for this. We would provide funding for this if travel is needed.
3. Would be interested in being part of a virtual global network of innovation practitioners who advocate for innovation and transformation, and provide virtual guidance/inputs into other innovation projects happening in other parts of the world.
4. Have a personal passion for innovation, change and futures/foresight and experience with facilitating workshops/learning journeys.

How to Apply

Applications are now closed. Shortlisted applicants will be contacted during the week of May 15, 2023 to discuss final selection.

The masterclass is free but participants need to pay for their own travel, accommodation and meals.

Applicants to the masterclass wishing to attend the Global Innovation Summit can register to the Summit and book the 3-day accommodation and meals independently; selected participants will be informed about the extra costs and procedure for accommodation and meals for the masterclass.