Generation Foresight: Empowering Youth in Policymaking
We create the future by the decisions we make today, and young people need to have the tools and opportunities to actively participate in the policymaking process. Using foresight techniques can meaningfully contribute to and shape policies that drive sustainable, future-oriented outcomes.
What is the Youth4Foresight Toolkit?
The Youth4Foresight Toolkit helps to integrate foresight into consultation processes with youth advisory structures or young people in general. Developed by Directorate General for International Partnerships of the European Commission, in close consultation with EU Delegations in partner countries, foresight experts and youth groups worldwide, the toolkit offers practical techniques to anticipate future challenges, identify emerging trends, and craft solutions that contribute to forward-thinking, future-oriented strategies and policies.
The EU promotes young people's active role in influencing policies that impact their future. Too often, youth voices are sidelined in decision-making processes, even though they will inherit the consequences of today's choices. The foresight tools empower youth to become proactive agents of change by helping them build a futures mindset. It encourages reflection on both individual and collective visions for the future, fostering critical thinking and creativity.
Case Studies
The Youth4Foresight Toolkit was already tested in real-world contexts with positive results. EU Delegations in countries such as Ecuador, Lesotho, Angola, Vietnam or Cambodia, among others, have successfully used the toolkit to engage with youth in foresight activities.
Foresight activities held during the Lesotho Youth Power Hub workshop in September 2024
Toolkit Features
Step-by-Step Guidance: clear instructions and case studies to guide youth and facilitators through the process of applying foresight tools, running events, and even creating advisory structures.
Facilitation Resources: tips and resources for Youth Focal Points in EU Delegations or any youth coordinators to effectively lead foresight activities and support youth throughout the process.
Practical Tools: detailed instructions, templates, and short explanatory videos to ensure that youth groups can easily engage with the tools and incorporate them into their work.
The toolkit includes seven practical foresight tools, each designed to facilitate different aspects of youth engagement in policymaking:
- Developing a Futures Mindset - encouraging youth to reflect on their individual and collective images of the future and enabling them to recognize emerging trends and signals of change, fostering a proactive mindset that embraces current and future challenges.
- Exploring Futures - tools such as the Futures Wheel and Three Horizons, provide a structured approach to imagining future possibilities and assessing their potential implications for policymaking.
- Shaping Action - empowering youth to turn foresight insights into concrete actions with e.g., Backcasting, by translating ideas into actionable recommendations for policymakers.
Empower youth to shape the future and impact policies – start today!
DG INTPA, with support of youth foresight experts, developed Youth4Foresight Toolkit to help EU Delegations, youth advisors, and young people harness the power of strategic foresight. The toolkit provides structured, long-term thinking tools to anticipate future scenarios and shape policies with lasting impact. Its flexible structure allows for application across a variety of contexts, from use at one-off events to long-term advisory programs. The Y4F Toolkit supports the Youth Action Plan (YAP) in EU external action and aligns with the UN Pact for the Future (2024), ensuring youth have an active and meaningful role in global decision-making processes.
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