Foresight Training For the Global South, From the Global South

Context is an important part of effective futures and foresight work, and NGFP 2023 Fellow André Arruda wants to make futures and foresight knowledge accessible to everyone. 

Leaning on more than a decade of experience in strategic foresight and as a professor of various courses in Brazil, he is building a free introductory virtual training in Futures Design & Strategic Foresight tailored for individuals working in governments and social organisations in the Global South. 

This training will include case studies and references from Latin America, Africa and Asia. 

“The vast majority of training in Futures Design & Strategic Foresight always brings a perspective from the Global North, with emphasis on the United States and European countries. In this sense, bringing a perspective with processes, tools and references from the Global South is extremely necessary, including because it is the territory that will see the greatest growth in the long term,” says André.

“We need to adapt our visions and narratives to bring this inclusion.” 

The first offering will be in Portuguese for Brazil, followed by plans to translate it into Spanish and English in the future. 

This project is part of André’s NGFP Fellowship, which he says has been instrumental in several ways.  

“It has provided invaluable networking opportunities, enabling interactions and connections with others who share a common interest. Additionally, it has facilitated the validation and refinement of the project through discussions with more experienced individuals. In the future, the fellowship may also assist in securing resources to scale the project strategy.”

“This project is a unique opportunity to highlight the importance of Futures Design and connect with numerous individuals interested in the field.” 

André aims to conduct the first training in August. Keep an eye out on his social media channels (Instagram, LinkedIn) for updates on the registration process, or connect with Andre via email