Overview

In 2021, UNDP Ukraine organized a series of webinars dedicated to the application of strategic foresight in the public sector. The four webinars were attended by 439 participants (277 women and 162 men), representing different Parliamentary structures, the government of Ukraine, experts, and civil society. The strategic discussion between Ukrainian experts and foresight practitioners from the UK, Estonia, OECD, and the European Parliament shaped a comprehensive understanding of the value of strategic foresight for developing future-oriented policies and pathways for building anticipatory capabilities in the public sector.

The summary of these discussions and main takeaways from key literature and manuals are described in the ‘Overview of Foresight practices in the public sector: experience of the European Parliament, Great Britain, Estonia, and Finland.’ The document presents the main aspects of foresight functions across the mentioned countries, offers several methods that can be applied in a parliamentary context, and specifies the main success factors in an effective foresight system. We hope this publication will serve as a useful reference for the Members of Parliament of Ukraine and civil servants who are working on long-term and anticipatory policy issues.