Africa and Foresight

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The African Union’s “Agenda 2063” and the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development, with their promises of economic growth, social equality and a healthy environment, must be realized in volatile and complex world. There is little, if anything, in the past that prepares individuals, communities, businesses, cities and governments in Africa for the kind of far-reaching, rapid and simultaneous change of the 21st century. The coming decades will see radically new ‘realities’, with unprecedented opportunities and challenges for development. In these circumstances, the 20th Century rulebook on development is of limited use. In this context Foresight is rapidly emerging as an essential additional tool to conventional strategic thinking. Foresight enables public planners to use new ways of thinking about, talking about, and implementing strategic plans that are compatible with the unfolding future. This working paper explores ways how African governments (and society) can make full use of the potential of foresight to realize the vision of Agenda 2063 and the 2030 Agenda.