Anticipatory Governance, Systems Thinking, and Strategic Foresight: free course

🇺🇦 Ця сторінка українською

How do governments, organisations, and communities make better decisions in a world that is increasingly uncertain and fast-changing? This free online course from the United Nations offers a practical answer.

The Anticipatory Governance: Systems Thinking and Strategic Foresight for SDG-Aligned Integrated Planning course is developed jointly by the UN Department of Economic and Social Affairs (UNDESA) and the UN Institute for Training and Research (UNITAR). It is self-paced, web-based, and free of charge.

What the course covers

The course is structured in two parts:

  • Part I — Foundations of Anticipatory Governance: introduces key concepts, tools, and methods in systems thinking and strategic foresight, and how they apply to policy planning.
  • Part II — Implementation: explores how these approaches can be embedded in governance systems, monitoring and evaluation, budgeting, and multi-stakeholder partnerships.

Who is it for?

The course is designed for public policy planners, policymakers, and legislators at national and local levels. It is equally relevant for innovators, entrepreneurs, and organisations working at the intersection of systems change, strategy, and sustainable development — anyone who needs to navigate complexity and think long-term.

Why this matters

Reactive approaches are no longer sufficient. Systems thinking and strategic foresight help decision-makers understand interconnections, anticipate risks, identify emerging trends, and design solutions that hold up over time. These are not just government skills — they are essential for any organisation trying to create lasting impact.

Certification and enrollment

Upon completing each part, participants receive a separate certificate from UNITAR.

Enrol now — the course is free and open until 31 December 2026.

Register by the link: Anticipatory Governance: Systems Thinking and Strategic Foresight for SDG-Aligned Integrated Planning

This post is also available in uk.

Iryna Gerasymenko

Iryna Gerasymenko

Iryna Gerasymenko is the founder of FUTX, a practitioner and researcher specializing in futures studies and strategic foresight, international development, ecosystem building, entrepreneurship, digital governance, and innovation with over 15 years of experience spanning international organizations, governments, businesses, and communities. Iryna is a member of the World Futures Studies Federation, Foresight Europe Network, Association of Professional Futurists, International Society for Professional Innovation Management, Women in CyberSecurity Network, and the OECD Government Foresight Community.