The Global Futures Weavery

In this 2026-2028 phase, we will continue to deepen our applied knowledge by weaving together emergent and existing strategic foresight methodologies with a broader array of futures approaches, particularly community-anchored, non-Western practices. We will continue to weave together the past and the future; our visions and concrete interventions; our communities and different parts of our organizations, different sectors and perspectives; and more. We will continue to right-size our learnings for our organizations and ecosystems; exercise bold imagination; expand peer learning and exchanges; and engage in sensemaking across our global community. Additionally, we will supplement our work with data-based horizon scanning and analysis.

The initiative’s work will include in-person and virtual convenings, as well as continued creation of applied learning curricula, futures-directed frameworks and other thought leadership products. Participation of funders and nonprofit partners from Global Majority geographies and historically marginalized communities will be a central feature of our work.

Objectives

Responding to the lessons emerging from the first phase of the initiative, the new phase will be guided by a core discovery question: Who decides and shapes futures? Recognizing that both the anticipatory analysis that feeds our strategies and our interventions require more equitable, more inclusive, more diverse, and more multidimensional perspectives, our primary focus will be to authentically center community-driven, community-anchored foresight and futures practices. By working with futurist practitioners and facilitators from diverse geographies and cultural backgrounds, we will continue our efforts to democratize the existing foresight frameworks and methodologies by including perceptions, ideas, visions, and experiences of people on the frontlines who are directly living disruptions and signals of changes and experiencing their everyday effects.

The overarching objectives of the Global Futures Weavery will remain:

To build on the work, concepts, and momentum to date.
To deepen our applied learning journey, experimenting with different formats, frameworks, and approaches.
To center perspectives, experiences, and practices of non-Western and historically marginalized communities.
To forge enduring connections between community members to strengthen our purpose, resilience, mutual support and collective foresight.
To provide tangible frameworks and tools to leverage within our organizations.

Core Components and Structure

Global Futures Weavery Hubs

One of our learnings from the previous phase was that our in-person convenings would be enriched by having permanent “homes” in key geographic settings. Thanks to the Foresight & Futures Initiative’s deep global partnerships, we are able to establish three Global Futures Weavery hubs – in Kenya, Brazil, and the United States.