Associate
ForgeFront
4 months | London
Foresight Capacity Building | Participatory Workshops | Futures Toolkits & Methods
This project was part of one of the first foresight upskilling initiatives commissioned under the Government Office for Science Futures Procurement Framework, delivered with Forgefront.
The Department of Agriculture, Environment and Rural Affairs (DAERA) Northern Ireland was seeking to strengthen its ability to engage with long-term, complex and "wicked" policy challenges. While interest in futures thinking was increasing, there were few established tools and processes to support its consistent application in policymaking.
Within this project, I led the design of the training workshops and the development of the futures toolkit.
Approach
The project was designed to build capacity across two pillars:
(1) building foresight capability and (2) creating usable tools for ongoing application.
Capability Building
We began by assessing existing levels of foresight competency across the department through a structured competency survey and supporting research. Based on this, I designed a series of upskilling workshops and thematic board sessions with policymakers. These sessions introduced key futures methods while grounding them in DAERA’s policy context, enabling participants to engage with long-term thinking in a practical and applied way.
Toolkit Design
In parallel, I led the development of a practical foresight toolkit to support continued use beyond the workshops. The toolkit was developed through:
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an evidence review of foresight practices
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a Delphi exercise with DAERA experts
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iterative testing through workshops
It focused on six core foresight competencies and included methods such as horizon scanning, scenario development and backcasting.
To ensure usability, the toolkit provided:
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step-by-step guidance on when and how to apply methods
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DAERA-specific use cases and examples
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case studies
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facilitation tips
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ready-to-use Miro templates
The aim was to translate futures methodologies into accessible, actionable tools for policymakers.
Impact
The project established a foundation for embedding foresight practices within DAERA. Senior policymakers were introduced to structured futures methods and their relevance to policy work, including focused sessions with Thematic Boards. An actionable toolkit was developed to support ongoing application of foresight across teams. The toolkit is being shared across the department, including with the Chief Scientific Adviser’s Office (CSAO), to support continued engagement with long-term thinking.