Step 1: Planning gender-responsive strategic foresight

Every foresight method should take a gender and intersectional perspective.

Examine the possible foresight methods below and decide which is the most appropriate type to use in your evaluation.

Horizon scanning

Horizon scanning involves systematically reviewing new or emerging trends to gather intelligence about the future. This approach examines the relevance of an intervention in the context of changes that are expected in the future.

Megatrends analysis

Megatrends analysis examines changes in patterns and interactions of global trends. This approach examines the relevance of an intervention in the context of the magnitude of future changes.

Scenario planning

Scenario planning identifies plausible visions of the future, describing the context of a policy area. This approach examines the relevance of an intervention in the context of various possible futures.

Visioning

Visioning identifies a preferred direction of travel outlining actions to achieve the vision. This approach examines the relevance of an intervention in the context of the future envisaged.

Next, you can follow this decision tree to determine the most suitable gender-responsive strategic foresight method for your evaluation.

Are there any emerging trends that affect gender equality that have already been identified in the policy area in question?

  • Explore how these new trends interact with established megatrends OR
  • Use these emerging trends in scenario planning OR
  • Use these emerging trends in visioning
  • Use horizon scanning to identify emerging trends affecting gender equality in the policy area

Does the impact assessment or evaluation consider any of the established megatrends?

  • Analyse gender equality and intersectional aspects within these megatrends OR
  • Use these megatrends in scenario planning OR
  • Use these megatrends in visioning
  • Use megatrends analysis or other gender-responsive strategic foresight methods

Are there any existing EU-level scenarios relevant to the policy area in question?

  • Explore if and how these scenarios consider gender equality and intersectionality OR
  • Use these scenarios in visioning
  • Use scenario planning to future-proof the policy options or intervention from a gender and intersectional perspective

Is there a vision for gender equality in the policy area in question? See, for example, visions for gender equality in education[1] or agriculture[2].

  • Explore how this vision may be affected by emerging trends or established megatrends OR
  • Examine how this vision could be achieved in different scenarios
  • Use visioning to set out a roadmap and actions needed to progress towards the preferred future

Planning a gender-responsive strategic foresight requires you to have sufficient gender expertise in your team, ensure that the data collected are disaggregated by sex and other characteristics (age, socioeconomic status, etc.), and use participatory approaches in which various perspectives are represented. Use the following tips: