Disruptors and enablers of Research for Development (R4D): Exploring futures
The global development landscape is changing in significant ways. Increasingly complex and interconnected development challenges are taking place on a truly global scale and impact and there is a new and emerging set of development actors. Persistent inequalities, climate change, technological disruption, increasing fragility and more recently, pandemic response, continue to occupy the attention of development actors including those who fund and support R4D.
This project brings together a team of R4D experts and foresight practitioners who use research and strategic foresight to assist funders, R4D institutions and stakeholders to better prepare for the long-term. This involves not only anticipating risks, shocks and emerging challenges, but better identifying opportunities in the shape of enablers and catalysers that can be leveraged for positive development change.
The analysis and knowledge produced will be shared via communication and learning materials. Results will contribute to R4D strategy adaptation, the journey to transformative research for development and greater resilience, agility and clarity about the challenges and opportunities that is unfolding in the R4D context. Read more about the projects funder’s view on the benefits of a foresight approach here.
Project leads
External project participants
Funders
Duration of project
Project deliverables
Horizon Scanning Database
This horizon scanning database contains “hits” categorised according to type as weak signals, trends and mega-trends/drivers, and whether they are potential disruptors and/or enablers for R4D. It also uses the typical STEEP-V classification indicating if a hit falls into the S = Social, T = Technology, E = Economic, E = Environmental, P = Political or V = Values domains. The database is searchable using this classification, and according to the types mentioned above.
Horizon Scanning serves as an input for foresight exercises and focuses on surfacing early signs of potentially important developments through exploratory research and a systematic examination of potentialities – both positive and negative in scope. By systematically exploring the external (contextual) environment, the Horizon Scanning Database helps us to better understand the nature and pace of change, and to identify potential opportunities, challenges, and likely future developments relevant to the field or topic under consideration – in this case R4D. Access the Horizon Scanning Database here.
Foresight Framing Summary: Mapping the R4D Landscape
A foresight framing, also known as ‘domain mapping’, maps the R4D landscape ‘issues’ – including key opportunities, challenges, ideas and debates. In line with the overall project goals, the R4D issues selected for the foresight framing were all connected to perspectives on transformative change, and on how change happens. A framing map was developed to organise these issues into domains and to highlight interactions between them across the R4D system. This document is a summary of the Foresight Framing. Click here to access the document.
First phase report
This report contains a write up of the first phase of the project which is the horizon scanning and foresight framing, and it also explains the overall foresight process and approach of the project. The horizon scanning analysis and foresight framing are presented in detail. Click here to read the report.
Strategic options
This is a list of strategic options for change in R4D systems that resulted from online foresight workshops utilising tools and methods such as Future Wheels, Morphological Scenarios, and Three Horizons Framework. The list is categorised according themes. Click here for a list of strategic options.
Kenya in-person workshop report
This report contains the analysed and synthesised output of Disruptors and Enablers of Research for Development (R4D): Exploring Futures workshop that was held on 21-22 November 2023 at the Jacaranda Hotel in Nairobi, Kenya.
The report – the content of which is a combination of mostly human and some Large Language Model (LMM) (AI) analysis and synthesis – consists of actions and recommendations for various stakeholders and actors to transform research and science systems on the African continent.
These actions and recommendations originated from strategic options, which are things that can be done to make change happen. These options in turn were formulated after engaging with a diverse set of strategic foresight and systems thinking tools/methods envisioning alternative and preferred futures for R4D. Click here to read the report.
