In a rapidly changing world, foresight – the ability to think systematically about the future to inform decisions today – is crucial. At UNICEF, youth foresight means empowering children and young people to contribute their unique perspectives and experiences to shape a better future for us all. Our Youth Foresight Fellowship is at the forefront of this mission, equipping young leaders with the skills and opportunities they need to anticipate, envision, design, and lead all our futures.
How can children and young people help UNICEF become a more youth-centered and anticipatory organization? The Fellowship aims to answer that question by empowering young people as agents of change, and modelling a new approach to foresight that is participatory, bottom-up, youth-centered, and youth-led. We are redefining youth engagement to ensure that young voices are at the center of decision-making and strategic thinking – not just at UNICEF, but in their communities worldwide.
Empowering children and youth to shape the future
The Fellowship brings children and young people together with UNICEF to develop foresight skills, participate in global trends analysis, and lead their own projects, shaping a future where youth voices are heard, respected and influential.
Fellows spend their time learning about foresight research, facilitation, project management and child rights, and contribute to UNICEF’s global trends analysis. They co-design and lead their own national-level foresight projects with UNICEF country offices and national committees. And they build a network of young leaders committed to positive change.
Results to date
In just a short time, the Fellows have made a powerful impact on UNICEF and the world:
Global reach: Our Innocenti global youth network has grown to over 5,000 members from 150 countries and continues to expand.
Flagship reports: Young people’s insights have been included in key UNICEF reports like the Global Outlook: Prospects for Children.
Country-level impact: Fellows are leading foresight capacity-building workshops for youth networks, staff and partners worldwide.
Global public goods: Fellows have developed youth foresight curriculums and toolkits that scale this work both inside and outside UNICEF.
UN partnership: Fellows have supported the UN Secretary-General’s Our Common Agenda, emphasizing meaningful youth engagement and long-term thinking in policy-making.
And their participation makes an equally powerful impact on the Fellows themselves:
Skills development: Fellows gain critical skills for the 21st-century, like foresight, innovation, project management, and leadership.
Networking opportunities: Fellows connect with peers, UNICEF staff, and partners around the world, creating lasting personal and professional relationships.
Global influence: Fellows’ work informs UNICEF’s strategic direction and amplifies youth voices in global and local decision-making.
Project ownership: Fellows co-design and lead projects that reflect their priorities, interests and visions for the future.
Programme details
Duration: Six to 10 months.
Compensation: Fellows receive a stipend and support for project implementation.
Eligibility: Open to individuals aged 15-25 at the time of application. Foresight skills are preferable but not required.
For more information: https://www.unicef.org/innocenti/youth-foresight-fellowship
