Consultancy - Roster of Foresight Support Services Consultants - UNICEF Office of Strategy and Evidence, Florence, Italy - Remote/Work from Home

Organizational Context

UNICEF works in over 190 countries to save children’s lives, defend their rights, and help them fulfill their potential. The Foresight and Policy Unit at UNICEF Office of Strategy and Evidence - Innocenti (OSE) is establishing a roster of qualified consultants to provide on-demand, short- to medium-term technical support in foresight methods and applications.

Job Purpose

The Foresight and Policy Unit at UNICEF Office of Strategy and Evidence - Innocenti (OSE) is seeking to establish a roster of qualified consultants to provide on-demand, short- to medium-term technical support across a range of foresight methods and applications, including strategic foresight, horizon scanning, and futures thinking. This roster will serve as a pre-qualified pool of experts for UNICEF offices globally to draw upon for foresight-related initiatives. Individual consultants will provide technical expertise in strategic foresight approaches, facilitate foresight processes and workshops, and support the integration of futures thinking into UNICEF’s policy, programming, and organizational learning. Applicants are expected to demonstrate competencies and experience in one or more of the four roster streams: Strategic Foresight; Facilitation and Participation; Quantitative Modelling; and Knowledge Management and Capacity Building, contributing to UNICEF's commitment to ensuring the right to a future for every child.

Responsibilities

Under the supervision of the Foresight and Policy team, consultants will be responsible for providing expert technical assistance in strategic foresight methodologies and tools, such as horizon scanning, trend analysis, emerging issues analysis, scenario planning, systems mapping, futures wheels, Delphi methods, and backcasting. They will analyze megatrends and emerging issues impacting sustainable development, including demographic change, climate change, technological transformation, governance, migration, and geopolitical shifts. Consultants will be expected to synthesize complex information and produce high-quality reports, clearly communicating intricate concepts to both technical and non-technical audiences. A key responsibility will be designing and facilitating foresight exercises, including horizon scanning, trend analysis, scenario development, backcasting, visioning, and strategic conversations. They will also provide technical advisory support to governments, international organizations, development agencies, research institutions, or the private sector on foresight and long-term planning. Furthermore, consultants will design and facilitate multi-stakeholder workshops, consultations, and participatory foresight processes, integrating foresight insights into policy development, programme design, organizational strategy, risk management, and decision-making processes. Excellent facilitation skills, adaptable to virtual, in-person, and hybrid formats, are essential for engaging senior decision-makers, technical experts, and diverse stakeholder groups, particularly in complex and uncertain environments.

Work Experience

At least 8–10 years of progressively responsible professional experience in strategic foresight, futures thinking, scenario planning, systems transformation, public policy, organizational strategy, innovation, or related fields. Demonstrated experience designing and facilitating foresight exercises and providing technical advisory support is required.

Skills

Strategic foresight methodologies and tools, Horizon scanning, Trend analysis, Scenario planning, Systems mapping, Analysis of megatrends and emerging issues, Report writing, Communication of complex concepts, Facilitation of foresight exercises, Technical advisory support, Multi-stakeholder workshop facilitation, Integration of foresight into policy and strategy

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