Anticipatory Action and Innovation

Meeting the demand for a more future-oriented United Nations that is prepared for emerging challenges.

UN New York

The Anticipatory Action and Innovation research pillar offers solutions that help the UN become a more future-oriented organization, prepared for emerging challenges and capable of innovating to meet them. This work involves guidance in the use of predictive analytics, identifying new trends that may affect the work of the multilateral system and offering innovative solutions based on adaptation, mitigation and resilience.

The pillar also explores the ethics, policy and global governance of Artificial Intelligence – advancing proposals to support an open, free, secure and human-centred digital future that works for all. Driving this work is a commitment to ensuring that the benefits of the digital age are not captured by a few at the expense of the public interest.

Highlights

Blog Post

What could the Pact for the Future mean for Geneva?

The ambitious Pact should be met with two new entities in Geneva to address the future of peacebuilding and multilateralism.

17 Oct 2024

Blog Post

Coming soon: a UN Envoy for Future Generations

It was announced at the Hamburg Sustainability Conference this week that the Secretary-General will appoint a UN Envoy for Future Generations.

09 Oct 2024

Recent Publications

Brief

The Summit of the Future is a Chance to "Human Proof" Our Global Governance System

How do we overcome our innate tendency to prefer the present, undervalue big systemic risks, and ignore the needs of future generations?

25 Jan 2024

Report

Predictive Technologies in Conflict Prevention: Practical and Policy Considerations for the Multilateral System

Adoption strategies that mitigate challenges related to the uptake of predictive technologies.

03 Jan 2024

Brief

Elevating the Environment in the Multilateral System

Enabling the UN to play a more meaningful role in a global transition towards a more sustainable relationship with nature.

10 Nov 2023

Brief

A Global Architecture for Artificial Intelligence

Consolidating key questions surrounding global AI governance.

17 Oct 2023

disinformation.jpg

Disinformation and peace building in sub-Saharan Africa

Exploring the security implications of AI-altered information environments.
Download Report

Research Themes

Events

Event

Room for optimism: A precondition for success in challenging times

This rapid-fire roundtable is a platform to energize participants to take the first next steps towards better global governance.

-

Event

AI and decision-making in global governance

Exploring AI's role in public decision-making, with a focus on its impact on global humanitarian, development and peace efforts.

-

Event

Unlocking cooperation: AI for all

Exploring the implications of AI for the multilateral system.

-

Event

Data governance beyond the GDC: Where do we go from here?

Exploring emerging proposals to boost international collaboration on responsibly unlocking the value of data for all.

-

Event

Redefining Multilateralism

Shaping the future of global governance. A virtual dialogue with Foreign Policy magazine.

-

Workshop

Expert Workshop on Public-Private Partnerships in Global Data Governance

Facilitating an exchange of perspectives on improved public-private partnerships in data governance.

-

Event

Global Architecture of AI

Consolidating key questions surrounding the global governance of Artificial Intelligence

-