Draft Report v1.0
CityLabs LECP Futures Thinking Workshops
Complementing the wider consultation process, the delivery of CityLabs workshops were planned to pilot and demonstrate co-creation approaches that can support of enhanced citizen participation 1 , collaboration, and partnership approaches in the LECP. Aligned with the wider framework and approach to consultation developed and giving consideration to a range of potential co-creation techniques, it was agreed that the workshops would be oriented to a ‘Futures Thinking’ approach. Futures Thinking is a recognised range of tools and techniques that among other things, can support policy-making. They are especially useful and applicable to work that seeks to embed long-term strategic thinking, to deepen understanding of driving forces, to identify gaps or suggest new knowledge needed. Participatory and anticipatory futures approaches allow for ‘collectively imagining, exploring and designing the landscape of possible futures. These approaches can provide a mechanism to incorporate long-term thinking within democratic systems and improve institutional effectiveness, by empowering citizens to shape their collective futures’ 2 . Futures Thinking recognises uncertainty and begins with an assumption that the future is not pre- determined, that there are possible futures, preferable futures and plausible futures . It is inherently collaborative - inviting processes, debate and dialogue for more informed and resilient planning, policy and decision-making. The futures-thinking workshop contributes to deepening ‘Futures Literacy’ in the city for more anticipatory policy and resilient cities. ‘UNESCO has championed Futures Literacy since 2012: the competency that allows people to better understand the role of the future in what they see and do. In our complex world, the global challenges we face require more inclusive and agile approaches to policy design and decision-making. Rooted in the discipline of anticipation, Futures Literacy can improve our capacity to shape policies and systems that withstand shocks and create long-term resilience.’ 3
1 Arnstein’s Ladder – Degree of Citizen Participation 2 Foundation for Democracy & Sustainable Development https://www.fdsd.org/ideas/participatory-futures/ 3 UNESCO Futures Literacy https://www.unesco.org/en/futures-literacy
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