Towards anticipatory governance guidelines for public sector organisations

Governments today face unprecedented challenges in delivering effective policies amidst climate change, technological disruption, demographic shifts, and pandemics. Anticipatory governance, which integrates strategic foresight, experimentation and innovation, is essential for navigating these complexities and achieving inclusive, people-centred transformations. However, OECD research indicates that the systematic use of anticipatory governance in government is not widespread, and its processes are insufficiently connected with policy development and innovation. This working paper aims to bridge this gap by providing guidance for public organisations on using anticipatory governance to improve resilience and address complex challenges. The paper introduces FIELDSCOPES, a mnemonic for the key dimensions and enabling factors of anticipatory governance. The five key dimensions (FIELD) are future-readiness, innovation, endurance, long-term perspective, and direction. The enabling factors and practices (SCOPES) are support from leadership, competencies, observation of trends and signals, participatory processes, exchange of intelligence and good practices, and structures and procedures. The paper gives examples of good practices applied in public organisations and includes self-assessment questions for public organisations to monitor progress in achieving the benefits of anticipatory governance.