truly one
forward,
one step
backwards,
is still one step
backwards
Explore the Stories
These eleven stories imagine different visions of the future of digital in Africa. The values embedded in these stories hold wide-ranging implications for how data is collected, stored, tracked, shared and valued by individuals, communities, governments and businesses. They call on policymakers and technologists to stretch their focus beyond questions of personal privacy and identity and consider collective data and intelligence as a public good used to inform better decision making and benefit the communities who generate it.
Meet the storytellers
Our storytellers centered in Kenya, Nigeria and Pan African contexts developed visions and artefacts for African Digital Futures in their communities using a group futures process that involved a combination of different futures techniques and methodologies.
About the project
A group futures process exploring data governance in Africa.
African Digital Futures convened twenty two next-generation changemakers together with African futurists and next-generation thinkers in early 2021 to launch provocative conversations on data-driven technology as imagined, developed, and used by communities across the continent.
Through a group process, young Africans imagine healthy digital societies in the future. If a healthy society is like a garden ecosystem, which digital technologies should be bred and planted and watered, which invasive species should be removed, which delicate shoots need protection, and from which menacing threats?
These next-generation changemakers worked alongside leading experts in African history, culture, journalism, storytelling, agriculture, education, civic technology, environmental activism and scenario development who facilitated and informed the conversations. The stories and insights have been shared openly to encourage discussion and debate.
They identified key priorities for change with wide-ranging implications for how data is collected, stored, tracked, shared and valued by individuals, communities, governments and businesses. The project demonstrated that foresight and network weaving are a powerful combination that can be used to unlock transformation. It used a novel process that embraced principles of decolonisation, transformation and afrofuturism.
About NGFP
Next Generation Foresight Practitioners. Enabling the next generation of changemakers.
The Next Generation Foresight Practitioners (NGFP) programme exists to accelerate the transformative potential of the next generation of changemakers using foresight as a key tool to envision inclusive and equitable futures globally.
It supports emerging voices by driving their integral role in agenda-setting and connecting them with today’s decision-makers, amplifying their voices and insights. It aims to democratise futures around the world.
The programme is run by the School of International Futures (SOIF) with the support of Omidyar Network, Small Foundation and Humanity United.
Through the NGFP Programme and Annual awards and the programme we are:
- Catalysing collaboration and network building through the sensing network of over 500 next generation practitioners
- Enabling communities to come together around sectoral issues to drive participation across new geographies and sectors
- Supporting the next generation of leaders in Africa through a six-month leadership programme funded by Small Foundation
- Building demonstrator projects that show the value of NGFP perspectives
- Activating the potential of the sensing network and wider community through our impact fund, mentoring, and network building activity
Supported by:
What people say
Get involved
Join the conversation
The stories shared here are designed to be the start of a converastion. If you’re interested in getting involved, or would like to share your views on the future of data societies then please contact the team, or sign up for news on the NGFP programme and how to get involved.
Are you a next-generation changemaker?
The Next Generation Foresight Practitioner’s (NGFP) programme exists to accelerate the transformation of the next generation of changemakers using foresight as a key tool to envision inclusive and equitable futures globally. To find out more about the programme or how to join the sensing network please email us at team@nextgenforesight.org or visit nextgenforesight.org