Futures Workshop for CARE Denmark
Designing New Visions for a Green, Just World
Bringing together diverse voices to create a shared vision and practical steps for building a more sustainable and innovative humanitarian future.
Challenge
CARE Denmark needed to rethink its role in the international humanitarian sector for the next strategy cycle and beyond. The goal was to break away from traditional approaches, foster new partnerships, scale innovative solutions, and create a sustainable long-term strategy. The challenge was to align global ambitions with local leadership while addressing the complex, evolving demands of the humanitarian landscape.
Approach
We facilitated a full-day hybrid workshop for 18 participants, including two joining online, using ANTICIPATE’s ACT Foresight Framework. The day included creative and interactive exercises like a Futuresstorm to explore key trends and disruptions, an Aspirations activity to identify clear future goals, and Visioning exercises to draft bold, practical ideas for CARE’s future. These activities helped connect diverse perspectives and set the stage for innovative, forward-thinking strategy development during the rest of the week.
Outcomes
1) High-level Future Visions
Participants created shared vision statements and principles that addressed key challenges, including climate adaptation and rethinking refugee camps, while balancing innovative solutions with local priorities.
2) Concrete Work Goals
The group identified specific aspirations for the future, such as forming new types of partnerships and integrating foresight into their programs. These goals were written in clear, actionable terms to guide CARE’s next steps.
3) New Tools and Mindsets
The workshop equipped participants with practical tools and techniques to think long-term and address future challenges. Many highlighted the value of taking a step back to look at the bigger picture and felt better prepared to deal with complex changes ahead.
The workshop provided a strong foundation for CARE Denmark to redefine its role, strengthen its strategy, and lead the way in creating innovative humanitarian solutions.
"The workshop met and exceeded expectations—highly relevant both thematically and in terms of the level of discussion. The facilitation was strong, with well-chosen research examples that felt both practical and thought-provoking.
The exploration of paradoxes, like balancing disruption with local leadership agendas, added valuable depth and reflection at the right moment. It left us motivated and ready to apply these insights within a broader, long-term perspective. Kudos to the facilitators for delivering such a well-structured session."
Senior Program Manager
