Mozambique is one of the youngest countries in the world, with more than 50% of the population under the age of 18. This youth bulge presents a unique demographic and economic opportunity but also places a significant strain on public services, particularly education. Facing challenges such as high unemployment, climate vulnerability, insecurity, and limited access to digital infrastructure, youth-led solutions are critical for building a “future-ready” country.

The European Union Delegation (EUD) established a Youth Sounding Board (YSB) in 2023 to get input on EU policies by young Mozambicans, as a part of the EU’s Youth Action Plan, and since then they have been consulting them regularly, including for the latest Annual Action Plan 2026.

In the context of the EU Global Gateway initiative and t he preparation for the EU's next long-term budget 2028-2034, the EU Delegation invited the YSB for a foresight exercises using the Youth4Foresight Toolkit to reflect on the long-term role of the youth and on the strategic priorities for energy, digital, and education in Mozambique. The exercise objectives were to strengthen the YSB members’ capacities and enhance their agency using foresight tools to critically engage with and influence policymaking processes, while providing insights for the upcoming EU programming in Mozambique. 

The Three Horizons Workshop

An online workshop for 20 YSB members, facilitated by the young people themselves, took place on 5 December 2025. The online format allowed for participation from YSB members from all over the country and both the preparation and the workshop were held in Portuguese, based on the Portuguese version of the Youth4Foresight Toolkit.

The Youth Sounding Board used the Three Horizons tool to struc ture their brainstorming in steps:

Horizon 3 (the desired future): participants imagined their inspirational future focusing on their aspired changes for the domains of energy, digital and education. 

Horizon 1 (the current system): groups travelled back to the present to identify "business as usual" patterns that are no longer fit for purpose.

Seeds of the Future: participants identified existing pioneers and grassroots initiatives that are already starting to bring their future vision to life.

Horizon 2 (the transition): groups brainstormed innovations and collaborations needed to remove blockers and transition from the current system to the desired future.

Action board: finally, considering the three horizons that they have outlined, the groups defined action statements for the YSB and recommendations for the EU Delegation. 

The Outcomes

Participants drafted a Declaration of Action and Commitments, outlining steps for current and future Youth Sounding Boards while providing recommendations for EU programming in energy, digital, and education sectors. Feedback was highly positive; members praised the tool's ability to foster structured creative thinking, with several planning to replicate the exercise in their local communities.

The Three Horizons tool successfully empowered youth by enhancing their futures thinking skills. The outcomes will now inform EU planning for Mozambique, allowing YSB members to actively architect their country's development. 

The 2026 edition takes place in Copenhagen on 20 March 2026 (09:00–18:00 CET) at H. C. Andersens Blvd. 18, 1553 København - Industriens Hus. Themes include the AI-mediated workplace, leadership in the future, emerging technologies (including AI agents, simulations and humanoids), the future consumer, retail in transformation, and the futures of foresight.

The Summit is a Nordic gathering for leaders, innovators, and forward-thinking organisations exploring the futures of emerging technologies and their impact on business, society, and organisational readiness. Co-hosted by Danish Industry (DI) and curated by the Copenhagen Institute for Futures Studies (CIFS), the conference brings together keynotes, Nordic cases, and conversations on preparedness and responsible, meaningful action.

The Summit 2026 – Industriens Hus, Copenhagen – exploring the possible futures of emerging technologies.

By exploring 25 evidence-based potential disruptions across environmental, technological, economic, social, and geopolitical domains, the Strategic Foresight Toolkit for Resilient Public Policy helps anticipate challenges and opportunities that could reshape the policy landscape between 2030 and 2050. These disruptions are not predictions, but hypothetical future developments identified through extensive research, expert consultations, and workshops. The Strategic Foresight Toolkit features a five-step foresight process, guiding users to challenge assumptions, create scenarios, stress-test strategies, and develop actionable plans. It includes facilitation guides and case studies to support effective implementation. Each disruption is accompanied by insights on emerging trends, potential future impacts, and both immediate and long-term policy options to ensure resilience and preparedness. Designed for policymakers, public administrators, and foresight practitioners, this publication is designed to promote holistic, strategic and evidence-informed decision-making. It aims to support countries and organisations in using strategic foresight to design and prepare robust and adaptable public policies for a range of possible futures. With its practical methodology and forward-looking approach, the Strategic Foresight Toolkit is a vital resource for building sustainable, resilient, and effective public policies.

Source: OECD - Publications 

Nobody wants to die early. The desire to stay healthy and to have a long-lasting life is enormous. At first glance, it seems as if the increasing number of older people in the EU is in accordance with that. When having a closer look at that trend, three main factors seem to contribute to an overall older population: a generally increased life expectancy, a modern, readily accessible medical system, healthier lifestyles, and low birth rates. Migration is a counter-trend to the ageing society, as the majority of migrants to the EU are young families. This fact, however, does not substantially diminish the absolute number of older people in the EU. The potential consequences are diverse. Although people get older while being healthier, it is likely that the cost of health care will rise, putting an extra burden on the health insurance system. Hence, we might have to expect a clear social divide: Will only rich people be able to afford to get old? Or are the additional health-related costs going to be shifted to younger generations? Will the state have to step in?

ReCreating Europe re-thinks copyri ght codes and the management of creativity in the digital era by looking at the interplay between copyright, access to culture, and fair representation of creators and users.