Future Dialogue for Planning Processes Co-creating scenarios and visions for practical foresight in smaller organisations

Purpose and goal

Arvidsjaurs municipality and Kairos Future will jointly explore and test how foresight can strengthen the long-term planning of smaller municipalities and give residents new forms of influence. The project tests methods to combine scenarios, planning data and dialogue. The goal is to test practically usable methods to be able to make better decisions under uncertainty with meaningful resident participation and to develop a plan for continued development and dissemination.

Expected effects and result

The project is expected to result in a pilot-tested process for combining scenarios, planning data and resident dialogue in the planning processes of smaller municipalities. The results include local scenarios and target images, analyses of residents´ perspectives and documented lessons learned about usability and resource needs. A plan for continued development, introduction and dissemination will lay the foundation for a future implementation project.

Planned approach and implementation

The project will be carried out between October 2026 and March 2027. After joint planning, a strategic analysis and scenario workshops will be conducted with the municipality´s employees and political representatives. Then, resident dialogues will be pilot tested based on scenarios and planning data. The material is analyzed and the methods are evaluated jointly. Experiences are documented continuously and compiled in a plan for continued development and dissemination.