Demos Helsinki

A snapshot of futures literacy and anticipatory capabilities training by Demos Helsinki - materials and exercise templates 🔏 Below is an introductory presentation on tools for creating foresight knowledge, specifically for the public sector. This presentation was adapted from the Train-the-Trainers program for Latvian policy planners organized by Demos Helsinki. In collaboration with the Latvian School of Public Administration, we helped civil servants renew their policy design tools to embed experimental characteristics. In the deck, you will find: ✅ Materials on foresight and its practical application  ✅ Co-creation and facilitation principles of foresight ✅ Exercise templates to develop futures knowledge Amid societal transformations, public servants are tasked to strike a balance between maintaining stability and pushing change. To perform the role well, they need a new set of skills, focusing on at least four critical elements–Wisdom, Imagination, Collaboration, and Humility. Building these capacities is a key task for Demos Helsinki in our governance work, aimed at developing a 21st-century civil service. Accompanying these materials are comprehensive keynotes, group mentoring, synchronous training, and more. However, through this overview, we hope you gain an understanding of what futures literacy training looks like and can make use of the materials. Far from a luxury, foresight work should be done seamlessly and iteratively in your daily task. If you want to develop further training content together or get guidance on using these materials, send us a message--let’s collaborate! 🤝

Finns recognise climate and biodiversity crises — and expect action 🇫🇮🌱 Despite the many crises currently dominating the media, Finns remain deeply concerned about climate change and biodiversity loss. The recently published 2025 Climate and Nature Barometers by Ympäristöministeriö - Miljöministeriet - Ministry of the Environment of Finland show that these challenges are already affecting the daily lives of many citizens — and that expectations for action are growing. Our key findings: ✅ Finns do value nature highly, and they are strongly aware of the climate and biodiversity impacts and the urgency of the situation. However, Finns require more understanding of the effects of biodiversity loss. 97% of respondents see the value of nature in increasing people’s health and wellbeing, and over 4 out of 5 recognise the global impacts of climate change and biodiversity loss. However, only 36% of respondents feel that Finns sufficiently understand the significance of biodiversity loss. ✅ Finns expect Cities and Municipalities to take action. Around 80% of respondents think local governments must prepare more actively for climate risks and businesses should be required to take stronger action to reduce emissions. Also, 90 % expect businesses causing negative nature impacts to pay the costs of improving the state of nature. ✅ Finns recognise the potential of clean energy and green transition for economic vitality.  76% of respondents believe municipalities can strengthen their vitality by attracting green investments to their regions, and 86% see clean technology exports as a competitive advantage for Finland. Moreover, 74% believe that improving the state of nature can bring economic benefits to areas, such as new business opportunities. At Demos Helsinki, we were proud to be part of the steering group working on these barometers. Kudos to the entire team behind the barometers, including MUST – Enabling multispecies transitions and SISU-konsortio, who was responsible for creating some of the survey questions. After working with the barometers for over a decade, it has been encouraging to see steady growth in our understanding of the climate and biodiversity crises and witness the shift from seeing them as opportunities for a stronger and more resilient society. The quest for decision-makers and businesses to act for climate and nature is strong. 💡 How do these insights align with what you’re seeing in your field? Let's discuss! Read more about the barometers (in Finnish): https://lnkd.in/dFp7cZMs 

At the start of this year, we successfully completed the opening phase of the "Innovative and Participatory Policymaking" project, implemented jointly with OECD Observatory of Public Sector Innovation as part of the Democratic Institutions and Participatory Policies in Armenia initiative. This milestone was made possible with the support of our key national partner, the Office of the Prime Minister of RA, and funding from the Swiss Development & Cooperation (SDC). Through partnerships with leading global stakeholders, including Demos Helsinki, we are laying the foundation for a systemic and institutional transformation in Armenia’s policymaking landscape. - 100 participants from 20 public institutions tested innovative policymaking tools across three policy areas. - The Public Sector Innovators' Community has grown to 50 civil servants from 11 ministries. - A behavioral systems mapping engaged 3,500 public servants to uncover key insights for institutional change. And this is just the beginning! Stay tuned as we embark on the next phase of transforming participatory governance in Armenia. #innovations #ParticipatoryGovernance #publicsectortransformation #UNDPArmenia #sdginnovationlab #OECD /// 2025թ. սկզբին հաջողությամբ ամփոփեցինք «Նորարարական և մասնակցային քաղաքականություն» ծրագրի նախնական փուլը, որն իրականացվում էր Տնտեսական համագործակցության և զարգացման կազմակերպության (OECD Observatory of Public Sector Innovation) հետ համատեղ՝ «Ժողովրդավարական ինստիտուտները և մասնակցային քաղաքականությունը Հայաստանում» նախաձեռնության շրջանակներում։ Ծրագիրն իրականություն է դարձել ազգային մակարդակի առանցքային գործընկեր՝ ՀՀ վարչապետի աշխատակազմի աջակցությամբ և Շվեյցարիայի զարգացման և համագործակցության գործակալության ֆինանսավորմամբ։ Ծրագրի շրջանակներում համագործակցելով միջազգային առաջատար կառույցների, այդ թվում՝ Demos Helsinki-ի հետ՝ հաջողվել է ստեղծել անհրաժեշտ հիմքեր Հայաստանում քաղաքականությունների մշակման համակարգային և ինստիտուցիոնալ վերափոխման համար։ Այդ թվում․ - 20 պետական կառույցներից 100 մասնակիցներ հնարավորություն են ունեցել փորձարկել նորարար գործիքներ երեք տարբեր ոլորտներում քաղաքականությունների մշակման գործընթացներում։ - Հանրային ոլորտի նորարարների գործող համայնքն ընդլայնվել է՝ ընդգրկելով 50 պետական ծառայող 11 նախարարություններից։ - Վարքաբանական համակարգային քարտեզագրման գործընթացի շրջանակում ներգրավվել է 3,500 պետական ծառայող, ովքեր նպաստել են ինստիտուցիոնալ բարեփոխումների համար կարևոր նոր պատկերացումների բացահայտմանը։ - Շարունակե՛ք հետևել մեզ Հայաստանում մասնակցային կառավարման մշակույթի փոխակերպմանն ուղղված մեր ջանքերին ծանոթանալու համար։ UNDP in Armenia, OECD - OCDE, OECD Observatory of Public Sector Innovation, Embassy of Switzerland in Armenia, Demos Helsinki Lilya Afrikyan, Anzhela Kzhdryan, Hamazasp Danielyan, Piret Tõnurist, Toby Baker, Tigran Tshorokhyan, Nayiri Shorjian, Diana Gasparyan, Syuzanna Martirosyan, Anoush Grigourian

📅 Save the date 📅 Join us for our Istanbul Innovation Days 2025 in partnership with the Government of Türkiye, Demos Helsinki and TIAL (The Institutional Architecture Lab) to explore how institutions can adapt to current crises and shape future pathways. On 25–26 March, leaders, thinkers, policymakers and activists will gather in Istanbul to: ➡️ Explore emerging practices shaping institutional innovation ➡️ Learn from pioneers transforming institutions, with insights from the Global South ➡️ Contribute to a global network driving institutional renewal Learn more and join us for #IID2025: https://lnkd.in/gjHzfq5P 

Next week, Time Use Initiative - TUI will take part in UNDP's #IID2025. We will explore how institutions can frame their policies to better align with social realities — to foster well-being, it is essential to frame time use as core, transversal policies. Check out our case story! https://lnkd.in/dYvdj3Dc Demos Helsinki

Turvallista vettä kaikille -hanke on käynnistynyt! University of Oulun Vesi-, energia ja ympäristötekniikan tutkimusyksiköstä (WE3) hankkeessa ovat mukana apulaisprofessori Pekka Rossi & yliopistotutkija Elisangela Heiderscheidt. Hankkeessa ovat mukana myös Oulun yliopiston professori Pekka Leviäkangas (Rakennus- ja yhdyskuntatekniikka) sekä apulaisprofessori Mourad Oussalah (Konenäön ja signaalianalyysin tutkimuskeskus). Hankkeen konsortiota vetää Finnish Institute for Health and Welfare (THL) johtava tutkija Miettinen Ilkka. Konsortiossa ovat mukana myös Finnish Environment Institute (Syke) - Suomen ympäristökeskus (Syke), University of Lapland, Maanpuolustuskorkeakoulu – Försvarshögskolan – Finnish National Defence University ja Demos Helsinki. Lue lisää juuri alkaneesta hankkeesta alla olevan linkin kautta! #UniOulu #tutkimus https://lnkd.in/d3m_aMmZ

Ilmastobarometrin ja Luontobarometrin tulokset ovat julki! Suomalaisten tietoisuus ilmastonmuutoksen ja luontokadon maailmanlaajuisista vaikutuksista on vahva. Selvä enemmistö Ilmasto- ja Luontobarometrien vastaajista näkee, että ilmastonmuutoksen (86 prosenttia vastaajista) ja luontokadon (88 prosenttia vastaajista) vaikutukset näkyvät jo nyt eri puolilla maailmaa.  Puhdas teknologia nähdään Suomessa vientivalttina. Selvä enemmistö, 86 prosenttia, on sitä mieltä, että Suomi voi parantaa kilpailukykyään viemällä puhtaan teknologian ratkaisuja maailmalle. Vastaajista 75 prosenttia näkee, että ilmastokestävät ratkaisut parantavat ihmisten hyvinvointia Suomessa. Tietoisuus luontokadon etenemisestä on lisääntynyt - maailman luonnon tilanteesta on huolissaan jo 91 prosenttia vastaajista.  Suomalaisista 86 prosenttia on sitä mieltä, että luontokato vaikuttaa esimerkiksi ruoantuotantoon, kansanterveyteen, huoltovarmuuteen ja talouteen. Suomalaiset kaipaavat lisää tietoa luontokadosta ja tavoista toimia luonnon monimuotoisuuden puolesta. Vain 36 prosenttia Luontobarometriin vastanneista on sitä mieltä, että suomalaisten tietoisuus luontokadon merkityksestä on riittävällä tasolla. Vastaajista 31 prosenttia ei osaa sanoa, toimiiko luonnon monimuotoisuuden puolesta. Luonnon arvostus yhdistää suomalaisia erittäin vahvasti: jopa 97 prosenttia Luontobarometrin vastaajista on sitä mieltä, että luonto lisää ihmisten hyvinvointia ja terveyttä. Vastaajista 96 prosenttia on sitä mieltä, että puhdas luonto on tärkeä osa suomalaista identiteettiä.  🔗 Lue lisää tiedotteesta: https://lnkd.in/dFp7cZMs Tutkimukset tilasivat valtionhallinnon ilmastoviestinnän ja biodiversiteettiviestinnän ohjausryhmät. Tutkimukseen osallistuivat ympäristöministeriö, Maa- ja metsätalousministeriö/Jord- och skogsbruksministeriet/Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry, Liikenne- ja viestintäministeriö - Ministry of Transport and Communications, FI, Ministry for Foreign Affairs of Finland, Research Council of Finland | Suomen Akatemia, ELY-keskus - Centre for Economic Development, Transport and the Environment, Natural Resources Institute Finland / Luonnonvarakeskus, Motiva – valtion kestävän kehityksen yhtiö, Business Finland, Sitra, Finnish Environment Institute (Syke) - Suomen ympäristökeskus (Syke), Metsähallitus Luontopalvelut, Kuntaliitto | Kommunförbundet (Association of Finnish Cities and Municipalities), VTT, Finnish Meteorological Institute - Ilmatieteen laitos ja Demos Helsinki.   

Public institutions worldwide are crippled with unprecedented challenges. But what if the much-needed lifeline comes not from policy but from reimagining their very design? A critical example of where this is needed: security. During times of peace, things such as wellbeing, time, care, and happiness shape security in ways that military or financial safeguards don’t. 🟣 Care is fundamental to human relationships and social cohesion. Yet, it is often managed within different silos and treated as a transactional service. 🔸 Time isn’t evenly distributed among people, especially for those who carry unpaid caregiving responsibilities. This imbalance has real consequences for gender equality, wellbeing, and labour markets. 🔻 Heat is not just a weather condition; it affects crime rates, economic productivity, and public health. These dimensions of security — security to thrive, security in health, security in public spaces — are deeply intertwined, yet institutions often approach them in isolation. However, there are “bright spots”. Creative institutional entrepreneurs around the world have designed new ways to address these topics, ultimately increasing societal resilience. 💡 Singapore has redefined care as a coordinated system rather than a fragmented service, addressing care provision, financial support, prevention and community all at once. 💡 In Barcelona, the Time Use Initiative has been guiding policy approaches for equitable time redistribution between work, care, and leisure. 💡 Worldwide, the emergence of “Chief Heat Officers” transcends urban, climate and health policies, improving public institutions’ abilities to deal with the rising threat of heat.   Cases like these prove that there is room for innovation in how we design public institutions. And maybe this is one of the most crucial things public institutions can do to meaningfully serve their societies in an uncertain world. We are so proud to explore viable options for institutional designs emerging from real-life cases — and our imagination — at Istanbul Innovation Days, on March 25-26. You can follow along, and learn from dozens of inspiring cases on the IID website (more to come): https://lnkd.in/dJ-zd2Zy UNDP, TIAL (The Institutional Architecture Lab)

Demos Helsinki shares two open positions broadly around city governance and one opportunity to express your interest! 🔹 City Innovation Expert (French-speaking) We are hiring an expert in urban innovation and city governance, with experience working with cities in Europe and internationally. This role requires fluency in French and involves supporting city leaders, engaging in multi-stakeholder dialogue, leading and managing change processes, and many more exciting opportunities for impact. 📍 Remote or Helsinki, with regular travel (especially to Brussels) 📅 Apply by: 21 March 2025 🔗 More details and apply here: https://lnkd.in/dASBhnRR 🔹 EU Urban Policy Expert As an EU Urban Policy Expert at Demos Helsinki, you will provide expertise and insights in supporting policy engagement and developing decarbonisation efforts in the EU. This role’s focus is on leading engagement and communication between the European Commission and the cities, building dialogue and opportunities to discuss the implementation of the EU Cities Mission, and developing innovative approaches for urban transformations and multilevel action through policy and governance. 📍 Helsinki or anywhere in Finland (some travel elsewhere required) 📅 Apply by: 30 March 2025 🔗 More details and apply here: https://lnkd.in/dYE7547f 🔹 Expression of Interest: Experienced Leaders and Experts in City Innovation Are you excited about shaping the future of European cities through innovation? We’re looking for skilled innovation leaders and experts in the Nordic region to help tackle the complex challenges in cities. 📅 No fixed deadline—rolling expressions of interest 🔗 Submit your expression of interest: https://lnkd.in/dQmBWX_s If your work intersects with city governance, urban policy, and innovation, we invite you to explore these opportunities and join us in shaping the future of cities. #UrbanGovernance #CityInnovation #UrbanPolicy #EU #JobOpportunities

Mikä on paikallisen kansalaistoiminnan merkitys yhteiskunnan kriisinkestävyydelle ja muuntumiselle muuttuvissa oloissa? Miten kansalaistoiminnan tila, merkitys ja suhde julkisen hallinnon kanssa vaihtelevat alueittain Suomessa? Millaista tukea ja yhteistyötä tarvitaan jatkossa paikallisen kansalaistoiminnan tukemiseksi? Näitä kysymyksiä tarkasteltiin Valtioneuvoston selvitys- ja tutkimustoimintaan kuuluvassa selvityksessä, jonka keskeiset havainnot ja toimenpidesuositukset esitellään verkkotilaisuudessa. Kaikille avoin verkkotilaisuus järjestetään 25.3. klo 10-11. Löydät lisätietoa tilaisuudesta ja ilmoittautumislomakkeen tämän linkin kautta: https://bitly.cx/ME4N Hanketoteuttajat olivat Finnish Environment Institute (Syke) - Suomen ympäristökeskus (Syke), University of Helsinki ja Demos Helsinki.