Envisioning is a tool that can be used to determine the Mision and Vision of an organisation, but can also be applied at a much smaller scale to brainstorm and decide on an activity. It helps to come to creative and innovative solutions, and can therefore be of great value in many workshops and meetings that seek solutions beyond the known and obvious. It is therefore valuable not only at the formulation, but also at all other stages of the project cycle. This is why we placed in in the middle of the cycle . It is closely linked to developing Strategic Options and the stage of translating Results into Activities in a Logical Framework.

What is it?

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Envisioning is an inter-active tool to guide the visionary thinking of stakeholders of an organisation, or of actors with an interest in a certain subject. Envisioning is a way to prevent that reflection on the current problems hampers the discussion about the future. It helps to arrive at a common vision, mission, identity, values and profile, to identify problems that may jeopardise reaching the envisioned, and to prepare policy choices to prevent (or address) these problems. It helps to reassess whether we do the right things (in view of long-term trends and objectives), rather than that it limits the discussion to the operational question whether we do things the right way. Moreover, the activity of envisioning as well as the vision itself helps to inspire, bind, direct and challenge the stakeholders.

Starting from the need identification of the target group, the key-actors involved are identified. In addition the roles of the key-actor(s) are identified, and the products and services to achieve the required output. In addition the enabling conditions and inputs could be identified.

What can you do with it?

The process of envisioning on the organisation produces a vision towards the role and function the organisation that it wants to fulfil in the future: what output it should deliver, what enabling conditions or inputs are required, and how to arrive at meeting these conditions.

The process of envisioning on a sector produces a shared vision of stakeholders in this sector towards the felt needs of the target population, and the services that various suppliers should deliver.

© UNICEF/Djibouti 040632F-credit Giacomo Pirozzi