This week, the EUDA is organising an online event focusing on building future-proof early warning systems in Latin American and Caribbean countries through foresight training and capacity building.
The course, taking place on 15 and 17 October, is organised under the EUDA-COPOLAD III partnership and falls under the agency's broader international cooperation activities.
In a rapidly changing world, the ability to anticipate emerging threats and challenges is increasingly important — especially for national early-warning systems tasked with safeguarding public health and safety.
Foresight methodologies play a vital role in shaping effective responses and ensuring preparedness. Since 2019, the EUDA has been actively developing foresight expertise in the drugs area, including the creation of a dedicated Foresight toolkit.
The event will be divided into two parts. Part 1, open to all Latin American and Caribbean countries, focuses on building 'futures literacy' skills, with a particular emphasis on navigating uncertainty, creating projections and developing scenarios.
Part 2 will feature a hands-on exercise for representatives from four Caribbean countries —Barbados, Guyana, Jamaica, and Trinidad and Tobago. Participants will have the opportunity to apply specific foresight methods and tools to explore potential challenges, including those posed by synthetic opioids in the region.
This foresight exercise will facilitate the development of scenarios in 2030 on emerging trends (including on synthetic drugs). It will also collect insights regarding potential opportunities, threats and policy responses.
