A digital platform that provides strategic and prospective quantitative and qualitative information, specifically on trends, risks, opportunities, scenarios, future events, and other topics. It is designed for use, consultation, and input by planners and the general public. It seeks to reduce the information gap, ensuring the validity and up-to-date nature of data for the formulation of plans and policies, thus facilitating the anticipation of challenges and the exploitation of opportunities.
Innovation Summary
Innovation Overview
Problem and opportunity addressed:
Before the creation of the platform, strategic planning in Peru faced limitations due to the absence of a centralized and accessible source of information for prospective analysis. The lack of systematized data on possible future scenarios prevented decision-makers from anticipating changes and designing effective strategies for the country's development. The National Center for Strategic Planning (Ceplan) developed the Observatory as a platform for visualizing prospective information, strengthening planning capacity.
Innovation and objectives:
This innovation involves centralizing and organizing strategic information on a web platform, facilitating access to studies on future events. Its goal is to provide key data to improve decision-making and public policymaking with a long-term vision. Instead of dispersing studies in separate documents, this tool allows for structured consultation of global megatrends, national changes, and disruptive events. Furthermore, it classifies information into different thematic areas such as social, environmental, ethical, political, technological, and economic, promoting a more dynamic and anticipatory approach to managing the country's development.
Beneficiaries:
The platform's main beneficiaries are government entities, which use it to design more precise and informed public policies; the academic community and researchers, who access structured studies that allow them to analyze trends and model future scenarios; and businesses and organizations, which can anticipate transformations in their environment and adjust their strategies based on forward-looking information. Citizens also benefit by having access to key data on the country's development, promoting transparency and access to strategic knowledge.
Implementation and future:
Innovation for the future focuses on anticipating changes and being better prepared. Its purpose is to provide accessible, data-driven information, helping to make decisions more accurate. To continue advancing, we seek to expand studies, update future scenarios, and share knowledge through workshops and publications.
The National Foresight Observatory plans to enhance its platform to improve the user experience by implementing advanced features such as more efficient information filtering and search systems, ensuring accessibility for people with disabilities, and integrating a chatbot that will provide direct support to planners and users, facilitating navigation and understanding of all the observatory modules. Additionally, new modules will be included that will allow users to identify and plot trends based on their selections, among other improvements aimed at optimizing the platform's usability and value.
Methodology used:
The Observatory employs prospective methodologies such as structural analysis, the Delphi method, backcasting, and scenario building to anticipate changes and strengthen the country's strategic planning. Through the identification of global trends, risk assessment, and simulations of alternative futures, it seeks to ensure that public policies not only respond to current problems but also chart a clear path toward 2050, adapting international experiences to the Peruvian reality.
Innovation Description
What Makes Your Project Innovative?
The National Foresight Observatory, created by the National Center for Strategic Planning (CEPLAN), is an innovative platform that helps understand and anticipate changes that could impact the country's future. Unlike traditional methods that only analyze past data, this observatory uses modern tools to explore different scenarios and potential trends, enabling better long-term decision-making.
Its digital and interactive design makes the information easy to access and understand through maps, graphs, and clear summaries. It is designed to enable anyone interested, from authorities to researchers and citizens, to learn about the challenges and opportunities facing Peru. Furthermore, it draws on experiences from other countries and adapts them to our reality, becoming an essential guide for planning a more informed and sustainable future.
What is the current status of your innovation?
It is currently operational and undergoing constant development, consolidating its position as a key tool for strategic planning in Peru. Currently, it has approximately 2,303 content entries in various categories related to future analysis. The category with the largest number of entries is Trends, with 665, followed by Risks (497) and Opportunities (402).
In addition, the Observatory includes 166 foresight events and 66 future events, as well as 202 current affairs notes and 214 publications. To strengthen the analysis, 30 Future Forums, 36 podcasts, and 16 scenarios have been developed. In the coming years, improved access to and updating of information is anticipated, as well as the integration of new methodologies to further strengthen strategic decision-making in the country.
Innovation Development
Collaborations & Partnerships
The National Foresight Observatory was supported by the political commitment of the National Directorate of Foresight and Strategic Studies of Ceplan, which allocated the funds for its development. However, much of the information contained therein has been the result of contributions from experts from the public sector (sectors and territories), the private sector, and academia (universities and research centers), who have identified the trends, risks and opportunities most relevant of Peru
Users, Stakeholders & Beneficiaries
The Observatory benefits various groups. It provides citizens with information about future changes to help them make better decisions. It also helps officials design policies and strategic plans based on trends and scenarios. It also supports civil society organizations in their initiatives and proposals. Finally, it provides companies with key data to identify opportunities, anticipate risks, and adapt to a constantly evolving environment.
Innovation Reflections
Results, Outcomes & Impacts
The National Foresight Observatory has had a significant impact on Peru's strategic planning. To date, it has recorded approximately 2,300 pieces of content, consolidating key information. Its usage has grown exponentially, reaching 322,936 logins and 1,214,314 page views. Between 2022 and 2024, platform visits increased from 1,087 to 3,327, and logins from 98 to 885, reflecting its growing adoption.
Results are measured through monitoring access and the use of information in public policies, regional planning, and business strategies. In the future, the program hopes to expand its scope, integrate new foresight analysis methodologies, and strengthen collaboration with national and international organizations, improving its ability to anticipate changes and strengthening strategic decision-making in the country.
Challenges and Failures
The National Foresight Observatory has faced several challenges throughout its history. One of the main ones has been the lack of financial and human resources to ensure the continuous and effective updating of its information. Furthermore, the consolidation of data from multiple sources has required constant standardization and validation to ensure its quality.
While no structural failures have been reported, difficulties have arisen in content management and the dissemination of its products, limiting their reach and use. To address these challenges, strategic alliances with institutions and organizations have been strengthened, in addition to implementing improvements in communication and dissemination capabilities. Likewise, work has been done to optimize internal processes, ensuring greater efficiency in the management and updating of the platform.
Conditions for Success
The National Foresight Observatory requires several conditions to ensure its success and sustainability. Robust technological infrastructure and efficient support services are essential for the platform's upgradability and accessibility. Furthermore, a clear policy framework and regulations strengthen its institutionalization in government planning.
Ceplan's leadership has been instrumental in implementing and strengthening the observatory, promoting its use in strategic decision-making. Furthermore, having trained human resources and stable funding is key to its growth. Finally, the commitment of the stakeholders involved, along with greater dissemination and use of the platform, will ensure that it continues to add value to the country's planning.
Replication
Although there is no specific information on whether the Observatory has been replicated to address similar problems, it is possible that its working model, products, and services could be adapted and replicated in other contexts. It is known that various institutions and organizations have already used it to develop policies and plans within the National Strategic Planning System (SINAPLAN). In fact, according to the latest survey of SINAPLAN operators, around 50% use the Observatory to access information. In the future, it could be adopted by governments, companies, and international organizations seeking to improve their planning and decision-making. By identifying key changes and challenges, it allows for anticipating scenarios and better preparing for change. Furthermore, the incorporation of technologies such as artificial intelligence and big data could make it even more effective and accessible.
Lessons Learned
Following the implementation of the National Foresight Observatory, several key lessons have been identified that can be contribute to strengthening future initiatives. Inter-institutional collaboration has proven essential to consolidating a robust and reliable platform, since the integration of multiple sources of information requires effective coordination and clear standards to ensure data quality.
Likewise, dissemination and training have been essential aspects. Developing an innovative tool isn't enough; its impact depends on its effective use by decision-makers. In this regard, awareness-raising and training in foresight have been crucial in promoting its adoption and application in strategic planning.
Finally, constant updating represents a continuing challenge. For the platform to remain useful and relevant, it is necessary to ensure sustainable resources and efficient processes that allow for its maintenance and evolution.
Anything Else?
The Observatory continues to strengthen its additional modules to facilitate access and analysis of key information on strategic foresight. The Current Affairs Module disseminates news on global and national trends, while the Foresight Meetings and Future Forums promote debates on future scenarios. Through podcasts and publications, foresight studies and applied cases are disseminated. Furthermore, the Map of Interrelationships shows the connection between megatrends and their impact on development. Its growth reflects a growing interest in anticipating challenges and opportunities, with the potential to become a regional benchmark through the continuous updating of data and the training of strategic planning specialists.
Supporting Videos
Status:
- Implementation - making the innovation happen
- Evaluation - understanding whether the innovative initiative has delivered what was needed
- Diffusing Lessons - using what was learnt to inform other projects and understanding how the innovation can be applied in other ways
Innovation provided by:
Date Published:
4 March 2026