Doha, October 14, 2026 : Qatar’s Ministry of Sports and Youth (MSY) has concluded the Strategic Foresight Forum on Global Youth Competencies and Lifelong Learning, held in Doha from October 12 to 14 in collaboration with the Islamic World Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (ICESCO).
The three-day forum brought together experts, institutions and young people from several countries to explore future challenges, strengthen youth capabilities and expand their participation in policymaking. Its recommendations emphasized strategic foresight, drawing on Qatar’s experience in future planning, developing skills for emerging challenges and turning proposals into joint initiatives.
Speaking to Qatar News Agency (QNA), MSY Director of the Youth Affairs Department Fawaz Al Mesaifri said the forum created opportunities for dialogue and knowledge exchange, enabling young people to develop foresight skills, explore future scenarios and suggest practical solutions in areas such as education, employment and community life.
He highlighted the importance of investing in young people and involving them in shaping policies and programs, noting that their ideas and capabilities can help anticipate challenges and identify opportunities for development and innovation.
Al Mesaifri also pointed to cooperation between MSY, ICESCO, Prince Mohammad Bin Fahd University and the Qatar National Commission as an opportunity to exchange expertise and coordinate efforts to strengthen youth empowerment and strategic foresight. He stressed the need to turn participants’ proposals into practical initiatives.
Dr. Kais Hammami, Head of ICESCO’s Foresight and Artificial Intelligence Center, said the forum sought to help young people anticipate future challenges and prepare for change. He highlighted Qatar’s experience in strategic foresight and the importance of institutional cooperation and knowledge-sharing.
The opening day featured discussions with strategic foresight experts, while the following two days focused on involving young participants in developing future scenarios and proposing ideas. Attendees represented several countries, including UNESCO member states.
Hammami noted that ICESCO established the first Arab and Islamic center dedicated to strategic foresight and artificial intelligence in 2020. The center conducts specialized studies, promotes foresight among member states and aims to train 5,000 people in the field.
Omar Tumeh, representing Syria, thanked Qatar for its support, hospitality and solidarity, praising its efforts to empower young people and strengthen their role in shaping the future. He said the forum gave participants a platform to discuss issues affecting them and explore responses to rapid change.
Tumeh called for practical cooperation and effective partnerships, stressing that young people should be recognized as partners in driving change through their ideas, initiatives and contributions to national and humanitarian issues.
The forum’s recommendations outlined five priority areas: integrating strategic foresight into education, youth work and policymaking; sharing Qatar’s experience in future planning and youth empowerment with ICESCO member states; increasing youth participation in policymaking; strengthening future-ready skills and lifelong learning; and establishing a joint framework to implement recommendations and monitor progress.
Proposed measures include capacity-building programs, study visits tailored to national priorities, regular youth consultations, specialized foresight laboratories, intergenerational dialogue and stronger links between youth proposals and relevant institutions.
The recommendations also call for closer cooperation among education, training, youth and labour-market institutions, greater emphasis on critical and creative thinking, responsible use of artificial intelligence and wider training opportunities for disadvantaged young people.
A joint implementation framework is expected to define priorities, responsibilities, partnerships and progress indicators. The next forum will review progress and share lessons to sustain cooperation, with the broader aim of translating strategic foresight into practical initiatives and policies that respond to young people’s aspirations.
Source: QNA
