Source: DD News
Subject: International Organisation
Context: The United Arab Emirates and the World Economic Forum (WEF) have signed an MoU for Dubai to host the annual Global Future Councils (GFCs) meetings for the next five years.
About Global Future Councils (GFCs):
What are the Global Future Councils?
- The Global Future Councils (GFCs) are the World Economic Forum’s flagship multistakeholder knowledge network, designed as time-bound, invitation-only think tanks that generate forward-looking insights on emerging global challenges and opportunities.
Established in: 2013 (as part of WEF’s future-oriented knowledge architecture)
Organisations involved: World Economic Forum
- Strategic partner host (2026–2030): United Arab Emirates
Aim of the Global Future Councils:
- To identify emerging trends, risks, and technologies shaping the global future
- To translate expert knowledge into actionable policy-relevant insights
- To support governments and institutions in building resilient, inclusive, and sustainable development models
Key features:
- Invitation-only & time-bound: Members serve two-year terms (current term: March 2025 – December 2026).
- Interdisciplinary approach: Councils bring together diverse expertise to address complex, interconnected challenges.
- Evidence-based outputs: Emphasis on data, research, and facts rather than opinion.
- Policy integration: Council insights feed directly into WEF initiatives and the Davos agenda.
- Scale:
- ~37 thematic councils (2025–26 term)
- 700+ experts currently involved
- 900 councils and 12,000+ experts engaged since inception
Core operating principles:
- Interdisciplinary collaboration & systems thinking – Bridging silos to address cross-cutting global challenges.
- Fresh ideas and innovative thinking – Scanning emerging issues, frontier technologies, and future risks.
- Expertise and evidence – Grounding global cooperation in research-backed insights.
