Strategic Foresight Becomes Part of Police Reform in Ukraine
March 13, 2026
Strategic decisions in policing prescribe consequences that extend far beyond the present moment. For law enforcement agencies operating in a rapidly changing security environment, the ability to anticipate future risks and opportunities is becoming increasingly important.
To support this capacity, the European Union Advisory Mission (EUAM) Ukraine brought together representatives of the National Police of Ukraine (NPU) and the National Academy of the Ministry of Internal Affairs for a strategic foresight workshop held from 2 to 6 March. The programme focused on strengthening participants’ ability to analyse uncertainty and integrate longer-term thinking into decision-making practice.
Strategic foresight is included in the Action Plan of the Overarching Strategic Plan for the Reform of the Entire Law Enforcement Sector (OAS). Applying foresight tools in planning enables the NPU to look beyond immediate challenges, better assess emerging risks and identify opportunities when shaping policies and institutional development.
During the workshop, participants worked through the full cycle of foresight analysis. They examined methods to identify key trends, develop scenarios for how the environment may evolve and test strategies against different possible futures. The training also focused on translating analytical insights into practical steps through roadmaps and the Objectives and Key Results (OKR) methodology.
“Strategic foresight helps institutions move from reacting to events to preparing for them,” said Pirita Vuorisalo, Head of Organised Crime Unit at EUAM. “For the National Police of Ukraine, this means assessing risks earlier, testing decisions against different scenarios and planning development with greater confidence.”
By the end of the programme, participants had strengthened the competencies needed for strategic planning in conditions of uncertainty. These skills will support the National Police of Ukraine in integrating foresight thinking into its policies and institutional development in the years ahead.
