Visionary Victory: Congo Basin Futures Project Wins Prestigious Dubai Foresight Award!

A unique project exploring the future of the Congo Basin, led by Dr. Nsah Mala from the University of Cologne's BRIDGES Hub for Planetary Wellbeing, has clinched a top international honour, winning the inaugural Dubai Foresight Awards in the "Foresight for the Planet" category.

The project, titled Congo Basin Futures, was celebrated last Tuesday, November 18, 2025, where out of hundreds of submissions from 50 countries it was named the overall category winner.

Congo Basin Futures utilises innovative, foresight-based approaches, including participatory foresight methodologies, storytelling, and indigenous knowledge, to map out both undesirable and preferred futures for the world's second-largest tropical rainforest.

This vital work aims to shape policy and action to preserve the Congo Basin for generations of humans and non-humans, including the region's exceptional biodiversity. A key element of the project is the exploration of future possibilities through a collection of compelling short stories. The initiative also dedicates specific focus to the preservation of 'royal animals' in certain Cameroonian indigenous kingdoms (#RoyalAnimalsFutures).

The award trophy was presented by HH Sheikh Hamdan Bin Mohammed Bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Crown Prince of Dubai and Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Defence of the UAE, during the 4th edition of the Dubai Future Forum.

The event brought together 2,500 futurists, academics, and thought leaders.

The Dubai Foresight Awards, organised by the Dubai Future Foundation and the Museum of the Future, celebrate "thinkers, innovators, and pioneers in foresight and future design...highlighting their transformative achievements and vital contributions to creating a better future for humanity."

Dr. Nsah Mala, who initiated and leads the project, expressed profound gratitude upon receiving the accolade: “This prestigious award is a win for the Congo Basin and all the project participants and partners. We hope to secure funding and continue with this important project on Congo Basin Futures!”

Dr. Mala specifically acknowledged the diverse group of collaborators, including the Kings of Mbessa, Oku, Din-Noni, and Ajung, as well as the environmentalists, writers, and various other professionals who contributed to the 2024 online and Yaoundé workshops, adding, "WE DID THIS TOGETHER!"

The project received crucial support from a 2023 Next Generation Foresight Practitioners Fellowship from the School of International Futures (SOIF), alongside support from the University of Cologne, UNESCO-MOST BRIDGES Coalition, Multidisciplinary Environmental Studies in the Humanities (MESH), Global South Studies Center (GSSC), and Sharing a Planet in Peril.

Discover more about this award-winning project here.