Futures studies, foresight, or futurology is the practice of trying to predict possible future realities. It is not crystal ball gazing or witchcraft, but it is looking at current trends and identifying patterns from which different possibilities emerge. This area of work is growing in significance as governments and organisations seek to understand how robust their strategies are. - See more at: http://tilz.tearfund.org/en/resources/publications/footsteps/footsteps_81-90/footsteps_81/how_will_the_world_change_in_the_next_20_years/#sthash.CePoJ0jC.dpuf