How we work

The earth’s ecological systems and humanity face escalating, interconnected, systemic risks. ASRA (the Accelerator for Systemic Risk Assessment) is a global initiative dedicated to raising awareness about the urgent need to anticipate and manage these critical threats, and accelerating the development of practical tools that decision-makers need to inform their actions.

The problem.

Systemic risks are multiplying—from emerging technological risks, geopolitical conflict, and the erosion of democracy to hunger, pandemics, biodiversity loss, ecological degradation, climate change, inequity, and more. All of these risks pose the threat of irreversible harm. Our current methods and tools for assessing and responding to risks can't adequately handle the complex, dynamic nature of today's interconnected challenges.

Our response.

We need new ways to handle risks that affect multiple systems at once - these are more complex than dealing with single problems. We're bringing together experts from different fields, including young professionals, to develop better tools, methods, and strategies for responding to systemic risks. We may not be able to anticipate the next great global shock, but we can take action now to assess and transform our systems, making them more resilient, equitable, and sustainable today.

Our approach.

  • We take a principles- and evidence-based approach to enable collaboration, guide our thinking, and inform our actions wherever decisions about the future of the earth’s ecological systems and humanity are taken. 
  • We ground our work in systems-thinking to acknowledge the complexity and uncertainty of the polycrisis, examining feedback loops, systemic interrelationships, dynamics and drivers, and tipping points. 
  • We amplify narratives that challenge, reframe, and shift the underlying inertia that holds back urgent and ambitious action. 
  • We proactively seek out solution pathways that are context-sensitive, robust, and evidence-based with the potential to accelerate systems transformation. 

ASRA is an independent, not-for-profit initiative hosted by the United Nations Foundation.