Davos: the strong signals for social good

What is Davos and why should I engage with it?

Davos refers to the Annual Meeting of the World Economic Forum, held each January in Davos, Switzerland, a small alpine town known historically as a health and wellbeing resort. It brings together leaders from government, business, civil society, philanthropy, and academia to discuss shared global challenges and align on priorities.

Davos shapes how problems are defined, which risks are prioritised, and where attention, capital, and partnerships are likely to flow. And it pulls in big name leaders and gives them access to each other. It brings in the top decision makers with some critics questioning the fairness of the balance of power around the table but the ability to create opportunities to access those decision making groups is essential. It's also a good way to engage in emerging themes which are shaping how organisations at a micro level can respond to challenges.

The 2026 meeting is organised around the theme “A Spirit of Dialogue”, reflecting the need for cooperation in a fragmented global environment deeply impacted by misinformation. You'll hear the term "social media slop" a lot. And of course this will be a major challenge for organisations and civic minded types in the coming year as a tidal wave of information generated by bots hits.

What Davos is signalling for social good

Social issues are now treated as core global risks. Inequality, loss of trust, misinformation, and social polarisation are highlighted alongside economic and geopolitical threats in the World Economic Forum Global Risks Report. This reinforces the case long made by UK charities and social enterprises that social cohesion underpins long term stability and prosperity.

Social innovation is shifting from programmes to systems change. The emphasis is on coordinated action across policy, capital, technology, and communities. Social purpose organisations are increasingly recognised as partners in redesigning systems, not simply as delivery agents.

Technology for social good is moving from experimentation to governance. Artificial intelligence and digital tools remain central topics, but with a stronger focus on responsible use, inclusion, and public trust, particularly in health, education, welfare, and employment.

Climate is being discussed through human impact. Conversations focus on health outcomes, livelihoods, displacement, and resilience, areas highly relevant to UK based organisations working locally and internationally.

The future of work is framed as a social good issue. Skills, job quality, and workforce transitions are discussed in terms of dignity, access, and opportunity, not just productivity. This resonates strongly with UK debates on skills, regional inequality, and inclusive growth.

And of course, the President of the USA is expected to be in attendance and that will of course disrupt further. Keep informed of all developments with the useful links below.

Useful Links For You

Why this matters for the UK social sector

Davos reinforces a clear signal to us all regardless of the context. Trust, equity, and inclusion are no longer peripheral concerns. They are central to how global leaders understand risk, resilience, and growth. For UK mission driven organisations, this creates both validation and an opportunity to engage more confidently at a systems level, at home and globally. It's an critical moment this week but what happens should shape your thinking on how to adapt, pivot and change.