Innovators urged to turn risks into resilience as geoeconomic rivalry tops 2026 outlook

DR FRANÇOIS Bonnici, Director of the Schwab Foundation for Social Entrepreneurship and a member of the World Economic Forum's (WEF) Executive Committee, has warned that the world’s emerging “age of competition” must not descend into paralysis, calling for stronger partnerships between governments, business, philanthropy and social innovators to confront escalating global risks.

- SIPHELELE DLUDLA

Speaking in response to the WEF’s Global Risks Report 2026, Bonnici said the findings confirm what social innovators and entrepreneurs are already experiencing on the ground: a convergence of geopolitical shocks, climate disruption and an information-integrity crisis.

“The age of competition must not become an age of paralysis,’ Bonnici said.

“We urge governments, business and philanthropy to partner with social innovators to turn risk into resilience at scale. We must back leaders who champion business models that are more inclusive and more sustainable, and that respond to what people and markets actually need.” Bonnici said social enterprises have shown remarkable resilience despite funding contractions, political shocks and fragile ecosystems.

The Schwab Foundation’s community of social innovators and enterprises has directly improved the lives of an estimated 950 million people worldwide.