In 2026, the Skoll World Forum once again brought together some of the leading global figures dedicated to social transformation. Held in Oxford, United Kingdom, from April 21 to 24, the meeting gathered approximately 1,300 participants—including social entrepreneurs, philanthropists, academics, and public sector representatives—with the goal of accelerating solutions to the complex challenges facing the planet.
Débora Passos, Director of Strategy and Governance at Instituto Arapyaú, attended the event.
“It was an opportunity to deepen our strategic intelligence in the field of philanthropy, connect with actors who can cooperate with our agendas, and learn about innovative initiatives that offer replicable solutions,” she states.
Promoted by the Skoll Foundation, this year’s debate centered on resilience and the collective capacity for renewal in the face of increasingly interconnected crises. One of the highlights was the growing leadership from the Global South. “We saw a very strong emphasis on organizations rooted in their territories, with Latin America, Africa, and Asia taking a central role in both the discussions and the awards,” highlights Passos.
Initiatives combining social, environmental, and economic impact reinforced the potential of local solutions with global scale. For example, the experience of the ChildLife Foundation showed how the use of telemedicine in public hospitals in Pakistan managed to drastically reduce child mortality in severe cases. This initiative was one of the winners of the 2026 Skoll Award for Social Innovation.
“These are solutions that stem from concrete realities and show how technology can generate value when well applied,” comments Passos.
Technological advancement was also one of the meeting’s central themes, focusing on both opportunities and risks. One of the concepts discussed was polyintelligence, which combines human, artificial, and collective intelligence.
“The most promising future does not lie in pure automation, but in the collaboration between different forms of intelligence to solve complex problems,” explains the Director of Strategy and Governance.
Another recurring point was the role of philanthropy in the face of structural challenges. The discussions reinforced the need for more boldness and flexibility in investments. In this context, the concept of “Big Bets”—large financial contributions directed toward high-impact solutions—gained prominence. According to Passos, these investments have the potential to elevate the level at which organizations operate. “Large donations accelerate the pace, expand ambition, and strengthen institutional capacity. They allow for investment in teams, technology, and management, creating the conditions for impact to be sustained over time.”
Beyond boosting initiatives, the challenge posed is to ensure that solutions remain even after the resources end. “Structural problems are persistent. Therefore, the focus must be on building lasting capacities that guarantee continuous transformation and prevent setbacks,” she concludes.