Three takeaways from Davos 2026: climate, innovation and partnership.

While geopolitics may have dominated the headlines from the World Economic Forum’s annual meeting in Davos, the dialogue among business and non-profit leaders this year was notably grounded. The focus was on the opportunities presented by innovation, collaboration, and long-term resilience. For the impact investing and the development community, three key themes emerged that signal a more mature approach to global challenges.

1. Increased focus on climate adaptation and resilience

There was a full agenda of discussions on the economic and environmental opportunities inherent in climate adaptation and resilience innovation. From ocean conservation to sustainable land use, to cleaner, more resilient supply chains, there is growing recognition from the private sector that these areas offer long-term strategic investment opportunities. Businesses are increasingly viewing climate adaptation as a foundation for long term sustainability to protect both communities and markets, rather than a risk to be managed. 

I was proud to see this focus reflected in dialogue and recognition for two of our investees:

Drinkwell: A standout moment of the week was seeing Drinkwell CEO Minhaj Chowdhury recognised as the 2026 Schwab Foundation Social Entrepreneur of the Year. Having partnered with Drinkwell since 2018, GIF has witnessed their evolution from a bold concept to a solution providing clean water to millions. This recognition underscores a key takeaway on the impact catalytic capital can have on reaching the scale required to ensure sustainable resilience.

Mati Carbon: I joined a leadership roundtable co-hosted by Mati Carbon, where the dialogue focused on resilience in agricultural supply chains, systems level decarbonisation, and innovative finance. The session highlighted how blended finance and technical assistance are essential tools for de-risking adoption and mobilising private capital. GIF’s 2025 grant to Mati was a strategic move to enable this kind of growth, through strengthening its organisational foundations to support sustainable, effective scale and deliver lasting benefits for farmers and the planet.

2. Climate and health: A critical frontier for innovation

As climate risks intensify, health resilience is no longer just a development issue; it has become a critical frontier for innovation and investment. There is growing evidence that resilience investments in health outperform traditional expectations, accelerated by technological breakthroughs and new policy commitments. 

This momentum is being matched by the launch of specialised financial vehicles designed to catalyse investment at scale. This includes initiatives by The Global Innovation Fund and PATH (Thrive Fund), Temasek Trust, Grand Challenges Canada, and TPC, who are all helping to bridge the gap between scientific development and the capital required to protect global health in a changing climate.

3. The vital importance of partnership

At a time of global uncertainty, it was clear that organisations and businesses are looking for opportunities to partner and achieve shared missions. Whether in the non-profit, government, or private sector, the desire to collaborate to achieve impact at scale was a defining feature of the week. This spirit underscores that systemic challenges require a collective approach, pooling resources and expertise to drive measurable, long-term progress.

Looking ahead

The overarching sentiment from Davos 2026 was one of grounded optimism. By leaning into innovation and fostering deeper partnerships, the impact investing and development community is well-positioned to turn these insights into tangible progress for the year ahead.