Since 1998, the Schwab Foundation for Social Entrepreneurship has been at the forefront of bringing together pioneering social entrepreneurs and innovators across diverse sectors, industries and geographical areas.
Each year, the Foundation recognizes a new cohort of outstanding individuals and organizations through its Social Innovation Awards. The awards honour leaders across four categories who are tackling systemic challenges with solutions that improve the lives of millions and demonstrate that real alternatives exist where traditional markets or development efforts have fallen short.
After a rigorous selection process, the Schwab Foundation is delighted to present 24 individuals from 18 organizations as the 2026 Social Innovation Awards finalists. Representing 16 countries across five continents, they demonstrate how bold ideas rooted in local realities can be scaled into sustainable and economically viable solutions.
From addressing human trafficking to rethinking educational systems, delivering safe drinking water and providing dignified livelihoods, their work positively impacts lives while transforming the systems in which they operate, paving the way for more inclusive, equitable and sustainable societies.
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