NextBillion - A WDI Publication

Let’s come together to accelerate innovative solutions to the world’s most pressing problems

Overview

In the spirit of collective action, we annually convene our growing network to collaborate on social change.
The Forum shines a spotlight on some of the most promising solutions and impactful social innovations and connects leaders who are driving social progress around the world. Attendance is curated by the Skoll Foundation team, with free virtual participation open to everyone.

The 2025 Skoll World Forum took place April 1–4 in Oxford, UK and online. Together, we explored opportunities to unite and drive enduring change.

20+
years of events
Since 2004, we’ve gathered thousands of delegates from more than 100 countries.

100+
speakers annually
Each year, our team curates dozens of speakers who reflect a range of global voices and experiences. Explore past names here.

Explore the Program
In 2025, we learned from 100+ speakers from across the globe alongside inspiring performances by artists and activists. Explore the program through session and plenary recordings.

Review the Delegate Guide
Forum week is energizing, connective, and full of opportunity. If you’re attending the Forum in Oxford, review this toolkit for making the most of your time.

Past Speakers & Performers
The Forum program spans global issues such as economic inclusion, climate action, health, human rights, racial justice, gender equity, and more. Past speakers include Jim Yong Kim, Malala Yousafzai, Muhammad Yunus, Maria Ressa, Mary Robinson, Jacinda Ardern, Jimmy Carter, George and Amal Clooney, Ava DuVernay, Archbishop Desmond Tutu, Kofi Annan, Bono, Al Fore, and Stacey Abrams.

Each year, we also highlight the role of artists and storytellers in inspiring and driving social change. We recently celebrated onstage with Chaka Khan, Nile Rodgers, Peter Gabriel, Annie Lennox, Run DMC, Luis Fonsi, Juanes, Michael Franti, Angelique Kidjo, Baaba Maal, Amadou & Mariam, Anna Deavere Smith, and Aloe Blacc.

ABOUT THE EVENT
The ARE Energy Access Investment Forum (EAIF) is the top annual investment event, fostering partnerships for the purpose of renewable electrification, including energy access, productive use, commercial & industrial uses of power and the green energy transition.

With a track-record since 2016, ARE aims to mobilise 500 people in-person and over 1,000 people virtually for a total of more than 1,500 participants. The Forum will have interpretation in French and English.

EAIF 2026 is organised by the Alliance for Rural Electrification (ARE), and supported by GET.invest, a leading European programme that mobilises investment in clean energy, co-funded by the European Union, Germany, Norway, the Netherlands, Sweden and Austria.

With the patronage of the Ministry of Energy and Petroleum of Kenya, this special EAIF edition will bring together private and public investors, industry leaders from both the energy and related sectors, utilities and government officials, for an exclusive EAIF experience.

Over one billion people globally live with a disability — and in the Global South, people with disabilities face disproportionately high rates of poverty and unemployment. Yet their potential as entrepreneurs and economic actors remains largely untapped.

This webinar, co-hosted by Grameen Foundation USA, the National Union of Disabled Persons of Uganda (NUDIPU), and e-MFP, presents findings from a comprehensive assessment conducted in Uganda. The research examines the barriers people with disabilities — particularly women and youth — face to building sustainable livelihoods and accessing finance for business growth, as well as concrete opportunities and entry points to advance their financial inclusion and entrepreneurship.

Featuring expert speakers, conversations with people with disabilities, and in-depth discussions with leading financial institutions working in the disability inclusion space, the session will offer practical, evidence-based recommendations for NGOs, financial service providers, and government actors looking to meaningfully advance economic inclusion for people with disabilities.

Moderator:

Sam Mendelson, e-MFP
Panelists:

Alison Thornburn, Barrier-Free Finance Initiative
Bindi Jhaveri-Summers, Grameen Foundation USA
Bobbi Gray, Grameen Foundation USA
Ambrose Wolukawu, National Union of Disabled Persons of Uganda (NUDIPU)
Oyuki Yofisa, National Union of Disabled Persons of Uganda (NUDIPU)
Margaret Namazzi, Opportunity Bank of Uganda
Samuel Bongomin, West Acholi Cooperative Financial Inclusion Society
Other speakers TBC
Join us for this important webinar which will present and explore research findings from a comprehensive assessment conducted in Uganda.

Time: 8-9 AM ET / 4-5 PM EAT / 2-3 PM CET 

Thank you for your interest to join the Investor Learning Series: Investing in Nature-based Enterprises (NbEs) on April 22, 2026, 2:30-5:30PM GMT. Please take a moment to answer the questions below—this will help us tailor the session to participants’ needs. We’ll send a calendar invitation to confirm your participation.

This online investor learning session is designed for impact investors, active investors in Nature-based Enterprises (NbEs), financial institutions, and finance coalitions in the Philippines looking to deepen their understanding of NbE investments through assessments, due diligence, and successful case studies. The session aims to upskill and exchange knowledge around NbS impact investing with expert-led sessions from local and global experts.

This learning session is led by the Impact Pioneers Network, in collaboration with Villgro Philippines’ accelerator program, that supports the objective of catalyzing private sector capital, NatureNest seeks to scale the impact of Nature-based Enterprises (NbEs) by connecting mission-aligned investors and unlocking funding opportunities for growth.

Further details may be found here: Session Agenda

For any questions or concerns about this feedback form, please reach out to Char at charlene@villgrophilippines.org.

Hosted by the Africa Finance Corporation (AFC) in partnership with the Government of Kenya, the Africa We Build Summit 2026 will bring together public and private sector leaders in Nairobi on 23–24 April 2026 to focus on how to move infrastructure from priority to implementation across Africa.

The Summit will convene heads of state, ministers, institutional investors, development finance institutions, infrastructure operators and global industry leaders for two days of high-level discussion on financing, execution and enabling policy frameworks.

Addis Chamber Trade Fairs
Addis Chamber International Trade Fair (ACITF) is the Country’s pioneer International Business-to-Business trade fair whose main focus is on Industrial, Agricultural and Services Sectors.

Addis Chamber International Trade Fair /ACITF/ is scheduled to take place from April 23-25, 2026, at the Addis Ababa Exhibition Center in Mesqal Square. Organized by the Addis Ababa Chamber of Commerce and Sectoral Associations (AACCSA), this flagship event will operate under the theme “Sustainable Business, Competitive Ethiopia,” aiming to bridge the gap between local manufacturers and the global market. The fair is expected to host over 200 participants, including 100+ international exhibitors, and will feature high-level side events such as a Business-to-Business (B2B) Forum on April 25 and a specialized conference focused on “Access to Finance for Manufacturers.” As Ethiopia’s premier multi-sectoral trade platform, it serves as a critical hub for technology transfer, investment exploration, and the promotion of the country’s diverse industrial and agricultural potential.

​About the session:

​​For millions of people in rural communities, the greatest barrier to opportunity is not always the absence of services, but the difficulty of reaching them safely, reliably, and affordably. This is the reality of mobility poverty: when distance, terrain, cost, and seasonal isolation cut people off from health care, education, markets, and livelihoods.

​​In this session, World Bicycle Relief and Fika will explore how practical rural mobility solutions, bicycles, and small-scale access infrastructure, such as trail bridges, can help close the first- and last-mile gap. Drawing on evidence, implementation experience, and lessons from the different geographies, the conversation will examine what it takes to move from promising mobility interventions to scalable systems through better financing, stronger planning, government uptake, and cross-sector partnerships.

​​The discussion will be enriched by speakers from CAMFED, Spring Impact, IDinsight, One Acre Fund, and Living Goods who bring perspectives from girls’ education and leadership, evidence, scaling and replication, smallholder agriculture and rural livelihoods, community health delivery, and broader policy and systems change. Together, these voices reflect the wider ecosystem required to turn safe access from a transport issue into a shared development priority.

​​Session objectives:

​​Make mobility poverty visible by illustrating the barriers posed by distance, terrain, cost, and risk, and why safe access matters for health, education, and livelihoods

​​Share evidence on what works, including RCT findings and cost effectiveness for bicycles and trail bridges

​​Identify practical pathways to scale, including government adoption, market channels, financing, and partner integration

​​What to expect:

​​The session will combine storytelling, evidence, and discussion, including a short video montage, opening reflections, plain-language data, and a conversation focused on how to move from evidence to action. Participants will also have the opportunity to engage with practical examples of rural mobility challenges and solutions.

​​Hosts:

​​World Bicycle Relief

​​Fika (formerly Bridges to Prosperity)

​​Guest perspectives may include:

​​Spring Impact

​​One Acre Fund

​​Living Goods

​​CAMFED

​IDinsight

​​Who this is for:

​​This session is for funders, NGOs and implementers, government actors, policymakers, and practitioners working across transport, health, education, agriculture, climate resilience, and rural livelihoods. No technical background is required. Key ideas such as mobility poverty, safe access, and first- and last-mile connectivity will be explained in plain language.

​​What you will get out of it:

​​A clearer understanding of mobility poverty and how it affects rural communities

​​Evidence on the impact and cost-effectiveness of practical rural mobility solutions

​​Insight into how these solutions – bicycles and bridges – can scale through systems, partnerships, and financing.

​​A chance to connect with organizations working to expand safe access and rural mobility

Time: 9:00 AM – 10:30 AM GMT+1

AI is quickly becoming a strategic advantage for businesses, but many SMEs and startups are still navigating the journey from experimentation to real-world deployment. Questions around cost, infrastructure complexity, access to compute resources, and operational scalability often stand in the way of turning promising AI ideas into practical business outcomes.

​In partnership with Bitdeer AI, e27 is hosting an exclusive roundtable discussion for founders and senior leaders to explore how growing companies can successfully adopt and scale AI. The conversation will focus on practical AI use cases that deliver measurable business impact, the challenges companies face when operationalizing AI, and how scalable AI infrastructure can help accelerate deployment and growth.

​Why you should attend?
​Gain practical insights on how businesses are using AI to drive real impact

​Learn how companies move from AI experimentation to deployment and scale

​Discuss common barriers such as cost, infrastructure complexity, talent, and operational challenges

​Exchange experiences with peer founders and executives navigating AI adoption

​Explore how AI Cloud platforms can simplify infrastructure and accelerate AI initiatives

​Who Should Attend
​This roundtable session is designed for senior decision-makers from businesses, including:

​Founders & Co-founders

​CEOs & Managing Directors

​CTOs / Chief Product Officers

​Senior leaders responsible for digital transformation, product innovation, or AI strategy

​Seats are limited to 20 approved participants to ensure a meaningful and interactive discussion.

​​Event Agenda:
​11:30 PM – 12:00 PM: Registration – Welcoming of Guests

​​12:00 PM – 12:05 PM: Event Introduction by e27

​12:05 PM – 12:15 PM: Opening Remarks by Bitdeer

​12:15 PM – 1:20 PM: Roundtable Discussion Luncheon

​​1:20 PM – 1:30 PM: Closing Remarks

​1:30 PM – onwards: Networking

​Register your interest to join the discussion with Bitdeer AI and fellow industry leaders exploring practical AI adoption.

⚠️ Seats are limited and participation is by approval only.
Confirmed participants will receive a notification upon securing a seat.

Time: 1:00 PM – 3:00 PM GMT+8