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| Global Shapers Community | |
|---|---|
| Name | Global Shapers Community |
| Formation | 2011 |
| Type | Youth-led network |
| Headquarters | Geneva, Switzerland |
| Parent organization | World Economic Forum |
Global Shapers Community The Global Shapers Community is a network of young leaders and urban change-makers connected to the World Economic Forum, active across cities worldwide and engaged with civic, environmental, and social initiatives. It operates through local hubs in metropolitan areas, aligning projects with themes associated with international forums such as the United Nations General Assembly, the G20 Summit, the COP climate conferences, and the Davos agenda. Founders, alumni, and partners have included figures and organizations linked to Klaus Schwab, Melinda French Gates, Bill Gates, Justin Trudeau, Jacinda Ardern, and institutions such as Harvard University, Oxford University, Stanford University, United Nations Development Programme, and Oxfam.
The Community was established as a youth network affiliated with the World Economic Forum and designed to connect young leaders from cities like New York City, London, Mumbai, São Paulo, Beijing, and Johannesburg. Hubs operate in municipal centers such as Los Angeles, Paris, Berlin, Tokyo, Seoul, Toronto, Mexico City, Buenos Aires, and Cairo to deliver local projects while contributing to global dialogues like the Sustainable Development Goals platform. Activities often reference policy discussions at venues including the UN Climate Change Conference, the International Monetary Fund, the World Bank, the European Commission, and the African Union.
Launched in 2011 during initiatives led by executives at the World Economic Forum, the network grew during the 2010s alongside movements associated with figures like Malala Yousafzai, Greta Thunberg, Emmanuel Macron, Barack Obama, Angela Merkel, and Pope Francis. Early expansion tracked urbanization trends discussed in reports by McKinsey & Company, Brookings Institution, The Economist Intelligence Unit, and United Nations Human Settlements Programme. The Community responded to crises referenced by events such as the Syrian civil war, the European migrant crisis, the COVID-19 pandemic, and the Beirut explosion, organizing local relief and advocacy that involved collaborators from Doctors Without Borders, Red Cross, UNICEF, and World Health Organization initiatives.
Governance mirrors corporate and non-profit models seen at organizations like Amnesty International, Greenpeace International, Gavi, Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, and the Clinton Foundation. Strategic oversight aligns with the World Economic Forum leadership structure while hubs are locally governed by steering committees, co-chairs, and curators akin to boards at Harvard Corporation or Oxford University colleges. Global coordination occurs through convenings comparable to the Davos meeting and through partnerships with bodies such as the United Nations, the European Parliament, the African Development Bank, and the Inter-American Development Bank.
Programmatic work spans civic engagement, climate action, public health, and entrepreneurship, often collaborating with organizations like UNICEF, World Health Organization, Red Cross, Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, Ashoka, and Skoll Foundation. Projects have included urban renewal initiatives inspired by urbanists linked to Jane Jacobs's legacy, social enterprises similar to Acumen Fund partners, hackathons resembling events at TechCrunch Disrupt and Web Summit, and mentorship programs drawing on alumni networks from MIT, Yale University, Columbia University, Princeton University, and University of Cambridge. Campaigns have engaged influencers and leaders such as Beyoncé Knowles, Malala Yousafzai, Leonardo DiCaprio, Greta Thunberg, Shakira, and policy advocates associated with Bill Clinton and Tony Blair.
Membership criteria emphasize age ranges, civic engagement, and leadership demonstrated in contexts like municipal projects in San Francisco, Singapore, Dubai, Mumbai, Lagos, Nairobi, Kuala Lumpur, and Istanbul. Hubs number in the hundreds and are modeled after civic networks seen in organizations such as Rotary International, Junior Chamber International, AIESEC, and Scouts. Notable alumni have moved into roles at institutions including United Nations, European Commission, World Bank, International Monetary Fund, and national cabinets like United Kingdom Cabinet or Canadian Cabinet.
Supporters cite influence on local policy, community resilience, and youth representation at summits like the G7 Summit, G20 Summit, and UN General Assembly, paralleling advocacy by groups such as Extinction Rebellion and Black Lives Matter. Critics compare controversies seen in organizations linked to Klaus Schwab and World Economic Forum discussions, raising concerns about elitism noted in reporting by outlets like The Guardian, The New York Times, Financial Times, Le Monde, and Der Spiegel. Debates reference transparency issues analogous to critiques of International Monetary Fund conditionality, corporate governance controversies at Goldman Sachs, and NGO accountability discussions involving Oxfam.
Funding sources include grants, corporate sponsorships, and partnerships with foundations and institutions such as Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, Bloomberg Philanthropies, Ford Foundation, Open Society Foundations, Mastercard Foundation, Google, Microsoft, Amazon, Meta Platforms and collaborations with agencies like United Nations Development Programme, UNICEF, World Health Organization, World Bank Group, and regional development banks such as the Asian Development Bank and African Development Bank.