“Tech for good” has to do better. Onja shows us how.

Introduction

The 2026 World Economic Forum Annual Meeting reflects a world grappling with widening social and economic inequalities, alongside questions about how global cooperation must evolve to meet them. These challenges are unfolding alongside rapid technological change, and in some cases being driven by it.

Emerging technologies, such as artificial intelligence (AI), are transforming labour markets and redefining the skills needed to participate in the global economy. This shift is altering labour market access globally and increasing pressure on development actors to rethink how impact can be delivered more effectively and at greater scale.

As technological change outpaces traditional education systems, expanding access to future-ready digital skills represents a powerful opportunity to open new pathways to economic participation. Closing the digital divide will depend on cross-sector collaboration that aligns skills development with real labour market demand.

Social enterprises such as Onja offer a compelling example of how this can be done. By training underprivileged youth into world-class software developers, they show how commercially viable, people-centred approaches can drive inclusive growth while addressing systemic barriers to economic participation.

How can we invest better in people in the face of rapid technological change?

The most direct answer is investment in training, prioritising initiatives that teach skills that respond to market demand needs. In the context of global development, this means equipping people at risk of being left behind by rapid technological change, with relevant, future-ready capabilities.

The real challenge lies in translating this shared understanding into projects that can operate at scale; respond to evolving market needs; and deliver measurable outcomes for employers (in terms of business performance and CSR commitments) and for individuals (in terms of livelihoods and long-term well-being).

Onja, a social enterprise based in Madagascar, equips underprivileged youth with software development skills and English language proficiency, enabling them to access remote tech jobs with competitive salaries. Since 2017, we’ve created reliable, high-quality hiring solutions for our business partners in the US and Europe as well as life-changing opportunities for Malagasy youth.

Investing better in people means moving beyond short-term training initiatives toward models that align skills development with real labour market demand. The most effective investments are those that connect education directly to employment, creating pathways that benefit both individuals and businesses that rely on skilled talent.

This requires approaches that are both socially-driven and commercially-viable. Social enterprises, in particular, are uniquely positioned to bridge this gap as they operate with the discipline of business while prioritising positive impact throughout the environments in which they operate. By embedding impact into their core model, they ensure that all business outcomes progress social and economic development.

This model goes beyond traditional development programmes in that it prioritizes agency and empowerment. At Onja, students are equipped with the skills and confidence to determine their own futures and participate fully in the global economy. This creates a cycle of sustainable opportunity: businesses access reliable, talented developers, and communities see measurable social and economic progress.

Innovation must be inclusive

Rapid advances in technology, notably AI, can create opportunity, but they can also increase the digital divide between those with access to cutting-edge tech and those without access. Inclusive innovation means ensuring that technological progress benefits everyone, not just a privileged few.

Harnessing the potential of technology without widening existing inequalities requires intentional design and greater collaboration between decisionmakers, tech firms, and civil society. Onja’s curriculum equips youth with globally relevant tech skills while connecting them to meaningful work, ensuring that innovation translates into real-life opportunity. Graduates become part of a global, distributed workforce that bridges the gap between talent-rich but opportunity-poor contexts and companies seeking tech expertise.

Our world-class developers, 66% of whom are women, currently work with leading tech firms across Europe and the US, bringing not only technical excellence but also fresh perspectives, creativity, and resilience shaped by their unique experiences.

For businesses, partnering with Onja means access to high-quality, world class talent while also strengthening social impact goals. By hiring developers through our model, companies gain team members who are adaptable, highly skilled, and motivated, while simultaneously contributing to sustainable economic development and inclusive growth in Madagascar.

A new way of doing business

Traditional aid alone cannot close systemic gaps in education, employment, and economic participation. Prioritising investment in models that deliver both measurable social impact and tangible business value is one of the most effective ways to drive long-term, sustainable change.

Sustainable progress requires innovative, scalable solutions that connect people to economic opportunities. Onja, which means “wave” in Malagasy, represents this new frontier, empowering people to shape their own futures and create waves of opportunity that carry forward for generations to come.

Learn more about Onja’s work here: onja.org/how-it-works