Networks for Humanity Launches The Future of Giving at GDC26 in Geneva
GENEVA, SWITZERLAND, September 17, 2026 /EINPresswire.com/ -- Networks for Humanity (NFH), in partnership with the Digital Impact Alliance (DIAL), launched The Future of Giving on the sidelines of at a side event held alongside the Global Digital Collaboration Conference 2026 (GDC26) in Geneva on September 2. The event brought together participants from government, development, humanitarian assistance, philanthropy, finance, digital public infrastructure and open networks. An open discussion explored how giving may need to evolve as societies, institutions and digital systems change.
Digital systems have transformed how money, services, benefits and other forms of support are delivered. Identity systems, registries, bank accounts, mobile money, wallets and payment networks have helped value reach people faster, more directly and at greater scale.
Yet the wider journey before and after the transfer often remains fragmented. People may still need to discover programmes separately, understand different eligibility rules, provide similar information repeatedly and track progress across disconnected systems. Frontline organisations often bridge these gaps through local knowledge, human judgement and administrative effort.
The Future of Giving asks how capabilities can work together more effectively, so that support becomes easier to discover, access and improve without replacing existing programmes or centralising institutional authority. The paper uses “giving” as a broad concept covering social protection, humanitarian assistance, philanthropy, development finance, remittances, grants, subsidies and other forms of public-purpose and social-purpose value delivery. These areas remain legally and institutionally distinct. The paper brings them together only to examine a common question: how is value designed, delivered, governed and experienced?
The paper introduces Generation Four as one possible way of describing the next stage of value delivery. It builds on progress made through direct digital delivery and considers a future that is more open, interoperable, verifiable, multi-party and increasingly agent-assisted. This does not mean one platform or technology stack. It means enabling independently governed systems to interact through shared standards, trusted information and clearly defined responsibilities, while institutions retain authority and accountability.
The discussion in Geneva highlighted that technology is only one part of the challenge. Institutional incentives, regulation, power, governance and local capacity can be equally important. Participants also stressed the need to protect recipient agency and avoid using programmability or data in ways that create unnecessary control or restrictions. The paper is intended as a shared starting point rather than a finished blueprint. It calls for practical testing with real programmes and evidence, and for continued discussion on regulation, implementation and how future approaches can build on existing systems.
The Future of Giving has been published under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International licence as an open contribution to discussion and collaborative development.
Read and download:
https://networksforhumanity.org/the-future-of-giving/
About Networks for Humanity
Networks for Humanity is a global non-profit initiative building open, interoperable, and decentralised digital infrastructure that enables broader access and participation in the digital economy. Through flagship missions including Finternet and Beckn, NFH brings together policymakers, technologists, institutions, and communities to design and govern open systems that serve everyone. NFH is supported by global partners including Google.org, the Asian Development Bank, and leading philanthropies.
Media Enquiries
sonam.rai@nfh.global
Digital systems have transformed how money, services, benefits and other forms of support are delivered. Identity systems, registries, bank accounts, mobile money, wallets and payment networks have helped value reach people faster, more directly and at greater scale.
Yet the wider journey before and after the transfer often remains fragmented. People may still need to discover programmes separately, understand different eligibility rules, provide similar information repeatedly and track progress across disconnected systems. Frontline organisations often bridge these gaps through local knowledge, human judgement and administrative effort.
The Future of Giving asks how capabilities can work together more effectively, so that support becomes easier to discover, access and improve without replacing existing programmes or centralising institutional authority. The paper uses “giving” as a broad concept covering social protection, humanitarian assistance, philanthropy, development finance, remittances, grants, subsidies and other forms of public-purpose and social-purpose value delivery. These areas remain legally and institutionally distinct. The paper brings them together only to examine a common question: how is value designed, delivered, governed and experienced?
The paper introduces Generation Four as one possible way of describing the next stage of value delivery. It builds on progress made through direct digital delivery and considers a future that is more open, interoperable, verifiable, multi-party and increasingly agent-assisted. This does not mean one platform or technology stack. It means enabling independently governed systems to interact through shared standards, trusted information and clearly defined responsibilities, while institutions retain authority and accountability.
The discussion in Geneva highlighted that technology is only one part of the challenge. Institutional incentives, regulation, power, governance and local capacity can be equally important. Participants also stressed the need to protect recipient agency and avoid using programmability or data in ways that create unnecessary control or restrictions. The paper is intended as a shared starting point rather than a finished blueprint. It calls for practical testing with real programmes and evidence, and for continued discussion on regulation, implementation and how future approaches can build on existing systems.
The Future of Giving has been published under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International licence as an open contribution to discussion and collaborative development.
Read and download:
https://networksforhumanity.org/the-future-of-giving/
About Networks for Humanity
Networks for Humanity is a global non-profit initiative building open, interoperable, and decentralised digital infrastructure that enables broader access and participation in the digital economy. Through flagship missions including Finternet and Beckn, NFH brings together policymakers, technologists, institutions, and communities to design and govern open systems that serve everyone. NFH is supported by global partners including Google.org, the Asian Development Bank, and leading philanthropies.
Media Enquiries
sonam.rai@nfh.global
Akanksha Sarma
Networks for Humanity
akanksha.sarma@nfh.global
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