The Davos Agenda will help tackle the most pressing social problems

Building trust: here's what you need to know about the Davos Agenda 2021 

photo_camera Kate Whiting/World Economic Forum  
  • From 25-29 January, world leaders will gather for virtually a week of high-level talks organised by the World Economic Forum. 
  • The Davos 2021 Agenda will focus on the theme of a "Pivotal Year for Rebuilding Trust". 
  • Sessions will focus on critical issues such as COVID-19 vaccination programmes, job creation and climate change. 

In the past year, the COVID-19 coronavirus pandemic has devastated lives and livelihoods around the world, exposing structural inequalities, and highlighting the urgency of rebuilding the world's social and economic systems more justly in the aftermath of the crisis. 

Now, with the first doses of vaccines administered and the light at the end of this dark tunnel in sight, the Forum is holding a week of high-level virtual meetings. The Davos Agenda will bring together world leaders at the forefront of the global response to the COVID-19 coronavirus pandemic and the accompanying economic crisis, with the aim of developing sustainable and forward-looking solutions for a post-COVID world. 

Here's what you need to know. 

Rebuilding trust 

Starting Monday 25 January, more than 1,200 business, government and civil society leaders from 60 countries will meet virtually to discuss the overarching theme of "A pivotal year for rebuilding trust". 

The concept of societal trust has never been more timely, as the recent publication of the Edelman Trust Barometer demonstrates. Public trust is eroding, in part due to the perceived mismanagement of the coronavirus pandemic. 

Professor Klaus Schwab, founder and executive chairman of the Forum, says: "In the context of the COVID-19 pandemic, the need to readjust priorities and the urgency to reform systems has been growing around the world. 

"Restoring trust and increasing global cooperation are crucial to foster innovative and bold solutions to curb the pandemic and drive a robust recovery. This unique meeting will be an opportunity for leaders to outline their vision and address the most important issues of our time, such as the need to accelerate job creation and protect the environment." 

Daily deep dives 

Each day of the five-day programme will have its own in-depth focus for participants to address, with an emphasis on creating real impact through concrete and forward-looking policies in 2021: 

Designing cohesive, sustainable and resilient economic systems (25 January)  

1. Drive transformation and responsible growth of industry (26 January) 

2. Improve the management of the world's heritage (27 January) 

3. Harnessing the technologies of the fourth industrial revolution (28 January) 

4. Advancing Global and Regional Cooperation (29 January) 

The Davos Agenda will also see the launch of several new Forum initiatives: accelerating the race to net zero emissions, championing new standards of social justice and bridging the digital divide. 

Key participants 

Heads of State and Government, including Narendra Modi, Prime Minister of India; Emmanuel Macron, President of France; Angela Merkel, Federal Chancellor of Germany; Ursula von der Leyen, President of the European Commission; and Xi Jinping, President of the People's Republic of China, will participate in the discussions. 

They will be joined by leaders of international organisations, including Antonio Guterres, Secretary-General of the United Nations; Dr. Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, Director-General of the World Health Organization; Kristalina Georgieva, Managing Director of the International Monetary Fund; Dr. Anthony Fauci, Director of the US National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, National Institutes of Health; and Christine Lagarde, President of the European Central Bank. 

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