Board Paper ยท Founding Decision
Global Capability Initiative
Purpose: Seek agreement in principle for United World Leaders to explore becoming Founding Sponsor and International Steward of a global capability investment and coordination platform.
Recommendation
That the Board authorise a structured founding review of the Global Capability Initiative and Global Capability Index, including governance, legal, intellectual property, sponsorship, investment pathways, programme office and pilot arrangements.
Strategic rationale
Countries face converging pressures across demographics, work, health, education, water, food, housing, trust, technology and climate resilience. Existing measures describe parts of these systems but do not provide a shared way to understand whether people and institutions are becoming more capable.
The Initiative proposes a common capability language, evidence model and coordination institution that can help leaders connect research, policy, investment and practical action.
The global investor opportunity
The Initiative is designed to serve multiple capital and participation pathways without allowing any one funder to own the mission.
| Participant | Opportunity |
|---|---|
| Governments and sovereign institutions | National capability roadmaps, stronger coordination and clearer public investment priorities. |
| Philanthropies and family offices | Long-term public-good infrastructure, co-investment and measurable legacy. |
| Development finance and multilaterals | Locally grounded pilots, comparable evidence and transferable learning. |
| Corporations and industry | Workforce readiness, regional capability and stronger operating environments. |
| Universities and research funders | International research partnerships and living laboratories. |
| Impact and mission-aligned investors | A governed opportunity pipeline with defined beneficiaries, evidence and outcomes. |
Proposed UWL role
| Role | Contribution |
|---|---|
| Founding Sponsor | Provide legitimacy, convening power and support for the founding phase. |
| International Steward | Protect purpose, ethics, evidence integrity and global relevance. |
| Convenor | Bring together leaders, countries, investors, universities, philanthropy, business and communities. |
| Governance partner | Help define decision rights, safeguards, accountability and independent review. |
Founding phase outputs
- Global Capability Framework v1.
- Global Capability Index methodology draft and independent review plan.
- Three to five pilot concepts.
- Opportunity Atlas initial release with investable and fundable pathways.
- Research and evidence library.
- Founding councils, investor roundtable and programme office design.
- Public digital institution at innovateme.systems.
Resources and leadership
A small programme office is proposed, led by a Founding Executive Director and supported by research, partnerships, investment engagement, communications and programme delivery capability. Troy Latter proposes to lead this work under agreed governance. Funding and resourcing would be developed through approved UWL channels and partner arrangements.
Risks and safeguards
| Risk | Safeguard |
|---|---|
| Unsupported claims | Content states, source traceability and independent review. |
| Political, donor or commercial capture | Clear governance, conflicts policy, diversified participation and transparent decision rights. |
| Harmful country ranking | Contextual measurement, component-level reporting and explicit prohibition on ranking human worth. |
| Unauthorised representation or fundraising | Formal approval controls and defined sponsor authority. |
| Confusion between public-good and commercial returns | Separate approved pathways, explicit disclosures and no unsupported return claims. |
Decision requested
- Approve a founding discussion and due diligence process.
- Nominate executive sponsors to participate.
- Authorise a leader and investor roundtable.
- Authorise development of a 90-day founding plan.
- Review the resulting governance, legal, funding and pilot proposal before any external commitment.
Proposed programme lead: Troy Latter, Founding Executive Director.