NetWorks Summit 2026

• The flagship summit reflecting The Human Safety Net’s innovative philanthropic vision returns to Venice. The Human Safety Net is a global organisation whose mission is to unlock the potential of people living in vulnerable circumstances so that they can improve the lives of their families and communities
• The Foundation’s 98 partner NGOs gather at the Procuratie in Piazza san Marco to share strategies and solutions designed to generate lasting social impact
• Highlights of the 2026 edition include contributions from international experts such as Lucie Cluver and Joan Lombardi, and the launch of the Impact Market

Venice – The Human Safety Net, Generali’s global Foundation, whose mission is to unlock the potential of people living in vulnerable circumstances through its For Families and For Refugees programmes, presents the eighth edition of NetWorks in Venice (from 4 to 6 November 2026). The annual summit brings together its international community of NGOs, experts and academics for three days of discussion, training and knowledge-sharing.

NetWorks is a tangible expression of The Human Safety Net’s open net model: an open and inclusive network in which each organisation contributes its expertise and know-how, sharing tools and knowledge to increase the collective impact on the entire community.

The event will take place at The Home of The Human Safety Net, a hub for innovation and social inclusion located in the Procuratie in Piazza San Marco, restored by Sir David Chipperfield, winner of the 2023 Pritzker Prize. A place open to dialogue and exchange it once again hosts one of the network’s key opportunities for learning and collective growth.

With more than 200 participants and 98 partner NGOs from a network spanning 25 countries across Europe, Asia and South America, NetWorks reaffirms the value of a model built on collaboration and exchange, based on the development of shared solutions and the measurement of results. Through this approach, The Human Safety Net supports its partner organisations not only with financial resources, but also with tools and expertise to strengthen their operational capacity and support their growth.

“In a world marked by uncertainty, new vulnerabilities and growing social divides, it is essential to create opportunities for those at risk of being left behind. This is at the heart of The Human Safety Net’s work: helping people unlock their potential, while fostering independence, confidence and inclusion within communities”, said Simone Bemporad, Vice-Chair of The Human Safety Net.

“Every year, NetWorks represents much more than an international gathering organised by our Foundation: it is an opportunity for social organisations, institutions, businesses and communities to come together and, drawing on their experiences on the ground, share their determination to understand and address the major challenges of our time. These include demographic change – a profound transformation affecting every country, with significant implications for social cohesion, the labour market, welfare systems and the prospects of future generations”, said Emma Ursich, CEO of The Human Safety Net.

At the heart of the 2026 edition is the challenge of scaling the impact of social programmes at national level: how to turn initiatives that have already proved effective locally into coordinated and sustainable solutions capable of reaching an ever-growing number of people. Through discussions, workshops and opportunities for exchange, NetWorks will explore how closer collaborations between NGOs, public institutions and the private sector, can strengthen programmes supporting families, children and refugees in the countries where the Foundation operates.

The NetWorks 2026 programme will feature international experts exploring the role of public policies and scientific research in supporting families and early childhood. Among them will be Lucie Cluver, Professor at the University of Oxford, who will examine the relationship between demographic change and policies supporting parenthood, highlighting the importance of coordinated action at national level; and Joan Lombardi, Professor at Stanford University, who, drawing on her experience working with US administrations, will explore how to turn successful social programmes into sustainable solutions at national level, capable of reaching an ever-growing number of children and families.

One of the main innovations of this year’s edition is the launch of the Impact Market, a forum for exchange where The Human Safety Net’s partner NGOs will present the tools, methodologies and best practices that have helped improve the effectiveness of their programmes. Designed to encourage the direct exchange of experiences and knowledge, the Impact Market will give organisations the opportunity to compare tested solutions, identify approaches that can be replicated and develop new collaborations.