QI Group has been featured in the World Economic Forum’s Future of Inclusion Lighthouses 2026 report for its community-driven initiative advancing socioeconomic mobility among Indigenous communities in Sabah, Malaysia.
The initiative, implemented through QI Group’s social impact arm, RYTHM Foundation, was selected as one of eight Highlights in the report. The recognition acknowledges organisations demonstrating standout approaches to inclusion through strong programme design, meaningful implementation and measurable community impact.
At the heart of the recognition is a simple but important principle: inclusion works best when communities are not only consulted, but actively involved in shaping the solutions that affect their lives.
Recognition For A Community-Led Approach
The World Economic Forum (WEF) highlighted QI Group’s Sabah initiative for its collaborative model, which placed Indigenous voices at the centre of programme design and delivery.
Rather than applying a conventional top-down approach, RYTHM Foundation worked with local non-profit organisation Good Shepherd Services (GSS), community leaders, families and local stakeholders to understand community priorities and develop solutions grounded in local realities.
Between April 2021 and March 2024, the initiative supported selected villages in Sabah through programmes focussed on education, livelihoods, environmental stewardship, and long-term community self-reliance.
Building Opportunity Through Partnership
The initiative was designed to strengthen both individual capability and community resilience.
Women gained opportunities to participate in income-generating activities and community-led enterprises, while youth developed new skills and confidence through areas such as ecotourism training. These efforts helped expand access to learning, support local livelihoods and encourage greater participation in community decision-making.
The WEF report also noted the initiative’s visible and replicable outcomes, recognising its potential for long-term impact and scalability.
Advancing Inclusive Growth
For QI Group, the recognition reflects a long-standing belief that sustainable progress is built through collaboration, respect and shared ownership.
“Inclusion begins with respect and it cannot be designed from the boardroom alone. Rather than imposing a standardised template, we chose to listen, learn and work alongside the communities themselves to ensure they had ownership of both the process and the outcomes,” said Umayal Eswaran, Chairperson of RYTHM Foundation.
As organisations around the world look for more effective ways to create equitable opportunities, QI Group’s Sabah initiative demonstrates how locally grounded collaboration can help build stronger communities, expand socioeconomic mobility and create lasting social impact.
Read the full report here: World Economic Forum Future of Inclusion Lighthouses 2026