GLOBAL RELEVANCE The dynamics observed in the Middle East and North Africa reflect a broader global pattern in which visibility, capital and opportunity concentrate around inherited access rather than demonstrated contribution. In 2024, Latin America and Africa together accounted for just 3% of global venture capital (VC) deals.18 Women founders received 2% of global venture capital funding19 and Black founders in the United States secured approximately 1% of total VC investment20. These disparities increasingly signal systemic underperformance rather than isolated equity concerns. Research describes this pattern as a form of mirrortocracy, in which decision-makers repeatedly invest in profiles that resemble their own networks and reference points, with “merit” often inferred from proxies such as educational pedigree, social capital and cultural affinity rather than from demonstrated contributions.21 In venture capital, informal referral systems reinforce this dynamic22, making visibility self-reproducing and narrowing the pool of recognized innovators over time. These dynamics have consequences beyond fairness. When legitimacy becomes detached from contribution, innovation systems misallocate capital, underutilize talent and weaken long-term credibility. The central concern shifts from exclusion alone to the losses that systems incur when contributions remain invisible. The Middle East and North Africa provocation offers a transferable lens on governance. By reframing visibility as a public good earned through contribution, institutions can strengthen transparency, broaden participation and improve investability without heavy intervention. Whether embedded in funding criteria, procurement systems, education pathways, or civic infrastructure, the underlying principle remains the same: legitimacy strengthens when contributions are made visible. For global leaders, the implication is strategic. In an era of declining trust and heightened scrutiny, demonstrating that opportunity is earned rather than inherited is becoming a determinant of resilience and credibility. A contribution-anchored visibility economy offers a practical mechanism for rebuilding trust, improving capital allocation and expanding leadership pipelines, thereby supporting more inclusive, durable and competitive innovation systems.3. Reframe leadership from prominence to stewardship A contribution-based visibility model reframes leadership as stewardship of the ecosystem. Institutions recognize leaders who expand opportunities, strengthen networks and reinvest success in shared capabilities. When institutions reward stewardship, leaders invest in system health rather than individual prominence. 4. Enable participation through education and accessible pathways Unequal access to entrepreneurial education reinforces visibility gaps. Expanding open education, community innovation spaces and accessible pilot and procurement pathways allows contributions to emerge beyond established hubs. Participation infrastructure supports self-organizing ecosystems without reliance on informal gatekeepers. Intergenerational Foresight: An Approach for Long-Term Responsibility in Governance 19

Intergenerational Foresight 2026