2026-07-16

A civil society perspective on why meaningful participation, accountability and inclusive governance are essential to turning sustainable development commitments into real change for communities.

2026-07-16

The final years of the Sustainable Development Goals will be won or lost locally, but bringing implementation closer to communities is not enough as power, resources and accountability will need to move with it. This discussios was at the centre of the Local2030 Coalition Special Event, “Advancing SDG 11 and the New Urban Agenda: Local Action for Global Acceleration,” held on 15 July as part of the UN High-Level Political Forum 2026.

Influence

2026-07-14

Voluntary National Reviews are intended to help countries assess progress, identify gaps and strengthen implementation of the Sustainable Development Goals. But reviews can only generate accountability when they include evidence that is independent, grounded in communities’ experiences and able to challenge official narratives where necessary. During the 2026 UN High-Level Political Forum, Forus members representing national civil society platforms from Mozambique, Tanzania and Norway brought precisely this perspective into the global discussion.

Influence

2026-07-14

Last week, the Forus network landed in Geneva for the Digital Week, where several discussion spaces emerged simultaneously: the United Nations Global Dialogue on Artificial Intelligence Governance, the “futuristic” AI for Good Summit, and the World Summit on the Information Society. All this while the UN High-Level Political Forum kicked off in New York with complementing discussions on digitalisation, global cooperation, the future beyond 2030, and meaningful civic participation highlighting how technology is central to development debates.

Influence

2026-07-10

As the 2026 UN High-Level Political Forum continues in New York, one question is becoming harder to postpone: what should global sustainable development cooperation look like after 2030?

Influence

2026-07-10

As the 2026 High-Level Political Forum (HLPF) continues in New York, the message that sustainable development cannot be accelerated by commitments alone came through. It requires open civic space, meaningful stakeholder engagement, stronger accountability, and tighter links between global promises and local realities.

Influence

2026-07-09

Forus launched its new global report "Cooperation That Works: Civil Society in South-South and Triangular Cooperation" in a virtual side event on 7 July, marking the opening of the HLPF 2026. The launch brought together the Forus network and partners from across regions to highlight how civil society is already shaping South-South and triangular cooperation — often without being formally recognized by the systems it helps strengthen.

Influence

2026-07-07

This programme is an initiative of Forus and the European Center for Not-for-Profit Law (ECNL) within the framework of the Civil Society Alliances for Digital Empowerment (CADE), an EU co-funded project.

2026-07-02

Forus is participating in the the 2026 United Nations High-Level Political Forum (HLPF) with a strong delegation of members and partners from across the globe, bringing national civil society experiences, and localised solutions to one of the most important global spaces for sustainable development dialogue.

2026-06-09

Laws imposing restrictions on CSO operations such as foreign agents laws, are an increasing threat to the enabling environment for civil society worldwide. The ability of associations to seek, obtain, and use resources—including those from foreign and international sources—is a key and essential part of the civil society ecosystem, prohibiting or heavily restricting foreign funding affects their operating space and undermines important advocacy efforts.

2026-06-03

One of the scientific architects of the Sustainable Development Goals reflects on how they came to be, what they have and haven’t achieved, and why starting from scratch in today’s political climate would be a gamble the world cannot afford.

2026-06-03

Forus launched the network’s Post-2030 Vision. And the room — virtual as it was — was electric. On May 21st, we brought together voices from across the globe — from the Pacific to New York, from Helsinki to Santiago, from Tokyo to the UN Secretariat — to ask one of the most consequential questions of our time: what comes after 2030, and who gets to shape it?

Influence

2026-06-03

The traditional view tends to associate ageing with retirement, staying at home and withdrawing from the world of work. However, in a Venezuela that is rebuilding itself from the ground up, a new generation of leaders is emerging whose most valuable asset is their accumulated knowledge.

Support

2026-06-03

The global debate on accessibility tends to focus on physical infrastructure: the construction of ramps, the design of lifts, or the adaptation of transport services. However, for human rights defenders and civil society organisations in Venezuela, the most urgent transformation does not require building materials, but rather a change in perspective. On the path towards achieving the 2030 Agenda, one premise takes on great significance: prejudice and social stigma are the true disability of a society.

Support

2026-06-01

In the Great Lakes region, speaking freely is becoming a balancing act - sometimes between freedom of expression and personal safety. Faced with administrative restrictions, political pressure and a tense security situation, journalists and civil society actors are operating in an increasingly constrained environment.

Support

2026-06-01

Forus hosted the interactive session: Data-Based Narrative: Shaping ODA and Global Cooperation, creating a dynamic space to explore how CSOs are leveraging data to strengthen communication, advocacy, and public engagement.

2026-05-28

The OECD meeting in Paris and UK Global Partnerships Conference show localisation is still rhetoric. Real reform requires donors to relinquish control over money, risk, and decisions.

2026-05-27

In the era of social media, digital spaces have become a platform for civic activism. Around the world, especially in Africa, the internet has become a communication tool. Women mobilise, advocate, and call for solidarity. Some defend human rights; others denounce gender-based violence, while others raise awareness about inequalities as they build communities that influence public debates.

2026-05-27

The Forum of Non-Governmental Organisations of Angola (FONGA) was one of the first platforms to begin this journey with Forus. The process began with bilateral conversations to understand the platform’s situation, review available information, and identify what type of support could be most useful.

Support

2026-05-27

The Federation of NGOs of São Tomé and Príncipe, FONG-STP, has begun its own Structural Support journey in a different context. The platform maintained its activity, recognition, and an important history of work on issues such as citizenship, rights, public budget monitoring, participatory budgeting, human rights, and civil society representation. At the same time, it identified the need to strengthen its strategic leadership, improve communication with members, update institutional tools, and support member NGOs in project management and resource mobilization.

Support