By Sarah Strack, Forus Director

As we look back at the past year, it is clear that mounting tensions in a multipolar world, and the shifting focus of global priorities are redefining international cooperation. Amid these transformations, civil society organisations face an increasingly hostile environment and our collective job is not getting easier – rather the opposite. Civic space is shrinking at an alarming rate, with only 3% of the global population living in countries where freedoms of association, assembly, and expression are fully respected. Despite robust data, alarming stories, and relentless advocacy, in many countries CSOs are navigating increasingly restrictive laws, bureaucratic hurdles, and even outright criminalisation as we have highlighted in our recent research.  

The weakening of multilateral institutions and a growing tendency toward transactional relationships risk sidelining global commitments like the 2030 Agenda and the Paris Agreement. The decision-making landscape still leans toward the interests of powerful states and corporations, paradoxically often sidelining the voices of "the majority”. More than ever, CSOs must remain vigilant, organize and push for stronger accountability and participation mechanisms as central elements to global discussions. 

As the structures of global governance evolve, so must our strategies.  

In 2024, key moments such as the Summit of the Future and the G20 in Brazil showed the growing complexities of global governance and the urgent need for more inclusive, accountable systems. In the negotiation rooms as well as in the corridors, it seems like the interests of people and planet are forgotten when it comes to addressing the urgent challenges of our time—climate change, inequality, digital divides, respect for and advancement of human rights, etc. 

So we ask ourselves : How can civil society ensure its voice is heard in this evolving landscape? What strategies should we adopt to safeguard global solidarity and advocate for a future that upholds the principles of equity, justice, and sustainability in the face of growing inequalities, civic space restrictions, and climate crises? 

At Forus, we see this as a moment to reflect and recalibrate. Our recent advocacy initiatives—from the UNMute campaign, to Shitfing Powers, new forms of civil society leadership and our engagement in the Finance in Common Summit—have pinned the importance of supporting local leadership, equal partnerships and non-extractive cooperation, and advocating for rights-based development.  

Looking ahead, this dynamic landscape requires us to seize new avenues to influence global governance and drive transformative change. And there is space for hope, a lot of it, as we’re reminded by the countless stories of solidarity that we witness within the network and beyond. In 2025, Forus will embark on a collective exercise to reflect on these global shifts and define our strategic directions for the next 5 years. How do we engage meaningfully with a changing global order and increase our collective impact? How do we ensure that the voices of communities resonate in spaces where decisions are made? These and many more questions will be debated amongst members and with other stakeholders throughout the months. Stay tuned and join us in these discussions, we would love to hear from you!