2026-09-23

The Great Lakes: Local communities on the front line of climate change In the Great Lakes region, the effects of climate change are no longer confined to scientific projections. They are already evident in the daily lives of rural communities, in the form of unpredictable rainfall, droughts, floods, soil erosion and falling agricultural yields.

2026-09-22

From UNGA to 2027: Building ambition wherever decisions take shape Forus live from UNGA81. The choice of the next UN Secretary-General matters. So do the decisions on finance, rights and development being made in capitals and other forums ahead of the 2027 SDG Summit.

2026-09-21

Tren de Fuego Podcast · Paul Antoine Matos · “Tren de fuego” es una serie podcast documental de ocho episodios sobre la relación de las personas en la península de Yucatán con su territorio y el efecto que ha tenido el Tren Maya en la región. Un ferrocarril que atraviesa selvas y ciudades del sur de México. Es una obra de contrastes, el desarrollo regional frente a la vida comunitaria. Un espejo de América Latina. Cada episodio es una parada icónica. A lo largo de un viaje de dos meses por la ruta del tren, el narrador –Paul Antoine Matos–, un periodista del sureste, documenta cómo ha cambiado y afectado el megaproyecto la vida de las personas, y nos muestra los paisajes peninsulares: cenotes, playas caribeñas, vestigios prehispánicos, ciudades coloniales y selvas vibrantes. En cada estación, se baja para conocer la historia del lugar y escuchar a las personas conversar sobre los cambios en sus pueblos y ciudades que llegaron con el tren, y cuentan su labor social para preservar la naturaleza, la memoria, la lengua y la identidad maya.Productor: Paul Antoine MatosEdición: Sebastían Ortega y Maggie MorettMúsica original: Íñigo ValdésDiseño sonoro: Ismael NabteIlustraciones: Denise Vaillard @cromatophoraTren de fuego es un proyecto independiente apoyado por el Sistema Nacional de Creadores a través del PECDA Yucatán 2025 y por la beca Forus de Narrativas Positivas.

2026-09-21

Food sovereignty in the Sahel increasingly depends on digital sovereignty Countries in the Sahel were recently included in a socio-economic assessment of the Alliance for a Green Revolution in Africa (AGRA), a programme that has sought over the past two decades to increase agricultural productivity through improved seeds, fertilisers and market-oriented approaches. The assessment has renewed debate over the results of this model, particularly its impact on food security in countries including Mali, Burkina Faso, Niger and northern Nigeria. Rather than presenting a direct causal link between AGRA and levels of undernourishment, the evidence points to a contested debate over which agricultural models are best able to strengthen food security and resilience.

2026-09-17

AidWatch 2026: As ODA declines, who gets to shape the future of global cooperation and how? The launch of CONCORD’s AidWatch 2026 report in Brussels raised a question: as European ODA shrinks and international cooperation priorities shift, how can development objectives remain at the centre of international cooperation, and who gets to shape its future?

2026-09-16

CONCORD - AidWatch 2026 Report

2026-09-16

Joint Letter - Global Climate Emergency in Nepal On 26 August 2026, a glacial-rock collapse in the Himalayan region triggered catastrophic flash floods along Nepal’s Bhotekoshi and Trishuli rivers, killing over 1,350 people in Nepal alone, with nearly 5,000 more reported missing, and causing additional deaths and displacement across the border. These converging climate disasters are a stark reminder that the climate emergency is no longer a distant threat; it is causing immense loss of lives, displacement, destruction of livelihoods and ecosystems, with risks to peace, sustainable development and human rights, particularly for vulnerable communities.

2026-09-15

Lithuania’s development cooperation: follow the money In 2022, as Russia invaded Ukraine, Lithuania’s development cooperation peaked at an extraordinary 231 million Eur or 0.36% of GNI as a share. The increase was explained by the dramatic events in neighbouring Ukraine and the response to them. Three years later, the trends show a significant shift. According to preliminary data, Lithuania’s ODA in 2025 stands at 177.8 million Eur or 0.21% of GNI, down 9.7% in real terms compared to the previous year and the third consecutive year of decline.

2026-09-11

Back in the closet – EU SEE data reveals how governments are reversing freedoms for LGBTQ+ groups globally Evidence from the 86 countries monitored through EU SEE shows how these pressures increasingly overlap, and how beyond the most visible forms of restriction, lack of protection for LGBTQ+ people and the organisations representing them restricts their capacity to exist, organise, speak, participate and challenge power without fear.

2026-09-08

UNGA 81: A United Nations at a Turning Point These discussions are often treated separately, but they are connected: will the next phase of multilateralism ensure the UN listens to communities and improve accountability? Will it reduce inequality, bring decisions and resources closer to communities and strengthen human rights?

2026-09-07

CADE’s July–August round-up - CADE – Civil Society Alliances for Digital Empowerment Dear colleagues, In this edition, we’re bringing together the latest from across the CADE network – from new research and resources on digital rights and civic space to member updates, conversations on AI and internet governance, and opportunities to get involved. Inside: ⭐ In focus: Reimagining AI governance from a Global Majority perspective 🌍 Updates: Digital governance and rights work across the Pacific, Uganda and Zimbabwe 📚 Resources: New research, a podcast series and internet governance videos from CADE partners 📅 Coming up: Upcoming opportunities to connect, exchange and engage Dive in 👇

Digital

2026-09-07

Asia Development Alliance Solidarity Statement with the People of Nepal

2026-08-10

Nigeria’s proposed foreign aid regulation bill: what it could mean for civil society A new bill before Nigeria’s senate is raising important questions about transparency, accountability and the enabling environment for civil society.

2026-08-10

Position, Story, Pitch: How Civil Society Platforms Can Strengthen Their Voice and Visibility What makes a civil society platform matter — and how can it communicate that value more clearly? This question was at the heart of the first session of the Forus Communicators’ Series, bringing together communications and advocacy colleagues from across the Forus network to explore positioning, storytelling and messaging.

2026-08-03

System Update: A New Podcast Series Exploring Emerging Trends in Technology is Out! From elections and public services to online platforms and access to information, digital technologies are reshaping our democracies, economies, collective and private existences at an unprecedented pace. Yet one critical question remains: who gets to shape the rules that govern these technologies? To help answer that question and trigger new forms of collaboration, Forus is launching System Update, a new 12-episode podcast series produced as part of CADE - a project co-funded by the European Union.

2026-07-20

Research: Sentinel of peace in the Great Lakes In the Great Lakes region, where tensions have recurred for more than two decades, civil society organizations, to play their part in providing solutions, have always begun with research. A step that is often less visible but essential in this process, as it enables the identification of warning signs of new tensions. This makes it possible to prevent them before they escalate.

2026-07-20

The Forus Communicators' Series: communicating platform value, building strategies and countering misinformation How can strategic communication build relationships, engage audiences and create meaningful pathways for action? What innovative storytelling practices can we use for transformational social change? Explore the Forus Communicators' series.

2026-07-20

African Women and Public Policy: When Leadership Becomes a Driver of Change Africa's civic space is far from smooth sailing. It is marked by numerous challenges, ranging from economic crises and restrictions on freedom of expression to democratic setbacks and social inequalities. For a long time, women were excluded from decision-making processes. Today, however, they are increasingly occupying leadership positions, leveraging digital platforms, engaging in civil society, and making their voices heard through the media.

2026-07-17

Mylène Lawson: "It's often in translating, appropriating and following up on recommendations that lasting influence over public policy is built" A civil society perspective on turning human rights commitments and women's leadership into lasting change for communities in Togo and across the region

2026-07-17

Latifa Souflani: "Influence isn't just about holding a seat at the decision-making table — it's built through citizen mobilization" A civil society perspective on why meaningful participation, accountability and inclusive governance are essential to turning commitments on women's rights and sustainable development into real change for communities.