The Foreign Policy Community of Indonesia (FPCI), together with Global Citizen and an international consortium of think tanks, universities, civil-society networks, and multilateral institutions, convened the sixth Global Town Hall on Saturday 15 November under the theme “The Future We Need.” With a strong focus on South-South cooperation and citizen-led action, the forum brought together voices from across regions to confront the geopolitical, technological, and environmental crises shaping the future of global development.
Held on the eve of the G20 Summit and in parallel with COP30 negotiations in Belém, Brazil, this year’s edition underscored the urgency of collective action. Global Town Hall 2025 brought together over 7,000 registered participants from 114 countries, reflecting the globally diverse and engaged community shaping this year’s discussions.
A Platform for Inclusive and Interregional Dialogue
The Global Town Hall has become a leading venue for bridging East-West and North-South perspectives – and increasingly, for amplifying South-South collaboration as a driver of solutions.
In his keynote address, Malaysia’s Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim emphasized shared responsibility: “The future we need cannot be written by a select few, but must be written by everyone. This is why we believe in dialogue over division, cooperation over competition, and humanity over power.”
Multilateralism Rooted in Southern Leadership
Joining the high-level discussions, UNOSSC Director Ms. Dima Al-Khatib underscored that the UN’s 80th anniversary and the UN80 Initiative mark a pivotal moment to rebuild trust in multilateralism. “This reform effort aims to make the UN fit for purpose in a world of complex crises, widening inequalities, and eroding trust,” she said. “A re-prioritized multilateral system must be inclusive by design, rooted in shared responsibility, and capable of turning solidarity into concrete results.”
The Director stressed that South-South and triangular cooperation must sit at the heart of this renewal.
“South-South and triangular cooperation embody the very principles that UN80 seeks to institutionalize: efficiency through collaboration, accountability through ownership, and effectiveness through innovation,” she noted. “They move us to a networked multilateralism, where developing countries exchange knowledge, design policies, and deliver solutions together.”
Ms. Al-Khatib highlighted digital transformation as a central pillar, calling digital access a “global public good.” She pointed to the digital South-South Galaxy platform, hosted by UNOSSC, as a transformative example: “Galaxy connects over 150 countries, allowing policymakers to share and adapt solutions – from climate-smart agriculture in Asia to digital health systems in Africa. It shows how innovation can cross borders and empower communities.”
She also emphasized the need for a fairer global financial architecture, citing UNOSSC-managed South-South Trust Funds as models of solidarity in action. “Financed by developing countries themselves, these funds channel resources directly to local priorities – supporting renewable energy, youth entrepreneurship, and climate resilience.”
Sustainable Development, Foundation of Stability
Reflecting on the global security landscape, Ms. Al-Khatib stressed that development must never be sidelined. “Sustainable development must be the foundation of lasting peace and stability – not an afterthought,” she said. “Every investment in education, social protection, and climate resilience is also an investment in security.”
She welcomed the Sevilla Commitment from the recent FFD4 Conference, describing its calls for debt relief, fairer financial governance, and closing the SDG financing gap as essential steps toward global stability. She also highlighted regional South-South platforms – including the Community of Latin American and Caribbean States (CELAC), Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN), African Union (AU), and Southern Common Market (Mercosur) – as “essential mechanisms for translating national priorities into coherent regional action.”
Safeguarding the SDGs
Addressing whether development can remain a global priority amid cascading crises, Ms. Al-Khatib was unequivocal: “Development must remain the top global priority, even amid crises. Crises demonstrate why development must remain at the center of our collective agenda.”
She noted three priorities:
- Diversifying SDG financing, including through Southern development banks such as the Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank (AIIB), New Development Bank (NDB), and Islamic Development Bank (IsDB);
- Accelerating knowledge exchange through platforms like South-South Galaxy and triangular cooperation;
- Leveraging the multilateral system’s presence on the ground to strengthen national capacities and ensure inclusive, context-specific support.
