Challenges

Civil society organizations (CSOs) in the Global South continue to face shrinking civic space, fragmented networks, and exclusion from global governance processes. This disparity undermines inclusive policymaking and limits progress toward the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), particularly SDG 17 on strengthening global partnerships. Addressing this requires the establishment of inclusive, cross-regional cooperation platforms that elevate southern voices, promote peer-to-peer learning, and mobilize joint advocacy. The Global South NGO Platform responds directly to this need by fostering solidarity, enhancing capacity, and creating avenues for meaningful civil society engagement on issues ranging from climate action to inequality and global governance.

Toward a Solution

The Global South NGO Platform (GSNP), launched in April 2025 in Baku, is entering a phase of consolidation and action. Building on the adoption of the “Baku Principles,” the Platform has expanded its scope of activities over the past three months, strengthening its Secretariat, deepening partnerships, and amplifying Global South civil society voices in global policy debates.

The Global South NGO Platform was launched through its Founding Conference on April 28–29, 2025, in Baku, Azerbaijan. This initiative aspires to reshape the landscape of international civil society cooperation by offering a dedicated platform for NGOs from the Global South to collaborate, advocate, and share knowledge.

The primary objective is to amplify Southern perspectives in global discourse, build institutional capacity, and catalyze cross-border partnerships to advance the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).

The Global South NGOs Platform represents a transformative and systemic response to long-standing global asymmetries and power imbalances in decision-making. In a world marked by fragmentation, geopolitical tensions, and inequality in resource allocation, the Platform aims to empower civil society actors across Latin America, Africa, Asia, and Oceania—the regions where over 80% of the world population resides but where voices often go unheard in global governance. The initiative primarily contributes to SDG 16 (Peace, Justice and Strong Institutions), SDG 17 (Partnerships for the Goals), and SDG 13 (Climate Action), while also reinforcing SDG 10 (Reduced Inequalities) and SDG 5 (Gender Equality) through inclusive, rights-based, and participatory approaches.

Methodologically, the initiative employed a multistakeholder and participatory approach. The conference gathered 125 civil society representatives from 116 countries—mostly from the Global South—marking one of the most inclusive civil society mobilizations in recent years. The event featured four panel discussions addressing climate change, sustainable development, historical solidarity, and equitable international systems. Notably, high-level interventions from figures such as Mr. Hikmet Hajiyev, Assistant to the President of Azerbaijan, and Ms. Charlene Ruto of Kenya lent political weight and legitimacy to the initiative.

The adoption of the “Baku Prinsiples” during the conference was a key milestone, laying out the strategic priorities of the Platform. These include strengthening NGO networks, engaging in COP29 and UN processes, and promoting shared Southern values. The initiative built upon a previous proposal raised during COP29 preparations in November 2024, gaining rapid traction among international civil society.

South-South cooperation is embedded at the heart of the initiative. It facilitated dialogue among NGOs from regions as diverse as Latin America, Sub-Saharan Africa, South Asia, and the Middle East. By sharing strategies on climate action, policy advocacy, and institutional resilience, the Platform initiated systemic knowledge transfer that transcends national borders.

Outcomes have already emerged: a growing roster of member NGOs, a set of shared priorities outlined in the Baku Principles, and new cooperation frameworks

Azerbaijan National NGO Forum (ANNF) started the strategic shift towards cooperation with NGOs of the Global South, beginning systematically at the end of 2023. This focus intensified during preparations for COP29 in 2024, leading to the formation of the COP29 NGO Coalition initiated by ANNF. These efforts culminated in the official launch of the Global South NGO Platform (GSNP) on April 28, 2025.