BAKU, Azerbaijan – A significant milestone in global civil society cooperation was achieved on Monday, April 28, 2025, with the official launch of the first-ever Global NGO Platform in Baku. Over 100 NGOs and community-based organizations (CBOs) from 135 countries convened in Azerbaijan’s capital to inaugurate this groundbreaking initiative—ushering in a new era of unity, solidarity, and cross-border collaboration, especially across the Global South.
This platform emerged from the action plans adopted at COP29, hosted by Azerbaijan in November 2024. At that summit, over 1,000 NGO representatives and activists from more than 140 nations signed a joint declaration to amplify the voice of global civil society and advance cooperative development efforts.
Over three impactful days (April 27–29), delegates engaged in vibrant strategic panels and high-level discussions, including:
Local Action, Global Change: NGOs Tackling Climate in the Global South
NGOs Driving Change: Advancing the SDGs in the Global South
Global South Rising: The Bandung Spirit and the Fight for Sovereign Futures
Bridging Borders: Collaboration for a Prosperous Future
No More Double Standards: NGOs as Catalysts for Fair Development in the Global South
These sessions laid the foundation for a unified Global South NGO Network, aimed at enhancing knowledge-sharing, driving joint action, and promoting a more equitable global order.
St. Vincent and the Grenadines was proudly represented by two esteemed delegates:
Ms. Marslyn Lewis, a sea moss value-added producer and member of the Seamoss Association of SVG, and Ms. Orisha Joseph, Director of the Sustainable Grenadines Project. Both delegates contributed meaningfully to discussions on climate resilience, sustainable livelihoods, and grassroots innovation.
“The Global NGO Platform comes at a critical time when unified advocacy is essential,” said Marslyn Lewis. “It offers a powerful opportunity for local actions to create global impact. Our local NGO now has a global voice, and we can begin to foster international relationships and collaborations that truly make a difference.”
The event’s success is widely credited to the leadership of President Ilham Aliyev of Azerbaijan, whose commitment transformed the COP29 vision into reality. Azerbaijan has increasingly positioned itself as a bridge between the Global North and South, promoting mutual trust and inclusive dialogue.
Ms. Charlene Ruto, youth advocate and daughter of the President of Kenya, also addressed the forum. She emphasized the importance of accountability from world leaders on climate commitments and underscored the disproportionate impact of climate change on African nations—despite their minimal contributions to global emissions.
The launch of the Global NGO Platform—hailed as the “Baku Breakthrough”—marks a transformative step in global diplomacy and civil society engagement. With COP29 drawing nearly 80,000 participants from 197 countries, Azerbaijan’s diplomatic efforts have fostered consensus and renewed momentum toward sustainable global development.
As NGOs worldwide confront growing social, environmental, and political challenges, this newly established platform offers renewed hope, strategic alignment, and a pathway to lasting change.