At a time of growing uncertainty and complexity, civil society is being asked to do more than respond to crisis. It is being called on to lead with purpose, protect shared values, and imagine new ways of working together. Global Perspectives 2025 created a vital space for reflection, dialogue, and collective sense-making around what it will take for civil society not just to survive, but to thrive.
Over the course of three days, practitioners, leaders, and thinkers from across the world came together virtually to explore bold ideas, challenge assumptions, and actively shape a global conversation on the future of civil society. The emphasis was not just on what is difficult, but on what is possible, how collaboration, innovation, and hope can drive meaningful change.
All recordings of these sessions are now available on our Global Perspectives 2025 page.
Collaboration as the Foundation of a Thriving Sector
Our opening sessions sent a clear message that collaboration is at the heart of civil society’s future. Amitabh Behar, Executive Director of Oxfam International, set the tone by calling for a redefinition of civil society organisations’ role, one that builds trust and solidarity with local communities and broader networks, is rooted in purpose, and boldly speaks truth to power. Following this, Gemma Mortensen, Founder of New Constellations and More in Common, explored fresh approaches to nurturing solidarity and local support, while encouraging us to seek out ideas and initiatives that carry the ‘DNA for the future’, which hold the potential to shape civil society for years to come.
Global Perspectives 2025_Fireside chat with Amitabh Behar
Global Perspectives 25_Fireside chat with Gemma Mortensen
Future Role of Civil Society
In a panel bringing together diverse perspectives from across a wider civil society, discussions explored the major shifts occurring today, shrinking civic space, tightening budgets, growing polarisation, and evolving multilateral dynamics. Speakers considered how we can respond, addressing issues such as decolonisation, reshaping systems that no longer serve their purpose, standing in solidarity, and embracing inclusion. Amid the discussions of challenges we now face, a clear message of hope and possibility resonated throughout the panel, highlighting civil society’s capacity to adapt, collaborate, and lead in shaping a more just and resilient future for all of civil society.
Global Perspectives 2025_ Perspectives on Civil Society’s Future
Reframing Civil Society’s Narrative
A strong theme emerged from the convening around the need for civil society to reclaim and strengthen its narrative. In a short session, we discussed how positive, values-driven narratives can reconnect civil society with communities and the broader public. Drawing on research, we explored how to craft values-driven narratives, highlighting practical approaches to engage key audiences, convey a positive outlook, and include community stories.
Global Perspectives 2025_Positive Narratives for Civil Society
Gearing Up for Change: From Innovation to Action
The final day brought a strong action-oriented focus, beginning with a session on innovations from civil society organisations. Here, organisations shared concrete examples of how they are adapting to shifting realities. The case studies shared new approaches to power-sharing, innovation in learning and AI-driven knowledge management, alternative funding models, and more agile ways of working.
What stood out from all these different innovations was a growing confidence across the sector to experiment and learn. Innovation needs to be aligned to values and the needs of those we work to support. All speakers spoke of the need for trust, accountability and courage to trial new approaches and ideas.
Global Perspectives 2025_Gearing Up for Change: Actionable innovations for CSOs
Building and Sustaining Meaningful Partnerships
A further session dug deeper into what it truly takes to build strong, sustainable collaborations. Speakers emphasised that effective partnerships require time, trust, and accountability and that these are strategic investments, not operational burdens.
We heard examples from coalition-building and alliance work that illustrated how collective action can amplify impact, pool expertise, and create space for shared advocacy and the importance of diverse people uniting behind a common goal.
Global Perspectives 2025_How to Successfully Build Coalitions
Looking Forward
Global Perspectives 2025 provides insights, ideas, and challenges, which afforded us the opportunity to discuss and share.
- Invest in collaboration: nurture partnerships built on trust, accountability, and shared purpose.
- Experiment with innovation: pilot new approaches, learn openly, and align solutions to community needs.
- Reclaim narratives: craft stories that reflect values, uplift communities, and inspire action.
- Lead with values and hope: embrace the possibilities within complexity, and use values and hope as a guiding force for change.
By working together, we can build a civil society that is stronger and capable of navigating today’s challenges while shaping a more equitable future.
