Civil society leaders from more than 80 countries are gathering in Siem Reap, Cambodia, for the 2026 Forus General Assembly, a major international platform focused on strengthening global collaboration and developing practical solutions to urgent social, environmental, and governance challenges. The assembly brings together organisations and activists from Europe, Asia, Latin America, North America, the Middle East, and the Pacific, creating a rare space for cross-border dialogue at a time when civil society worldwide is facing mounting pressure. The event is designed to promote knowledge-sharing, collective strategy, and coordinated action rooted in both global solidarity and local realities.
The gathering comes at a particularly difficult moment for civil society, as inequalities continue to deepen, conflicts are intensifying, climate and planetary crises are worsening, civic freedoms are increasingly under threat, and development finance is being cut back abruptly in many places. Organisers say these trends reflect a broader global backlash against the values that civil society seeks to uphold, including solidarity, dignity, equality, diversity, and justice. In this context, the General Assembly is being positioned as an important opportunity to reinforce unity and cooperation among civil society actors at a time when international connection and compassion are seen as more necessary than ever.
Participants are using the assembly to examine how civil society can respond to rapidly changing global conditions while continuing to support local communities and defend democratic space. Discussions are focusing on a wide range of challenges, including shifting geopolitical and development trends, the shrinking of civic space, the need to mobilise stronger climate action, the future of sustainable development financing, and ways to promote more inclusive governance. The event aims to help civil society organisations better understand how these pressures are reshaping their work and what strategies can help them remain effective and resilient.
A major area of discussion at the assembly is the evolving global context influencing civil society’s role and impact. Participants are exploring how factors such as multilateral diplomacy, development finance, digital governance, and artificial intelligence are shaping the operating environment for organisations around the world. These conversations are intended to identify the major strategic tensions facing civil society today and help guide collective action not only in the present, but also in the years ahead as global systems continue to change.
The General Assembly is also placing strong emphasis on local leadership and community-based experiences, particularly through collaboration with the Cooperation Committee for Cambodia. This local spotlight is highlighting Cambodian civil society initiatives, achievements, and ongoing challenges, with the aim of showing how international networks can learn from and amplify local impact. By centring national and grassroots perspectives, the event underscores the importance of ensuring that global civil society remains grounded in lived realities rather than disconnected from the communities it seeks to support.
Another central theme is how to strengthen civil society itself through more enabling and protective environments. Interactive sessions are focused on practical pathways for improving legal protections, enhancing digital security, addressing funding shortages, and countering stigmatising narratives that often undermine civil society actors. Participants are also working to define priorities for sustainable development and future development financing, with an emphasis on making sure civil society remains adequately supported and able to play a meaningful role in policy and accountability processes.
Overall, the 2026 Forus General Assembly reflects a coordinated effort by civil society actors to respond collectively to a period of global instability and growing restrictions. By bringing together leaders from over 80 countries, the event aims to build stronger international solidarity, share innovative ideas, and shape actionable responses to cross-border challenges. The assembly is being organised with support from key international partners, including the European Union and Agence française de développement, in collaboration with the Cooperation Committee for Cambodia, reinforcing its significance as a major global civil society convening.
