Baku, April 15, 2025 — The COP29 NGO Coalition, comprising over 500 non-governmental organizations from nearly 100 countries, convened a hybrid meeting to discuss the formal establishment of the Global South NGO Platform under the theme “Institutionalizing the Global South NGO Platform.”
Participants emphasized that Azerbaijan’s successful presidency of COP29 in 2024 has left a lasting legacy, highlighted by the landmark achievement of the “Baku Breakthrough.” The meeting also recalled Azerbaijan’s leadership of the Non-Aligned Movement (2019–2023), during which it advanced significant global initiatives and firmly opposed vaccine nationalism.
Members of the COP29 NGO Coalition commended the outcomes of the international NGO conference titled “Advancing Climate Action through South-South Cooperation: The Role of NGOs,” held on November 15, 2024, during COP29. As a result of that gathering, a joint declaration was signed by 1,023 NGO representatives and civil society activists from 137 countries — collectively representing 71% of the world’s nations — calling for the establishment of a dedicated Global South NGO Platform.
Key international voices — including Cecile Guidote-Alvarez, Head of the Earthsavers Dreams Ensemble (Philippines); Uzodinma Adirieje, President of the Afrihealth Optonet Association (Nigeria); Pakistani climate ambassadors Adnan Ullah and Qaiser Nawab; and Philip Kilonzo, Head of Public Advocacy and Communications at the Pan-African Climate Justice Alliance — formally recommended that Azerbaijan host the Global South NGO Platform. They also urged the Azerbaijan National NGO Forum to accelerate preparations for the platform’s founding conference.
Recognizing that 84% of COP29 NGO Coalition members come from least developed and developing countries, participants agreed that the coalition should evolve into a more institutionalized and sustainable network. With Azerbaijan’s COP29 presidency nearing its conclusion, consensus was reached to transform the COP29 NGO Coalition into the Global South NGO Platform.
The meeting concluded with a vote of thanks to the Azerbaijan National NGO Forum for its leadership in driving the institutionalization process and for its consistent engagement with international civil society partners.
Ramil Iskandarli, Chairman of the Azerbaijan National NGO Forum, noted that the initiative to establish the platform was raised by the coalition at the end of 2024. He confirmed that preparations for the founding conference — scheduled for April 28–29, 2025, in Baku — are nearing completion.
As a natural progression of the momentum built during COP29, the Founding Conference of the Global South NGO Platform will bring together leading NGOs from across the Global South. Hosted by the Azerbaijan National NGO Forum, the two-day forum will feature high-level discussions on forging a fairer global order, addressing pressing challenges, and articulating a unified civil society voice.
This historic initiative underscores Azerbaijan’s emerging role as a bridge between the Global North and South, while also marking a milestone for Azerbaijani civil society. The event will provide a valuable platform for Azerbaijani NGOs to expand their international partnerships and deepen cooperation with counterparts across the Global South.
