The 2025 Global Meeting of the Policy Forum on Development (PFD), held in Brussels from June 17 to 19, convened key stakeholders at a critical juncture for sustainable global cooperation.
The gathering brought together civil society organizations (CSOs), local authorities, EU institutions, and member states to reaffirm shared commitments amid mounting challenges, from widening inequalities and climate setbacks to geopolitical tensions. Covering a range of thematic sessions, discussions placed strong emphasis on empowering local actors to lead development efforts, as well as on the EU’s upcoming Multi‑Annual Financial Framework, funding mechanisms, fragile states, and the preservation of core values such as human rights.
During the closing sessions, breakout groups emphasized the enhanced role of CSOs and local authorities in translating Global Gateway and Team Europe strategies into effective action . In its dual role as a PFD member and Task Team member, UCLG‑MEWA actively engaged in the parallel networking and evaluation sessions, contributing to the formulation of key recommendations and underlining the value of bottom‑up approaches and inclusive, multi‑stakeholder partnerships.
The meeting concluded on a note of strengthened solidarity, with pledges to intensify collaboration across sectors and levels of governance. Key takeaways included renewed calls to harness local leadership in addressing financing gaps, safeguarding democratic and civic spaces, and ensuring no one is left behind in the post‑2030 development agenda.