North South Futures Forum: A Global Network for Progressive Multilateralism

The North South Futures Forum (NSFF) is a new global FES network that brings together 30+ senior political leaders, policy strategists, and thinkers from more than 20 countries to shape a progressive vision for multilateralism in an era of geopolitical upheaval. Under the auspices of Lars Klingbeil (President of the German Social-Democratic Party SPD), the NSFF provides a space where North–South cooperation can be reimagined, and where new ideas for a fairer international order can be developed collectively.

From 8–12 December 2025, the network convenes for its inaugural meeting in New York — the symbolic center of multilateral diplomacy. Over the course of a week, participants engage in deep-dive sessions, system diagnostics, and forward-looking dialogues on global governance reform, geopolitical realignments, climate diplomacy, development paradigms, tax justice, peace and security, and the future of the UN.

Purpose and Approach

The NSFF seeks to:

• Build a trusted transnational community of leaders committed to strengthening and reforming multilateralism.

• Develop shared analytical baselines on shifts in world order, power, and global cooperation.

• Identify pathways for progressive multilateral action across policy realms — from climate governance and development finance to peacebuilding and global economic rules.

• Bridge perspectives between the Global South and Global North, moving beyond traditional donor–recipient logics toward genuine co-leadership.

Next Steps

Following its New York meeting, the network will refine its priorities and prepare inputs for its second high-level meeting, to be held in Brazil in June 2026. Between both meetings, participants will continue collaborating across thematic tracks, drawing on the analytical and political foundations laid in New York. A third meeting is planned for 2027 (location TBC).

The NSFF aims to become a reference platform for progressive global cooperation, generating the ideas, alliances, and strategies needed for a fairer, more inclusive multilateral order.