Key Principles For A Credible Post-2030 Agenda

By Silla Ristimäki, Miguel Santibañez, Emeline Siale Ilolahia and Aoi Horiuchi

Only four years remain in the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development, and discussions about what follows are already shaping a new global development framework.

The post-2030 agenda is emerging through early negotiations, shifting alliances, financing decisions, and debates over participation and inclusion. These discussions matter because the global context today is very different from 2015, when the Sustainable Development Goals were adopted.

The current environment is more fragmented and challenging, with rising geopolitical tensions, ongoing conflicts, accelerating climate impacts, shrinking civic space, and increasing pressure on development finance. Trust in multilateral institutions has also weakened, while commitments to rights, equality, and accountability are increasingly contested.

“We step into the next decade against the background of climate chaos, growing inequality and increasing poverty,” said Dr Moses Isooba, Executive Director of the Uganda National NGO Forum and Vice-Chair of Forus. He stressed the need to strengthen democratic values across governance systems.

Civil society organisations say the next development framework must address the structural weaknesses that limited progress under the current agenda.

They argue that future negotiations must be guided by three priorities: what must be defended, what must be demanded, and what must be declined.

What must be defended

Key principles of the current framework must be preserved. These include universality, which recognises sustainable development as a shared global responsibility rather than a task for developing countries alone. High-income countries, they argue, must also address policies that contribute to inequality and environmental harm.

Civic space is another essential pillar. Civil society participation remains critical for accountability and implementation, yet it is increasingly constrained by financial pressures and shrinking rights protections.

Local leadership is also vital, as communities and grassroots organisations are often closest to development challenges but remain under-resourced and under-represented.

Multilateralism itself must also be protected as a space for collective action on global challenges.

What must be demanded

Stakeholders say the post-2030 agenda must correct long-standing gaps in financing. Current debt burdens, unequal fiscal systems, and unstable aid flows continue to limit progress in many countries. Reforms are needed in debt restructuring, tax fairness, concessional finance, and predictable support for civil society.

Accountability mechanisms must also be strengthened through transparent, regular, and independent review systems with meaningful civil society participation.

In addition, participation should go beyond consultation and ensure that civil society is involved in both decision-making and implementation.

“Meaningful change comes from meaningful participation,” said Aoi Horiuchi, Senior Advocacy Officer at JANIC, highlighting the importance of protecting civic space.

What must be declined

Civil society groups warn against lowering ambition in the next framework or weakening commitments on rights, equality, climate action, and universality.

They also caution against maintaining financial systems that deepen inequality while claiming to support development.

Tokenistic participation, where civil society is included only in appearance, must also be avoided. Similarly, growing private-sector influence in development must be matched with strong public-interest safeguards and accountability.

As discussions continue, stakeholders stress the need for a more honest and inclusive process that addresses power imbalances and strengthens global cooperation for sustainable development.