Central Asian city, Almaty, to play host to the 5th European Union-Central Asia Civil Society Forum this week
The fifth EU-Central Asia Civil Society Forum is set to take place in Almaty, Kazakhstan from January 28 to 30, 2025. This significant event, a key component of the EU Civil Society Facility project, is funded by the European Union and facilitated by the Danish Institute for Human Rights (DIHR).
The forum aims to foster collaboration, advance the role of Civil Society Organisations (CSOs) in sustainable development, transparent governance, and regional decision-making. These topics align with the EU's broader strategy for Central Asia and will contribute to advancing the EU-Central Asia Strategy and Global Gateway priorities.
The forum will serve as a platform for CSOs from Europe and Central Asia to strengthen cooperation, aiming to contribute to a strategic partnership launched in 2025 that supports peace, security, democracy, and sustainable development.
The agenda for the forum is expected to center on three key areas:
- Digital Transformation: Given the emphasis on connectivity and economic integration from the April 2025 EU-Central Asia Summit, digital transformation is likely to cover improving digital infrastructure, access to digital services, e-governance, and fostering innovation ecosystems to support inclusivity and economic growth in Central Asia.
- Climate Change: Climate change and environmental sustainability have been high on the agenda in this regional partnership, including commitments to accelerate the energy transition, decarbonization, and address water scarcity and ecosystem protection, as highlighted in the April 2025 EU-Central Asia Summit Joint Declaration[1]. This topic may also integrate discussions on sustainable development goals (SDGs) aligned with the EU's Green Deal and global climate commitments.
- Empowerment: The theme of empowerment most likely includes social inclusion, gender equality, and civil society capacity-building. For example, regional forums have recently prioritized advancing women's roles in peace, security, and humanitarian efforts through regional action plans launched in 2025[3]. Empowerment may also cover promoting the rule of law, anti-corruption efforts, and enhancing collaboration between civil society and governments for effective policy implementation[4].
The forum will gather 150 high-level representatives from EU institutions, UN agencies, regional governments, and CSOs. It will include plenary sessions, interactive discussions, and thematic working groups.
The four-year initiative targets CSOs from Kazakhstan, Kyrgyz Republic, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan, and Uzbekistan to empower them. However, the specific focus areas for the 2025 forum beyond digital transformation, climate change, youth participation, and women's empowerment were not specified.
The exact location of the forum within Almaty was not provided in the information available. The EU Civil Society Facility project is implemented by the United Nations Office for Project Services (UNOPS), according to reports from the forum's press service.
[1] EU-Central Asia Summit Joint Declaration, April 2025. [2] Regional Action Plan on Women, Peace, and Security, 2025. [3] EU-Central Asia Strategy, 2025. [4] Global Gateway Priorities, 2025.
- Discussions during the forum in Almaty, Kazakhstan might include the integration of Climate Change and Environmental Science into the sustainable development strategies, as it aligns with the EU's broader strategy for Central Asia and the commitments made in the April 2025 EU-Central Asia Summit Joint Declaration.
- In the framework of Education and Self-Development, the personal growth aspect can be achieved through Empowerment sessions at the forum, covering topics like social inclusion, gender equality, and civil society capacity-building, as these themes are crucial for the effectiveness of the strategic partnership between Europe and Central Asia.
