BRICS and the Future of Non-Profit Organisations: From Global Cooperation to Local Impact
The world is entering a period in which economic development, climate resilience, technological transformation, public health, food security, disaster preparedness and social inclusion are increasingly interconnected. In this changing environment, international platforms such as BRICS can influence the direction of cooperation among emerging and developing economies, while non-profit organisations can help translate broad international priorities into practical programmes at the community level. The 18th BRICS Summit, held in New Delhi on 12 and 13 September 2026 under India’s Chairship, adopted the New Delhi Declaration, titled “Building for Resilience, Innovation, Cooperation and Sustainability.” The Declaration places resilience, innovation, cooperation, sustainable development and inclusive growth at the centre of BRICS cooperation. The official Government of India also describes BRICS as a platform for economic policy coordination, global governance, development, finance, technology, trade and people-to-people exchanges.
What Is BRICS and Why Is It Important?
BRICS is an international cooperation platform bringing together major emerging economies. As of the 2026 BRICS Summit, the grouping comprises 11 member countries: Brazil, China, Egypt, Ethiopia, India, Indonesia, Iran, Russia, Saudi Arabia, South Africa and the United Arab Emirates. According to India’s Press Information Bureau, these members collectively represent approximately 49.5% of the world’s population, 40% of global GDP and 26% of global trade. These figures help explain why BRICS has become an important forum for discussions concerning global economic governance, development, technology, sustainability and the priorities of emerging markets and developing economies.
The importance of BRICS, however, is not limited to economic statistics. The New Delhi Declaration identifies cooperation across political and security, economic and financial, and cultural and people-to-people pillars. It also stresses sustainable development, inclusive growth, innovation, capacity building and resilience. The Declaration states that BRICS seeks to strengthen cooperation for the benefit of its people while promoting a more representative and responsive multilateral system. This broad agenda creates potential points of engagement for institutions outside government, including universities, research organisations, businesses and civil society organisations.
BRICS and the Global South
One of the important themes in the New Delhi Declaration is the greater participation and representation of Emerging Markets and Developing Countries (EMDCs) and Least Developed Countries in global decision-making. The Declaration links this objective with the changing realities of the international system and identifies the Global South as an important contributor to addressing challenges such as climate change, technological change, economic disruptions and development inequalities.
For non-profit organisations, this focus is significant because many NGOs work directly with communities affected by poverty, inequality, environmental degradation, limited access to healthcare, educational gaps and climate-related risks. Governments negotiate international frameworks, but implementation ultimately requires institutions capable of working at the community and local levels. Non-profit organisations can therefore serve as a bridge between international development priorities and grassroots realities.
Why Non-Profit Organisations Will Become More Important
The role of non-profit organisations is likely to become increasingly relevant as development challenges become more complex. Climate change, migration, public health emergencies, food insecurity, digital exclusion, biodiversity loss and disasters do not remain within one administrative boundary. They require cooperation between governments, technical institutions, communities, businesses and civil society.
The New Delhi Declaration itself recognises the importance of people-centred approaches, capacity building, knowledge exchange and community-based approaches. For example, in relation to disaster risk reduction, BRICS members reaffirmed cooperation to strengthen national disaster risk reduction capacities and highlighted the importance of traditional, indigenous and local knowledge as well as community-based approaches for preparedness and self-reliance. This is an area in which experienced non-profit organisations can contribute through community training, awareness programmes, local risk assessments, volunteer networks, preparedness campaigns and documentation of local knowledge.
Non-Profits as the Bridge Between Policy and Communities
International declarations can establish priorities, but communities require practical interventions. This is where non-profit organisations can play a distinctive role. NGOs often operate close to beneficiaries and can understand local conditions that may not be visible through national-level statistics.
For example, a BRICS-level commitment to climate resilience can translate locally into water conservation, watershed restoration, urban heat preparedness, mangrove protection, ecological restoration, disaster preparedness and climate-resilient livelihoods. A commitment to digital inclusion can become a digital literacy programme, community technology centre or training initiative. A commitment to health cooperation can support community health awareness, preventive healthcare and local capacity building.
This connection between international policy and local implementation can be particularly relevant for organisations such as Drishti Foundation Trust, whose work includes education, health, water conservation, environmental protection, biodiversity, ecosystem restoration and disaster management. The opportunity is not to treat BRICS as simply an international diplomatic platform, but to understand its emerging cooperation priorities and identify where civil society programmes can contribute to measurable development outcomes.
Climate Change, Environment and the Role of NGOs
Environmental sustainability is one of the strongest areas of convergence between BRICS priorities and the work of non-profit organisations. The New Delhi Declaration recognises challenges involving water availability, desertification, drought, land degradation, wildfires and ecosystem protection. It calls for integrated management of mountains, water resources, forests, peatlands, mangroves, farmlands, grasslands and deserts. It also welcomes cooperation on forest restoration and landscape-based greening.
This agenda creates significant scope for civil society participation. Non-profit organisations can work on community-based conservation, river and wetland restoration, tree plantation and maintenance, mangrove conservation, biodiversity awareness, waste management, water harvesting and environmental education. Importantly, NGOs can help ensure that environmental programmes include communities rather than treating conservation as only an infrastructure or policy issue.
For an organisation such as Drishti Foundation Trust, this opens opportunities to connect its field experience in water conservation, river rejuvenation, plantation, biodiversity protection and ecosystem restoration with wider discussions on sustainable development and climate resilience.
Health Cooperation and Community Well-being
Health is another major area in the New Delhi Declaration. BRICS countries reaffirmed cooperation on universal health coverage, health innovation, research, disease surveillance, early warning systems and preparedness for public health emergencies. The Declaration specifically recognises that infectious diseases, zoonotic threats and antimicrobial resistance can cross national borders and therefore require information sharing and coordinated action.
Non-profit organisations can contribute through community health education, preventive health programmes, awareness campaigns, emergency preparedness, public health research and support for vulnerable populations. They can also help communicate health information in accessible local languages and formats.
The future role of NGOs in health is therefore likely to extend beyond service delivery. Evidence collection, community mobilisation, health literacy, digital health awareness and collaboration with academic and public institutions can become increasingly important.
Education, Skills and Youth
Education and skills development will also be central to the future of BRICS cooperation. The New Delhi Declaration identifies education as a driver of sustainable development, inclusive growth and people-to-people exchange. It also supports skill development, digital literacy, workforce preparedness, academic cooperation, scholarships, STEM education, technical and vocational education and stronger institutional partnerships.
This creates a substantial role for non-profit organisations working with young people, schools, universities and underserved communities. NGOs can support digital literacy, vocational training, environmental education, entrepreneurship, research, scholarships, community learning and youth leadership.
The future workforce will require more than conventional academic qualifications. Digital skills, climate literacy, sustainability knowledge, entrepreneurship, critical thinking and community leadership will increasingly influence employability and resilience. Non-profit organisations can help make these opportunities accessible to communities that may otherwise remain outside emerging knowledge and technology ecosystems.
Digital Transformation and Artificial Intelligence
The digital transformation agenda within BRICS is particularly relevant for the coming decade. The Declaration identifies digital public infrastructure, digital skilling, research cooperation, capacity building and safe digital environments as areas for greater cooperation. It also recognises artificial intelligence as having potential to contribute to economic growth and sustainable development, while emphasising safety, security, inclusiveness, reliability and the use of AI for social good.
For non-profit organisations, this means digital transformation should become part of organisational strategy. NGOs can use data systems to improve programme monitoring, digital platforms to expand education, GIS and remote sensing for environmental projects, AI-assisted research for development planning and digital communication to reach communities.
At the same time, responsible technology use will be essential. Non-profits will need stronger practices relating to data protection, cybersecurity, misinformation, ethical AI and digital inclusion. The objective should be to ensure that technology reduces inequality rather than creating another form of exclusion.
Civil Society and People-to-People Cooperation
Perhaps one of the clearest indications of the future role of civil society is found near the conclusion of the New Delhi Declaration. The document records the outcomes of the BRICS Civil Council, BRICS Academic Forum and BRICS Civil Forum and notes progress in strengthening dialogue and exchange among academic communities and civil society organisations.
The Declaration also reaffirms the importance of people-to-people exchanges in strengthening mutual understanding, friendship and cooperation among BRICS countries. This creates an important foundation for future non-governmental collaboration.
Civil society organisations from BRICS countries can potentially cooperate through research networks, environmental programmes, youth exchanges, social innovation, community development, cultural programmes, knowledge platforms, disaster preparedness and capacity-building initiatives. Such cooperation can help transform international dialogue into practical partnerships between institutions and communities.
What Should Non-Profit Organisations Do Next?
The future opportunity for non-profit organisations is not simply to seek participation in international conferences. Their greater contribution can come from building credible, evidence-based and scalable programmes that align with international development priorities while remaining locally relevant.
NGOs should strengthen research and documentation, develop measurable indicators, build international partnerships, improve financial and governance systems, invest in digital capabilities and create knowledge products that can be shared across countries. Organisations should also develop partnerships with universities, governments, CSR foundations, development finance institutions and other civil society organisations.
For Indian NGOs, BRICS provides an additional framework for thinking about cooperation with organisations across Asia, Africa, Latin America and the Middle East. India’s BRICS Chairship involved more than 400 meetings and engagements across 30 cities, involving ministers, parliamentarians, officials, experts, businesses and people. This demonstrates the breadth of the ecosystem around BRICS and the potential value of sustained institutional engagement.
The Road Ahead for Drishti Foundation Trust
For Drishti Foundation Trust, the emerging BRICS agenda presents a framework that closely intersects with several areas of its existing work. Environmental restoration, water conservation, biodiversity, education, health, disaster management, research and community development are all connected to priorities reflected in the New Delhi Declaration.
The Foundation can contribute by developing cross-border knowledge partnerships, documenting Indian community-level models, participating in civil society and academic platforms, building research collaborations and exploring joint programmes around climate resilience, water security, biodiversity, disaster preparedness, digital inclusion and sustainable development.
The New Delhi Declaration also recognises innovation, science and technology as important drivers of social and economic development. It welcomes knowledge-sharing mechanisms, research cooperation and innovation networks across BRICS. For research-oriented non-profits, this creates space to move from project implementation towards knowledge generation and international exchange.
Conclusion: From Global Commitments to Community Action
BRICS is becoming a broad platform for cooperation on economic development, global governance, health, technology, education, agriculture, energy, climate resilience, biodiversity, disaster management and people-to-people engagement. The 2026 New Delhi Declaration demonstrates this expanding agenda through its emphasis on resilience, innovation, cooperation and sustainability.
The future effectiveness of these priorities will depend not only on governments and international institutions but also on the organisations and communities that implement solutions on the ground. Non-profit organisations can contribute by converting knowledge into action, connecting communities with institutions, testing innovative approaches, documenting results and ensuring that development remains people-centred.
For the global non-profit sector, the emerging BRICS environment therefore represents an opportunity for deeper cooperation across the Global South. For Indian organisations such as Drishti Foundation Trust, it provides a framework through which local experience in social development, environmental conservation, education, health, water security, biodiversity and disaster resilience can be connected with wider international conversations.
The next phase of development will require collaboration rather than isolated action. Governments can establish policy frameworks, financial institutions can mobilise resources, businesses can contribute technology and investment, universities can generate knowledge, and non-profit organisations can work with communities to translate these opportunities into practical outcomes. The future of BRICS cooperation will ultimately be measured not only through declarations and institutions, but through how effectively cooperation improves resilience, opportunity, sustainability and quality of life for people and communities.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the importance of BRICS in 2026? BRICS is an expanded cooperation platform covering economic and financial cooperation, political and security dialogue, technology, health, education, sustainability and people-to-people exchanges. The 2026 New Delhi Declaration places particular emphasis on resilience, innovation, cooperation and sustainability.
What role can NGOs play in BRICS cooperation? NGOs can contribute through community development, research, environmental conservation, health, education, disaster preparedness, youth engagement, digital inclusion and knowledge exchange. The New Delhi Declaration specifically records engagement with civil society organisations through the BRICS Civil Council and Civil Forum.
Why is BRICS relevant to sustainable development? The New Delhi Declaration links BRICS cooperation with the 2030 Agenda, poverty reduction, inequality reduction, climate resilience, environmental restoration, water security and sustainable development.
How can Indian non-profit organisations participate in the emerging BRICS ecosystem? Potential avenues include civil society forums, academic and research partnerships, knowledge exchange, youth programmes, environmental initiatives, development projects and cross-border institutional collaboration, subject to the relevant BRICS mechanisms and national regulations.
What is the future role of non-profit organisations in the Global South? Their role can increasingly include translating international development priorities into community-level action, generating evidence, strengthening local resilience, supporting vulnerable populations, developing innovations and facilitating cooperation among communities and institutions.
This article is based primarily on the attached New Delhi Declaration 2026, adopted at the XVIII BRICS Summit in New Delhi, supplemented with current official Government of India information for contextual fact
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