The Ambrela Development Forum (ADF) 2026 international conference, organized by the Platform of Development Organizations – Ambrela on October 1–2 in Bratislava, offers a unique space to seek solutions to humanitarian and development challenges that are becoming more complex and multifaceted with each passing year. Through its program, the conference aims to guide participants from fragility to resilience and prepare them for a ‘geopolitical winter’.

In early October, 200 experts on international development from 25 countries will gather in Bratislava for the Ambrela Development Forum (ADF). Now in its fifth year, the event promises to be a thought-provoking gathering that will build on the success and momentum of previous forums organized by the Slovak Ambrela Platform. It is, in fact, the only international conference of its kind in Central and Eastern Europe focused on development cooperation and humanitarian aid, providing a space to address increasingly complex global challenges and reevaluate international partnerships through high-level discussions and interactive workshops.

“This year, we’re setting formalities aside and focusing entirely on what really matters: strengthening the community and building practical tools for survival. The ADF 2026 conference will therefore take place at Bratislava’s Nová Cvernovka – a raw, industrial hub of independent thought – and its goal is to prepare us for a ‘geopolitical winter’. That is also why the conference bears the subtitle: ‘From Fragility to Resilience: Restoring Hope Amid Global Turbulence’,” explains Daniel Kaba, executive secretary of the Ambrela platform.

Popular ‘un-conference’ formats at the ADF conference

The Ambrela platform will welcome a wide range of speakers to Bratislava who are known for their expert knowledge and dedication to the topic of international development. Making their first appearance at the ADF conference in Bratislava will be: Jozef Síkela, European Commissioner for International Partnerships; Šimon Pánek, Executive Director of People in Need Czechia; Mette Müller Kristensen, Executive Director of Globalt Fokus; Nadine Saba, President of the Lebanese organization Akkar Network for Development; Eilidh Kennedy, Deputy Director of the Inter-Agency Regional Analysts Network (IARAN); and many others.

However, the event will be far from being just about discussing, analyzing, or sitting in a conference hall during expert panel discussions on connecting the business sector with nongovernmental organizations and building strategic partnerships with Ukraine. During specialized workshops, participants will delve together into current topics such as: ‘From Survival to Strategy: Thinking Ahead for Resilient NGOs’; ‘Who Gets a Voice: Power and Privilege in Humanitarian Communication’; and ‘Artificial Intelligence for Greater Impact (How to Help Organizations Achieve More with Fewer Resources)’.

The ADF 2026 program will also feature popular formats, such as: networking through ‘Speed Dating’, inspiring TED-style devCo talks, and – for those evening participants with staying power – ‘Conversations Under the Stars’ – an informal ‘Night Owl Session’ and new ‘un-conference’-style formats. The detailed program can be found here: https://adf2026.lineupr.com/adf2026/

“As an umbrella organization, we are very pleased that teams from Ambrela’s member and observer organizations will once again be well-represented at the ADF this year. This forum can be useful for anyone working on building internal capacity and partnerships, fundraising, program development, advocacy, or communications,” adds Daniel Kaba, Executive Secretary of the Ambrela platform.

About the organizer of the ADF conference – the Slovak platform Ambrela

The Ambrela platform of development organizations, founded in 2023, today brings together nearly three dozen predominantly nongovernmental organizations in Slovakia that focus on humanitarian aid, development cooperation, global citizenship education, and sustainable development both at home and abroad.

The Ambrela Development Forum (ADF) conference in October is Ambrela’s flagship event. It is a unique concept that fosters cooperation among development and humanitarian actors from public administration, civil society, and international organizations in the Central and Eastern European region. For more information about Ambrela’s activities, visit: www.ambrela.org or https://developmentforum.ambrela.org.

This ADF forum is made possible through the generous support of the Ministry of Labour, Social Affairs and Family of the Slovak Republic (MPSVR SR); the Ministry of Investment, Regional Development and Informatization of the Slovak Republic (MIRRI SR) via Programme Slovakia – co-financed by the European Union; ČR via CZECH AID; SR via SlovakAid; British Embassy to Slovakia; Embassy of Belgium to Slovakia; Inclusion Systems GmbH; People in Need; Polish Humanitarian Action; FairTrade Czechia and Slovakia; Julius Meinl Coffee Intl. and the main media partner euBrief.