Non-governmental organizations play a variety of roles in partnering with the Forum to improve the state of the world, including serving as a bridge between business, government and civil society, connecting the policy makers to the grassroots, bringing practical solutions to the table, calling their peers to account, and acting as the mouthpiece for the voiceless who are often left out of decision-making processes.

NGOs participate in the Forum's Annual Meeting, the Annual Meeting of New Champions, and the regional summits. Throughout the year, NGO CEOs and specialists contribute to the Forum’s cross-cutting initiatives, working groups, task forces, Global Agenda Councils, industry initiatives and special projects.

Key areas of NGO engagement include: Global Competitiveness, Climate Change Initiative and sustainability, Water, Slim Cities, Partnering Against Corruption Initiative, Global Education Initiative, Business Initiative Against Chronic Hunger, Global Health Initiative, Humanitarian Relief Initiative, Working Towards Wellness, and Energy Poverty Action.

Industry engagement includes: Agriculture, Food and Beverage; Energy, Mining and Metals, Chemicals, Automotive, Engineering and Construction, Real Estate, IT and Telecom, Aviation, Transport and Tourism; Health, Financial Services, and Logistics and Transport.

The NGO Advisory Group provides a framework for ongoing consultation with the NGO sector, regular communication and collaborative planning. This is designed to ensure that the Forum is kept abreast of the key issues of concern to the NGO Community, and that the NGOs derive good value from their engagement with the Forum. The NGO leaders are encouraged to express their ideas and comments openly and to contribute to the keeping the debate fresh and challenging.