A month ago, we concluded the WFAD Capacity Building Webinar Series, Building Resilient and Inclusive Responses to Substance Use and Addiction, organised as part of this year’s World Forum series.

Developed based on input from WFAD’s global network, the series aimed to strengthen the knowledge, skills, and capacity of organisations, practitioners, community leaders, and advocates working in prevention, treatment, recovery, and public advocacy.

Across five sessions, held between 30 April and 27 May 2026, participants from different regions and professional backgrounds came together to exchange experiences, explore emerging challenges, and discuss practical approaches for strengthening responses to substance use and addiction.

Throughout the series, speakers and participants explored a range of interconnected topics, including trauma-informed and gender-sensitive prevention, meaningful youth engagement and leadership, recovery-oriented systems of care, emerging trends in substance use and behavioural addictions, and strategies for strengthening organisational and advocacy capacity.

A common theme throughout the series was the importance of people-centred, evidence-informed, and community-based approaches. The discussions highlighted the value of collaboration across sectors, the meaningful inclusion of youth and people with lived experience, and the need to strengthen protective factors within families, schools, communities, and wider society.

Through presentations, panel discussions, interactive polls, practical exercises, and audience engagement, members explored regional experiences, practical tools, and approaches that can be adapted to their own contexts.

The final report summarises the key presentations, discussions, and lessons from each session. It also includes links to the webinar recordings and presentation materials shared by speakers throughout the series, and is available below.

We warmly thank all speakers, moderators, members, and partner organisations who contributed to the series. We hope these resources will support continued learning, knowledge sharing, and the ongoing strengthening of prevention, treatment, recovery, and advocacy efforts around the world.