FORUM Connemara Ltd. is a rural development partnership of voluntary, community and statutory bodies based in Non Gaeltacht Connemara, with the objective of putting in place strategies and programmes to tackle the problem of rural decline and peripherality. FORUM was established by Connemara West in 1989 as one of the model action projects of the Poverty Three Programme (1989-1994). Since 1994 FORUM received core funding under the Community Development Programme and a number of state agencies. In 2006/2007, negotiations, discussions and research between key stakeholders, local and central government, concluded that FORUM was well placed to deliver the Axis 3 Programme for that area of Galway known as non Gaeltacht Connemara. The plan is a robust, imaginative and innovative strategy, embedded in the culture, resources, strengths and needs of Connemara.
In 2010 the Community Development Programme and the Local Social Inclusion Programme were amalgamated and FORUM is co-ordinating the Local Community Development Programme (LCDP).  

FORUM also co-ordinates an Adolescent Support Programme, three FAS Community Employment Schemes; one FAS Job Initiative Scheme, one Rural Social Scheme and a Tús programme. The main aim of FORUM is to promote, assist and engage in; a. Social Development, b. Enterprise Development to facilitate rural regeneration and c. Community Development, designed to benefit and promote the welfare of the local communities or to deal with the causes and consequences of social and economic disadvantage or poverty.  FORUM works with the following target groups: older people, families, young people, community groups, businesses and under and unemployed.  
 
The catchment area covered by the FORUM partnership faces many challenges and opportunities in terms of realising sustainable development objectives over the coming years. Much of the territory is structurally weak, with poor connectivity, a low level of demographic vitality and a narrow economic base. Structural weaknesses are most profound in the north, west and centre of the territory, where there is a high level of dependence on small-scale farming/fishing and seasonal employment.