The Second World Summit for Social Development in Doha has attracted nearly 14,000 participants, serving as a platform for governments, global organizations, and community representatives to envision a fairer future.
UN News is on-site in Doha, covering two significant events on Wednesday: one driven by businesses and the other by civil society.
Business Forum: Smart Investment Over Charity
The Private Sector Forum, co-hosted by the International Organization of Employers, the UN Global Compact, and the UN Department of Economic and Social Affairs (DESA), centered on businesses supporting inclusive growth amidst tech advancements, climate challenges, and evolving labor markets.
UN General Assembly President Annalena Baerbock highlighted the urgency of achieving the Sustainable Development Goals (SDG) and the financial requirements for this mission. “The annual financing gap for the SDGs is US$4 trillion, but the challenge lies in how and where investments are made,” she stated, noting that companies with robust environmental, social, and governance metrics are more profitable.
“We’re not asking the private sector to operate from charity; inclusive economic models boost societies and market confidence,” she emphasized. ILO Director General Gilbert Houngbo concluded the Forum, stressing cooperative efforts, noting, “No country or company can address today’s challenges alone.”
Civil Society Forum: Empowering People
In a nearby venue, the Civil Society Forum commenced with transformative community stories, such as Moroccan women’s cooperatives making argan oil and Cameroon’s “Solar Mamas” installing solar panels in rural areas. Deputy Secretary-General Amina Mohamed praised grassroots groups for their role in ensuring social justice and inclusion are actionable realities, stating, “You are proof that social development matters, as you enact change daily.”
With the Forum and Summit concluding on Thursday, discussions revolve around ten themes inspired by the 1995 Copenhagen Declaration, focusing on translating policies into tangible daily improvements.
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