ICSD Events at the SWSSD
The International Consortium for Social Development (ICSD) is playing an active role at the Second World Summit on Social Development in Doha, Qatar, from 4–6 November 2025. Reflecting its long-standing commitment to advancing the principles of the Copenhagen Declaration and the Sustainable Development Goals, ICSD will host and contribute to several high-level sessions that highlight solution-focused research, advocacy, and practice in social development.
ICSD is organising two official side events and co-organising a third in partnership with key global institutions — the International Federation of Social Workers (IFSW), the International Association of Schools of Social Work (IASSW), and the International Council on Social Welfare (ICSW). Finally the ICSD is a collaborating partner on two side events led by the South African government’s Department of Social Development. Together, these sessions will bring leading voices from social work, social development, and social policy into dialogue on how to accelerate progress toward inclusive, just, and sustainable societies.
Read more on these events below
Accelerating Social Development — From Copenhagen to Beyond the Doha Declaration
This side event brings together leading global institutions — including ICSD, UNRISD, the Centre for Social Development at Washington University, UNESCAP, and Development Pathways — to explore solution-focused approaches for advancing social development. Building on the legacy of the 1995 Copenhagen Declaration and aligned with the SDGs, the session will highlight collaborative research, advocacy, and practice that drive progress in poverty alleviation, employment, and social integration.
Through a panel of distinguished experts, the discussion will emphasize innovative, multi-sectoral strategies for just transitions, inclusive social protection, and sustainable peace. Participants will engage in dialogue on actionable pathways that integrate research evidence with policy and practice to accelerate social progress in a rapidly changing global context.
Download the full concept note here.
2. ICSD Interactive Poster Exhibition: “Understanding Social Development – From Awareness to Action”
The ICSD’s interactive exhibition at the Second World Summit on Social Development will invite participants to explore and engage with the core values, principles, and practices that underpin global social development. Centred on the theme “From Awareness to Action,” the exhibition aims to deepen understanding of how social, economic, and environmental dimensions intersect in achieving the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). Through visually rich displays and conceptual frameworks, the exhibition will highlight the importance of values such as equity, inclusion, and dignity; the need for balanced, multidimensional approaches; and the critical role of capacity-building at individual, institutional, and community levels. It will also showcase ICSD’s innovative research, global partnerships, and practical contributions to advancing the Copenhagen Declaration’s commitments.
Designed to be highly participatory, the exhibition features four interactive activities that transform learning into action. Visitors will contribute to a Social Development Values Wall, pinpoint regions of their social development work on a Map Your Impact station, and access free toolkits, training guides, and policy briefs through a Resources Kiosk. They will also have the opportunity to connect with the ICSD network through an on-site sign-up hub. Collectively, these elements aim to foster deeper awareness, shared learning, and cross-sector collaboration—empowering participants to carry forward the principles of social development in their own contexts.
Download the full concept note here.
Partnership Events
1. Strengthening Social Integration through Intergenerational Solidarity — A Foundation for Inclusive, Sustainable Societies
• Date and time: Tuesday, 4 Nov 2025, 16:45–18:00
• Venue: Room 4
This side event, led by the International Federation of Social Workers (IFSW) in collaboration with IASSW, ICSD, and ICSW, will explore how intergenerational solidarity can serve as a cornerstone for inclusive and sustainable societies. Against the backdrop of demographic change, economic inequality, climate pressures, and the erosion of social trust, the event highlights the urgent need to rebuild connections and cooperation across generations. It will demonstrate how social integration — rooted in shared responsibility and mutual support — can strengthen resilience, reinforce social cohesion, and enhance collective wellbeing. Through presentations from leading experts, multilateral partners, and practitioners, the session will spotlight initiatives that bridge generational divides, integrate policy silos, and demonstrate how collaboration across life stages benefits all members of society.
Showcasing real-world examples from diverse contexts — including community-based projects, co-located intergenerational services, mentorship networks, and digital platforms that connect people across age and geography — the event will illustrate how “ending zero-sum thinking” can unlock transformative social outcomes. It will also underscore the central role of social workers as facilitators of dialogue, inclusion, and cooperation between generations. By embedding intergenerational approaches into social policy, practice, and institutional frameworks, the discussion will identify scalable solutions that promote poverty reduction, decent work, and inclusive participation. This session will directly contribute to the Summit’s overarching goal: advancing social integration as a practical foundation for sustainable development and shared global wellbeing.
Download the concept note here.
2. Integrated Social Policy as a Core Driver of Sustainable Development
• Date 5 November 2025 at 10:00 – 11:15 am
• Room 4
This side event, hosted by the International Council for Social Welfare (ICSW) in partnership with the International Association of Schools of Social Work (IASSW), the International Federation of Social Workers (IFSW), and the International Consortium for Social Development (ICSD), explores how integrated social policy functions as a central force in achieving sustainable development. Moving beyond fragmented approaches, it emphasizes the integration of social protection, health, education, labor, and community empowerment as interconnected levers of progress.
The discussion highlights how integration enhances policy coherence across the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), enabling societies to address complex challenges such as poverty, health, and inequality in a systemic way. By linking interventions—like combining cash transfers with education and employment initiatives—integrated social policy fosters synergy between sectors, reduces inefficiencies, and amplifies the impact of public investments.
Ultimately, integrated social policy strengthens equity, inclusion, and resilience—the social foundations of sustainability. It promotes social justice and cohesion, ensuring that no one is left behind while supporting societies’ capacity to adapt to economic and environmental change. The session underscores that integration is not an add-on to development but its essential framework, anchoring sustainability in human well-being and collective resilience.
ICSD President Prof Leila Patel and ICSD Vice President and Africa Branch Chair , Prof. Lauren Graham will deliver a joint presentation.
Download the concept note here.
3. “Universal Social Protection as a Pillar of Just Society: Why it Matters and What Can be Done”.
• Date: Hosted on 5 November, 15:00 – 16:15 (Qatar time)
• Venue: Room 10
This session highlights universal social protection as a cornerstone of justice, equity, and sustainability—ensuring dignity, security, and opportunity for all. It emphasizes that comprehensive, rights-based systems of income security and essential health care are vital for achieving multiple Sustainable Development Goals, including poverty reduction, decent work, and reduced inequality. Beyond poverty alleviation, universal social protection strengthens the social contract, builds resilience, and fosters social cohesion by addressing risks across the life course—such as unemployment, illness, and aging—through inclusive and coordinated policies.
Speakers will examine both the challenges and pathways to achieving universal systems, from overcoming fragmented delivery and limited financing to harnessing digital innovation responsibly. Drawing on experiences from countries like Brazil and South Africa, the session underscores the need for political will, institutional coordination, and meaningful civil society engagement. Ultimately, it calls for international cooperation and investment to realize the 1995 Copenhagen vision—placing people at the center of policy-making and ensuring that social protection serves as a true pillar of just and inclusive societies.
This session is organised by the International Association of Schools of Social Work (IASSW) and will include ICSD representative Mahesh Chougule, Thammasat University, Thailand.
Download the concept note here.
4. “Turning Global Commitments into Local Impact: Financing for a Just and Inclusive Transition”.
This virtual event takes place on 3 November, 15:30 to 17:00. Building on FfD4 sustainable finance commitments, the session links finance with social, digital and climate goals to reduce poverty, boost livelihoods, and drive inclusive, gender-equal green growth. Prof Manohar Pawar, former ICSD President will be a speaker in this session. The link to this event will be shared in due course.
Collaborating with South Africa’s Department of Social Development
Read more about the ICSD’s partnership with the South African government here.
1. “Linking social protection with labour market programs, employment and services for better social development outcomes – solutions from around the world”.
• Date: 6 November at 10:00 – 11.15
• Venue: Room 105
Social assistance policies, and cash transfers in particular, are at the forefront of poverty reduction policies worldwide. More people and their households are now receiving a cash transfer than thirty years ago. Despite the exponential growth and reach of cash transfers, much more needs to be done to improve benefit levels and access to social protection in low- and middle-income countries. Although cash transfers are a necessary condition for improving socio-economic well-being outcomes, on its own, it is not sufficient in overcoming the multifaceted needs, complex risks and vulnerabilities that prevent people from exiting out of poverty. Profound changes are occurring worldwide that will have significant effects on people’s everyday lives. These changes are due to multiple and intersecting crises arising from economic shocks, climate change, health risks, demographic changes and the changing nature of work due to the adoption of digital technologies and the green transition. More comprehensive and integrated social protection systems are needed to protect people better whilst also building their human capabilities, resilience, and supporting them in finding pathways out of poverty. This could be achieved through improving the linkages between social assistance, social insurance, labour market programs, public employment schemes, social relief, access to services and support for livelihoods activities.
The aim of this side event, which is co-sponsored by UNRISD, is to learn from country level models of linking social protection with employment, labour market programs, entrepreneurship and social services among others. Innovation is still in its early stages of development. Country cases will be presented to demonstrate solutions that are emerging around the world. These solutions could provide pointers for future policies and programs to accelerate the achievement of SDG Goal 1 which seeks to accelerate poverty eradication in all its forms by 2030.
Download the concept note here.
2. “Ensuring Just Energy Transition in Practice: Finding Equitable Solutions to Renewable Energy Projects”
• Date: 4 November 2025, 16:45–18:00
• Venue: Room 105, Doha.
The transition to renewable energy often entails social costs at community level. The prospects of losing land and livelihoods cause initial protests and conflicts, and while communities may receive some compensation when solar and wind parks are established, such once-off compensation does not recover loss of land nor ensure sustainable livelihoods. Thus, paradoxically, the implementation of SDG 7 (affordable and clean energy) and SDG 13 (climate action) conflicts with SDG 10 (reduced inequality). Some countries are engaging in Just Energy Transition Partnerships (JETP) to find equitable and socially inclusive solutions to renewable energy projects. South Africa, for instance, has since 2011 implemented a public tender system requiring private energy investors to deliver on community ownership and social development interventions. Policy guidelines are clear, but ensuring social development at community levels is difficult in practice. Research indicates that truly transformative effects of policy interventions need to adequately address socio-economic vulnerabilities, which are best defined through community involvement.
Nevertheless, how to best establish community involvement and good private-public-community engagements is still an open question. The aim of this side event is to share experiences on the social components of just transition energy projects. Countries involved in JETP will share both workable policies and persistent practical challenges in ensuring equitable solutions to renewable energy transition. The presentations and following discussion will allow governments to strive towards new solutions for truly just energy transitions for social development.