As the global community gathered in Doha for the Second World Summit for Social Development (WSSD2), one message resonated clearly across sectors and regions: the world is at a critical inflection point for social development. Three decades after the adoption of the Copenhagen Declaration, the promises of poverty eradication, decent work, and social inclusion remain both urgent and unfinished. Against a backdrop of overlapping crises—from the long-tail impacts of the Covid-19 pandemic to rising living costs, conflicts, climate disruptions, and democratic backsliding—the need to reassert shared values, renew political will, and scale evidence-based solutions has never been greater.

It was within this context that the International Consortium for Social Development (ICSD), together with UNRISD, the Centre for Social Development at Washington University, UNESCAP, and Development Pathways, convened a focused solution-driven session at WSSD2. Building on decades of research, advocacy, and cross-sector collaboration, the session highlighted innovative approaches that are already advancing the goals of economic inclusion, universal social protection, decent work, and social integration. Partners shared insights on what works, where progress is lagging, and how collective action—grounded in human rights and strengthened by technological and institutional innovation—can accelerate meaningful change.

What followed was a rich discussion that not only addressed key global challenges but also offered practical, evidence-backed recommendations to help countries translate social development commitments into real gains for people and communities. The session’s key issues and recommendations are summarised below.

Key issues
1.Significance and relevance of cash transfers + livelihood strategies to promote economic inclusion. How do people use cash transfers? What are their motivations: Strong desire for self-efficacy; and desire to work.
2. Should cash transfers be conditional or unconditional?
3. Key global issues identified in the UNRISD global survey: growing inequality, climate change, lack of access to basic services, universal social protection and decent work; gender inequality, poor governance, democratic backsliding and erosion of human rights.
4. Innovative use of research/knowledge infrastructure, policy implementation infrastructure and professional training infrastructure for financial capacity building and child development accounts.
5. The global poverty issue and the approaches found in the Asia-Pacific region
6. Is universal social protectional feasible and what percentage of GDP can achieve it? What are the political economy issues relating to implementing universal social protection?

Key recommendations for action
1. Research evidence suggests that universal social protection is feasible. By carefully addressing taxpayers’ concerns and with proper design and implementation – and by building systems over a period of 10-20 years – all low- and middle-income countries could build universal social security systems at a global average maximum cost of 1.6% of GDP. In most countries, the annual increase in expenditure would be no more than 0.1% of GDP, which is well within the resources of most countries. There is no need for international donor funding for countries to achieve universal social security.

2. To eradicate poverty, human capital formation across the life course focusing on nutrition, education and health, and on women and girls needs to be promoted; creation of decent jobs and inclusive employment strategies, access to social protection and community-based initiatives and participatory governance models, such as cooperatives are necessary.

3. Countries should invest in active labour market programmes to support families, in combination with tax-financed social security schemes.

4. Strategically integrate research, policy implementation and professional social work training infrastructure to develop financial capacity of households and child development accounts to prevent people falling into poverty and remaining behind.

5. Labour protection, fair wages, investment in clean energy, focus on wellbeing economy, tax reforms, fair trade, climate finance and disaster risk reduction, civil society and trust building, recognition of Indigenous knowledge, and rejection of means testing for core lifecycle social security schemes.

6. Combining cash transfers with livelihoods support strategies are needed to strengthen the agency and human capabilities of recipients to improve income, employment and related social development outcomes.

7. End exploitation of countries, tax havens and debt burdens and improve governance systems and policy implementation.

8. Promote global cooperation and collaboration among all the sectors—government, nongovernment, business, civil society and university for peer learning, capacity building, policy innovation, and advocacy to ensure inclusive social development.

9. Strengthen democratic governance, accountability and evidence-based policy making that focuses on improving the lives of people and marginalized groups, safeguards the environment, and fosters global cooperation, peace and solidarity. Co-creation and inclusive decision-making emerge as a way forward to fix our broken social contracts.

A strategic global partnership between four leading international organisations — the International Consortium for Social Development (ICSD), the International Association of Schools of Social Work (IASSW), the International Council on Social Welfare (ICSW), and the International Federation of Social Workers (IFSW) — delivered a joint intervention from the floor at the Second World Summit for Social Development in Doha on 5 November 2025. The statement was presented by Prof. Antoinette Lombard, representing the collective voice of these four organisations.

Together, the partners bring a rich history in promoting welfare and social development spanning close to a century, with a footprint that “covers all corners of the globe incorporating local, regional and national formations in communities, professions, academia and workspaces.

The statement highlighted how this strategic alliance links global policy to local action and provides renewed momentum to accelerate the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development in the welfare and development field.

Affirming Global Commitments

Aligned with the theme of Round Table 2, the submission reaffirmed the partners’ “commitment to the implementation of the Copenhagen Declaration, Agenda 2030 and the Doha Declaration.”

It further called for “closing the gap in making smart investments in human capital development and in the design of integrated multidimensional and multi-sectoral policies across the priorities and cross-cutting themes.”

The organisations also “affirmed the importance of the inclusion of a pillar of social care and support to promote gender equality and social inclusion,” and “suggested pointers for strengthening social services and community-based development programs as a vital component of the care and support pillar.”

Collective Work and Global Impact

In the lead-up to the Summit, “our partners have held consultative forums, conferences, work sessions and preparatory meetings in different regions of the world.” As accredited members of ECOSOC, “these insights were shared by our respective representatives at various UN forums to shape the Doha Declaration.”

The submission emphasised that the partners’ collective contribution:
• “Provides a bridge between global policy commitments and the search for actionable solutions in different societal contexts that have deep roots in people-centered development at local levels.”
• “Is informed by research and contributes to education and professional practice.”
• “Offers groundbreaking integrated evidence-based innovation in reducing poverty, overcoming systemic inequalities, linking social protection, employment, social integration and ensuring just technological and energy transitions.”
• “Stems from research and practice in promoting the inclusion of left behind groups by delivering protection, care and psychosocial support, developing human capabilities, asset building and financial capabilities, navigating life transitions, promoting resilience, empowerment, strengthening livelihoods, transforming unjust social systems and improving human relations.”

The statement also reaffirmed the partnership’s ongoing efforts to “foster social integration through inclusive social policies and intergenerational initiatives, advance gender equality through education and advocacy, and ensure access to quality education and healthcare by supporting evidence-based policy and service innovation.”

Finally, it underscored the organizations’ shared mission to “mobilize international cooperation by connecting global research and local practice, fostering partnerships that enhance the social dimension of sustainable development.”

A Shared Vision for the Future

The intervention highlighted the enduring value of collaboration among social development actors in shaping a more equitable, just, and sustainable future. Through research, advocacy, and people-centered practice, ICSD, IASSW, ICSW, and IFSW reaffirmed their commitment to ensuring that social development remains at the heart of global progress.