The South African government’s Department of Social Development will have a visible presence at the Second World Summit for Social Development (SWSSD) which takes place in Doha, Qatar, from 4–6 November 2025.
Thirty years after the landmark 1995 Copenhagen Declaration, the Summit brings governments, civil society, and international organisations together to reaffirm commitments to people-centred development, human rights, equality, and social justice.
Below we outline the various activities that the Department of Social Development will be collaborating on at the World Summit.
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.
Download the concept note here.
3. Rethinking Pre-distribution and Fiscal Policies to Advance Social Justice
- Date: Tuesday, 4 November, 11:30–12:45 (GMT+3)
- Venue: Room 5
This Solutions Session, co-hosted by the United Nations Research Institute for Social Development (UNRISD), the Foundation for European Progressive Studies (FEPS), NETRIGHT and International Budget Partnership, will explore innovative pre-distribution policies, such as direct interventions in labour markets and the economy, as well as redistribution policies such as progressive, gender-just fiscal policies, in support of the three priority objectives of WSSD2— poverty eradication, full and productive employment and decent work and social integration. By exploring these policies, the session will present concrete solutions on how to address systemic inequality, promote a more level playing field and mobilize resources through fair tax policies to invest in public services and social policy. The session will also discuss necessary reforms of the international trade, investment and financial architecture that would increase policy space for such innovative approaches at local and national levels as well as ways to promote community-led solutions and meaningful participation. Proposals for deepening international cooperation including in support of policy research and ideational exchange by academia and think tanks will be debated.