UN World Summit forges global consensus on social development
On the morning of the 4 November 2025, thousands of delegates made their way to the National Convention Centre in Doha, Qatar. The Convention Centre was fittingly prepared for this auspicious occasion marked by the symbolism of the event. After all, it was thirty years ago that 117 nation states adopted the Copenhagen Declaration by a formal vote. In doing so, they committed their governments to reduce poverty, boost employment and promote social integration. Much progress has been made in reducing chronic poverty from over 30% to 8% with global unemployment at its lowest, although this is masked by significant disparities. Stil, many countries are unlikely to achieve the SDG 2030 targets. The gathering took place in a context of a world in turmoil and one that is facing multiple crises.
There was a great sense of urgency among the delegates as we gathered in the galleries of the Convention Hall and in various venues to witness the recommitment of nation states to advancing social, economic and environmental development and in building a more peaceful and stable world. Forty heads of state and government, 170 ministers, and thousands of delegates from international organizations, academia, the private sector and civil society groups gathered to reaffirm the achievements that have been made, agree on gaps to be filled and to share solutions of how to accelerate social development, and the social development approach, around the world.
There was great anticipation as we gathered to witness the special sitting of the United Nations General Assembly in Doha to adopt the Declaration of the Second World Summit for Social Development (SWSSD). This landmark event was presided over by the President of the General Assembly, Annalena Baerbock, a former German Foreign Minister, as she announced the adoption by consensus of Resolution A/80/L5 entitled Doha Political Declaration of the World Social Summit under the title the Second World Summit for Social Development.
This was a significant moment for social development and a tribute to multilateral processes. It was also the outcome of hard work by negotiators to reach consensus over several drafts over the past year and on what the key social development issues are for the world to address. The adoption of the resolution by consensus means that nation states are in general in agreement with the provisions of the Declaration. It does not however mean that they agree with all parts of the text. Objections were expressed to some clauses such as notions of the family, aspects relating to gender equality, migrant rights and their access to social protection to mention a few. Since there were no formal objections to the Draft Declaration, these issues did not lead to a formal vote.
The Doha Political Declaration sets the agenda for social development for years to come. The establishment of a monitoring framework by the Commission for Social Development and ongoing review of progress on the social development commitments provide fruitful avenues for non-state actors to make their voices heard at country level, in UN regional commissions and at global levels.
ICSD at the Summit
The ICSD hosted and co-hosted eight out of a total of 254 side events at the Summit and an exhibition. Since we had a large delegation of 20 individual and institutional members, including the Centre for Social Development, Washington University, which was independently accredited, we had high visibility at the Summit. In this newsletter, we share personal reflections of our delegates of their experiences of being part of such a landmark event. We also share some of the presentations which are posted on our website, a photo gallery and podcasts with global leaders in social development.
Our success at the Summit was made possible by our historic partnership and collaboration with the International Association of Schools of Social Work (IASSW), the International Council for Social Welfare (ICSW) and the International Federation of Social Workers (IFSW) with whom we co-hosted three side events. Together we crafted a joint statement that was to be shared in a roundtable plenary session from the floor. These partnerships are crucial to making our voices heard in multilateral forums.
This was a new experience for us. We had to learn quickly about the rules of engagement in global events of this nature. There is much to learn about how to optimise our newly awarded consultative status with the UN Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC).
Looking ahead, the ICSD statement, adopted by the Board of Directors in the run up to the SWSSD, identifies the ICSD’s stance on the issues that matter to us and how to take the ICSD’s commitments forward. Thank you to all our delegates and partners for your contribution and to growing social development worldwide.
ICSD President to Represent at UN Expert Group Meeting in Addis Ababa
The International Consortium for Social Development (ICSD) is proud to announce that our President, Professor Leila Patel, has been invited to participate in the United Nations Economic Commission for Africa’s Expert Group Meeting (EGM) on “Preparing for the Second World Summit for Social Development: The African Process.”
The meeting will take place in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, on 29–30 September 2025, and will bring together leading African academics, practitioners, and institutions. The EGM will focus on key themes central to Africa’s future, including:
- Poverty eradication
- Full employment and decent work for all
- Social integration, with youth as a cross-cutting priority
The Addis Ababa gathering will review Africa’s progress since 1995, assess emerging challenges such as climate change and youth unemployment, and frame Africa’s common priorities for the Second World Summit for Social Development (WSSD2), to be held in Doha in November 2025.
Professor Patel’s participation highlights ICSD’s ongoing commitment to advancing social development globally. Her expertise and leadership will help ensure that Africa’s voice is strongly represented in shaping the future agenda for inclusive and sustainable social progress
Message from Leila Patel, President of the ICSD
28 July 2025
Over the past 50 years, the ICSD has pioneered a new field of social enquiry and developed a platform of action to tackle local and global social development issues. Our work is undergirded by a deep commitment to promote human rights, people’s centered development and social and economic justice. The ICSD has contributed to my personal growth as a social development scholar and practitioner for 35 years. The institution is a global asset that must be nurtured by all as we confront the challenges of a rapidly changing global environment.
I took over the baton from Prof Manohar Pawar, the outgoing President of the ICSD. We all owe a great debt of gratitude to him for his service, leadership and stellar contribution to the organization.
I hope to build on the strong legacy that Manohar and the outgoing Board of Directors leave behind. They in turn have built on the foundations laid by many past presidents, dedicated scholars and practitioners.
I shall endeavor to work with each one of you to grow the organization and to strengthen the ICSD’s footprint globally. I shall strive to be an honest representative of the membership and the people and communities we serve.
The world has changed significantly over the past 50 years and the ICSD has had to respond to these changes. The ICSD remains as relevant now as it was since its inception. Its principal concern has been to contribute to the creation of a more just, equitable, and peaceful world. The social development approach to social welfare pioneered by ICSD thinkers and practitioners has been highly influential in shaping global policy debate and in building knowledge. It has also contributed to repositioning social work education toward a social development approach including crossing disciplinary boundaries to find solutions to complex challenges. Although social development has its roots in southern countries grappling with difficult social development issues, the approach is equally important in both the north and the south.
Ongoing critical reflection and engagement with real world social issues and finding innovative multidisciplinary solutions to improve people’s everyday lives has always been the hallmark of the ICSD and its approach to social development.
We need to redouble our efforts to strengthen social development’s contribution to creating a better world. This can be achieved by sharing our knowledge and skills with civil society organizations, governments and non-state actors. These engagements will help us in our search for real world and proven solutions to the intersecting human development, social, cultural, economic, political, technological and environmental challenges we face. The progress that has been made in reducing poverty has been reversed over the past few years and inequality has increased. Other challenges abound, emanating from poly crises complicated by historical legacies of colonialism, income and gender inequality and high levels of unemployment.
Social development’s concern with addressing structural and systemic issues emanating from hyper capitalist solutions to social provision, inefficient and inadequate public social provision, growing levels of corruption in societies, social exclusion, and violence and wars in different parts of the world remain as pressing as ever. The hollowing out of global institutions and withdrawal of development assistance for vital human development programs will undoubtedly lead to greater hardship for vulnerable groups of people. These developments are complicated by geopolitical tensions that threaten world peace.
It is against this backdrop that I wish to identify two themes for taking forward the ICSD’s social development agenda: first is to ensure that our voices are heard in local and global forums in the run up to, during and after the Second World Summit for Social Development which will be held in Doha, Qatar between 2-4 November 2025. I hope that all members of the ICSD will participate actively in shaping this agenda and to put people and our planet first.
Second, my hope is for the ICSD to contribute to evidence led innovation and dialogue to ensure a just energy transition in response to climate change. This is one of the greatest challenges facing the world with far reaching consequences for people’s everyday lives.
In closing, I wish to welcome our new Board members and general members. I am happy to say that the ICSD is in a strong position to build on the excellent foundation laid by our predecessors. I hope that each one of us will be ambassadors for the ICSD and actively engage in taking the organization forward through its various initiatives.
I will work hard to ensure that the ICSD continues to be a vibrant, proactive, participative platform for our members to engage in global social development issues and a force for social good.
I am honored to lead the ICSD. I hope to work with each one of you in taking the organization forward.