From Regional Realities to Global Action: Preparing for the Second World Summit for Social Development

Leading up to the Second World Summit for Social Development, UNRISD held a virtual side event titled “On the Road to the Second World Summit for Social Development: Evidence-Based Regional Perspectives”, spotlighting regional consultations led by UNRISD in collaboration with ESCWA and other partners.

As the Second World Summit approaches this November in Qatar, this event reaffirmed that the path to a just and sustainable future must be grounded in research, inclusive dialogue, and diverse regional perspectives.

Centering Evidence and Regional Realities

UNRISD and its partners conducted a series of global and regional consultations with think tanks, academics, and UN organizations across Africa, Asia, Central Asia, Latin America and the Caribbean, the Nordic countries, and the Arab region. This event provided a platform to share these insights and assess how they align with the preparations of the Second World Summit, and the emerging outcomes of the Fourth International Conference on Financing for Development (FfD4) that took place from late June to early July.

Magdalena Sepúlveda, Director of UNRISD, opened the discussion by emphasizing the need for a summit that does not simply restate past pledges but delivers a transformative, evidence-based agenda for inclusive social development.

Inequality, governance gaps, climate injustice, lack of social protection, and digital exclusion were listed as some of the challenges that were shared by the different regions. Each region also highlighted context-specific dynamics, reinforcing the need for regionally grounded approaches.

Regional Priorities at a Glance

Across regions, consultations revealed both shared concerns and context-specific priorities. Africa called for reforming global financial structures, addressing extractive economic models, and advancing peace, democracy, and climate resilience. Asia and Central Asia emphasized the need to tackle inequality based on caste, gender, and migration status, expand decent job opportunities, and strengthen regional cooperation on tax justice and climate adaptation. In Latin America and the Caribbean, key demands included progressive taxation, universal social protection, and the inclusion of Indigenous Peoples in policymaking. The Arab region advocated for a new social contract grounded in universal social protection and peace, with investment in care, health, and education, and renewed global multilateralism. Meanwhile, the Nordic countries highlighted mental health, care systems, Indigenous (Sámi) rights, and the need to close implementation gaps despite alignment with the Summit draft.

On the Road to Doha

This virtual event reaffirmed that the Summit must be more than a commemorative event, but a turning point and a platform for bold and accountable action to meet today’s compounding crises. Some priorities for the Summit outlined in this event include elevating evidence-based regional perspectives, embedding civil society, academic, and grassroots voices, and focusing on coherent, long-term public investment projects.

As one participant noted, “We cannot continue speaking in parallel rooms.” The message from this side event was simple: social progress begins when dialogue is inclusive, informed, and designed for action.

Learn more about the virtual event here.