On the Road to Doha: Advancing Social Development through the HLPF 2025

15 July 2025 – United Nations Headquarters, New York: As momentum builds toward the Second World Summit for Social Development (WSSD2), a high-level side event at the 2025 High-Level Political Forum (HLPF) highlighted key priorities for inclusive development. Held on 15 July, the event served as a bridge between the HLPF and the upcoming Summit, which will take place in Doha, Qatar, from 4–6 November 2025.

Shaping the Vision for Doha
Hosted by the State of Qatar, the Qatar Fund for Development, UN DESA, and the World Health Organization, the event brought together governments, international organizations, and civil society to discuss the integration of health, decent work, and partnerships—critical areas under review at this year’s HLPF (SDGs 3, 8, and 17). Speakers emphasized that sustainable development must prioritize people’s dignity, inclusion, and well-being.

Qatar reaffirmed its leadership role, highlighting its commitment of over $3.4 billion between 2022–2023 for humanitarian and development efforts across more than 100 countries. The upcoming Doha Summit aims to be a platform for diverse voices, ensuring equity and social justice are at the heart of global commitments.

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Lessons from Around the World
Country representatives shared successful strategies for social progress:

• Finland highlighted its welfare model, grounded in education, gender equality, and trust between citizens and institutions.
• Indonesia showcased its universal health coverage for 99% of its population, alongside innovative job creation programs and reskilling initiatives for the digital and green economy.
• The UAE underscored a “whole-of-society” approach, with strong youth and women’s leadership initiatives.
• Spain emphasized the intersection of health, gender equality, and decent work, stressing care economies and inclusive policies.

Global Challenges and Priorities
Key themes discussed included:

• Aligning economic and social policies to foster equitable growth.
• Accelerating progress on gender equality, described as “a little more than equal” among the SDGs.
• Harnessing digital transformation to bridge the global digital divide, while preparing workers for an AI-driven future.
• Expanding investments in education, health, and social protection as engines of sustainable economic growth.

Towards the Summit in Doha
Speakers from the ILO and WHO stressed the urgency of building resilient health systems, advancing decent work, and investing in social protection. The ITU called for inclusive digital infrastructure, noting that over 2.6 billion people remain offline. Youth voices, represented by Qatar’s Youth Advisory Group, called for investments in mental health, entrepreneurship, and digital skills.

The event concluded with a collective call for action: the road to Doha must deliver tangible outcomes—reaffirming commitments made in Copenhagen 30 years ago while charting a path for people-centered development that leaves no one behind.