Practical Solutions to Support Inclusive Sustainable Development

Thirty years ago, countries came together in my hometown of Copenhagen to put social development at the heart of their efforts - to eradicate poverty, promote full employment and decent work, and to drive social integration.

They lay the foundations for the promise of the 2030 Agenda to leave no one behind.

Three decades on, progress has been uneven. We face an increasingly complex and
interconnected world, marked by a triple planetary crisis, rising conflicts and geopolitical tensions, deepening inequalities, demographic shifts, growing debt burdens and rapid technological changes.

Needs are mounting, while the resources to respond remain insufficient.

To advance inclusive and sustainable development, we need genuine solidarity, effective multilateralism, and a keen focus on delivering results for people. Developing countries need predictable, sustainable and sufficient development and climate finance to build resilient futures. But reforming finance and policy landscapes alone is not enough - we must focus on the real task of implementation, of delivering tangible results for communities.

We urgently need to help countries overcome implementation bottlenecks, through technical assistance, capacity-building and other forms of support.

This is especially critical in fragile and conflict-affected contexts, where instability destroys communities, social cohesion, and infrastructure, disrupts markets, displaces populations, and diverts resources from essential services. Fragility often stems from deep inequalities, political instability, and lack of access to justice, perpetuating cycles of poverty and marginalization.

UNOPS offers practical solutions across humanitarian, development and peace and security
operations. Our focus is on implementation - and over half of our work takes place in fragile
and conflict-affected settings. So we bring a unique perspective to the Second World Summit
for Social Development.

Through our expertise in infrastructure, procurement, and project management, we drive
practical solutions that strengthen resilience, improve essential services, and advance
climate action and inclusion. And we do so in partnership, to ensure we translate global
commitments into tangible improvements in people’s lives.

We place people at the heart of our operations. Guided by a commitment to inclusion and
empowerment, UNOPS works to strengthen national capacities, engage youth and support
communities in achieving their development priorities. This ensures projects respond to
immediate needs while contributing to long-term, sustainable development outcomes.

As a forward-looking organization, UNOPS harnesses technology and digital innovation to
maximize social impact. From procuring drones in Ethiopia to support smallholder farmers
and strengthen food security, to applying artificial intelligence and advanced remote sensing
technologies to help conflict-affected countries such as Afghanistan to build a mine-free
future, UNOPS uses technology as a catalyst for resilience, efficiency and inclusive growth.

The summit in Doha is a crucial opportunity to advance social progress and ensure no one is
left behind. UNOPS is committed to continue working with governments, communities, and
other partners to deliver on the Sustainable Development Goals, to close implementation
gaps and help create societies that are more equitable, peaceful, and resilient for
generations to come.

—Kirstine Damkjær, UN Assistant Secretary-General and UNOPS Deputy Executive Director

For more information, visit us at www.unops.org