Advancing Solutions. Renewing Hope: Reimagining Social Progress for a Changing World

By Amina J. Mohammed, United Nations Deputy Secretary-General

Thirty years ago, world leaders gathered in Copenhagen, Denmark, and made a promise to humanity. On the eve of a new millennium, they pledged to put people at the center of development, eradicate poverty, promote full and productive employment, and foster social integration.

This week, world leaders meet in Doha, Qatar, to renew that vision for our time. At this second World Summit for Social Development, the rights and dignity of billions hang in the balance.

We know what’s possible when nations act together with intention. Since 1995, extreme poverty has been halved. Life expectancy has risen. And many more women are participating in the workforce.

Yet progress has been uneven and fragile. Today, over 800 million people still live in extreme poverty, and nearly 4 billion lack any form of social protection. The climate crisis, conflicts, and rapid technological change are weakening social cohesion and making inequalities worse.

In Doha, United Nations Member States have a chance to restore hope, by declaring their commitment to building a future where every person can live with dignity and opportunity. Afterwards, they will have a responsibility to turn these words into meaningful action.

A vision anchored in equity and solidarity

The Summit’s expected outcome – the Doha Political Declaration – will commit governments to bold, people-centered policies that bring us closer to the SDGs.

It will call for universal social protection, investments in education and healthcare, and policies that guarantee decent work, living wages, and equal opportunities for all – especially women, youth, people with disabilities, and older people.

Fully in line with the Pact for the Future, it will insist that the benefits of digital transformation and artificial intelligence (AI) be shared broadly and safely, bridging divides rather than widening them.

And it will highlight the need to make global finance fairer, more inclusive, and more responsive – so that it works for all countries, not just the few.

These are not mere aspirations. They are must-haves in the quest to deliver on the promise of the 2030 Agenda of achieving peace, prosperity, and sustainability, leaving no one behind.

From commitment to action

That’s why the Doha Summit must be about action – and why it provides for a solutions platform to track implementation and ensure accountability. Countries, international organizations, civil society, and the private sector can register voluntary commitments and concrete initiatives that advance the Summit’s goals.

Already some 22 Member States, 18 UN entities, and dozens of civil society organizations (CSOs) have made more than 100 viable submissions – ranging from investments in social protection and youth employment to inclusive digital transformation and gender equality. But more are needed to achieve social progress at scale.

Translating global aspirations into measurable actions on the ground will not be easy – especially in a world where so many people are feeling insecure about their livelihoods, losing trust in institutions, and growing fearful about their future.

Rebuilding this trust requires more than policy reforms. It demands governance that is grounded in transparency, accountability, and inclusion. People must see that their voices matter, that resources are used fairly, and that opportunities are shared.

A way forward

The Doha Summit offers a glimpse of what that inclusive future could look like, with governments, communities, civil society, and the private sector working together to rebuild confidence in the power of collective action.

It builds on momentum generated at the Summit of the Future (SoF), held last year in New York, US, and the Fourth International Conference on Financing for Development (FfD4), held in July in Seville, Spain.

And like those events, it aims to accelerate progress on the Sustainable Development Goals. There is no time to waste. With just five years to go, barely one-third of the SDGs are on track or making moderate progress. Neary half are moving too slowly and 18% are in reverse.

Ultimately, the Second World Summit for Social Development is about renewing hope – hope that social justice, equality, and solidarity can still guide our shared future. The Doha Political Declaration must turn that hope into action.