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Social spending is not a luxury; it is a powerful investment
“When we fund education, health, housing, decent work and social protection, we are building more productive, resilient, and secure economies and societies. These are the engines of productivity, resilience and economic security,” said Li Junhua, UN DESA’s Under-Secretary-General and Secretary-General of the fourth International Conference on Financing for Development, as he addressed the high-level special event “From Seville to Doha: Financing Inclusive and Sustainable Social Development”, on 1 July 2025.
The event took place on the margins of the fourth International Conference on Financing for Development in Sevilla, Spain, connecting this major conference with the Second World Summit for Social Development, scheduled to take place in Doha from 4 to 6 November 2025. These conversations are happening at a decisive moment, as global efforts aim to reinvigorate the social agenda and ensure that economic policies are firmly anchored in social justice.
During the event, Mr. Li stressed that social investments remain underprioritized. He also emphasized that domestic resource mobilization is key to financing social development, and that by improving the quality and delivery of public services, fiscal space for social policy can be created. He also underlined the need to regain public trust through effective and equitable tax and social transfer systems.
“As we move from FFD4 to the World Social Summit in Doha in November, we must take the momentum forward,” said Mr. Li. “Let us champion the principle of the Compromiso de Sevilla [Sevilla Commitment]— that economic and social policies must be complementary and mutually reinforcing — to firmly secure the investments needed for inclusive social development.”
The special event at FFD4 featured a number of high-level speakers and panelists.
Ms. Yolanda Díaz, Vice President and Minister of Labour of Spain and Ms. Maryam bint Ali bin Nasser Al-Misnad, Minister of State for International Cooperation of Qatar, delivered opening remarks, while the President of UN ECOSOC, Mr. Bob Rae, delivered a keynote address.
The event, moderated by Mr. Gilbert F. Houngbo, Director-General of ILO, was hosted by the Government of Spain and the State of Qatar in collaboration with ILO and UN DESA.
During the FFD4 Conference, UN DESA’s Under-Secretary-General Mr. Li joined several high-level events, special events and side events on a range of topics, spanning from supporting debt sustainability in SIDS, mobilizing development banks to uplift SDG financing, to the role of Regional Commissions in supporting Member States in the follow-up to the outcomes of FFD4.
Explore his engagements and statements during the Conference by browsing this page on UN DESA’s website.
For more information:
Fourth International Conference on Financing for Development
