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Mayada Hassanain The Second World Summit on Social Development, held in Doha from 4 to 6 November, was significant, marking thirty years since the first summit in Copenhagen. Yet its importance was undercut by a key omission: the discussions paid little attention to the macroeconomic frameworks that continue to constrain social development. Conservative macro policies […]

Cynthia Sunu and Patricia Blankson Akakpo, Network for Women’s Rights in Ghana (NETRIGHT) During the World Summit for Social Development in Doha, discussions unfolded with a mix of hope, urgency, and unease. Hope, because the conversations were bold, practical, and solution-oriented. Urgency, because there is no time left for polite consensus-building when people’s lives are […]

Southern Centre for Inequality Studies, University of the Witwatersrand The second World Summit for Social Development was a spectacular event. At a moment when the very idea of multilateralism feels increasingly precarious, the summit brought together an estimated 14,000 people from across the globe. World leaders reaffirmed their commitment to eradicate poverty, drive inclusive and […]

Political will does not emerge on its own. Pressure, incentives, and citizen action shape it. (Image credit: issafrica.org) The Second World Summit of Social Development (WSSD) took place in Doha between 4th to 6th November 2025, leading to adoption of the Doha Political Declaration of the “World Social Summit.”  In the sessions I attended, delegates […]