Doha: HE President of the 80th session of the United Nations General Assembly, Annalena Baerbock, emphasized the importance of moving from planning to implementing practical solutions during the Second World Summit for Social Development scheduled for Doha in 2025. She highlighted the summit as an opportunity to address social challenges confronting global communities.
According to Qatar News Agency, Baerbock, speaking at the Doha Solutions Forum for Social Development, noted that the expected broad participation at the summit would allow for the exchange of experiences and exploration of effective solutions for both current and future social challenges. The summit aims to unify efforts and share expertise to build practical, enduring solutions for global social development.
Baerbock acknowledged Qatar's significant role in supporting international efforts to combat social challenges, particularly by hosting this pivotal global event. She emphasized that the international community's real challenge is effectively implementing solutions, as failure to do so exacerbates suffering. The Doha Summit serves as a platform for learning, inspiring ideas, and fostering joint action towards a better future.
She referenced successful global initiatives, such as Sierra Leone's economic empowerment for persons with disabilities and India's Pradhan Mantri Jan Dhan Yojana, which expanded social services through increased banking access. Sri Lanka's digital platform, creating thousands of job opportunities, further illustrates the value of collaboration among governments, the private sector, and civil society.
Baerbock identified the challenge for policymakers as scaling such solutions and mobilizing resources for implementation. The global financing gap in social development, estimated at USD 4 trillion, stresses the need for cooperative frameworks and innovative financial instruments to scale pilot projects.
She emphasized public-private partnerships and civil society engagement as foundational to comprehensive development, advocating for the private sector's role as a strategic partner in innovation and solution creation. Women's empowerment and leadership opportunities across various fields were also highlighted as critical to building a just and enduring future.