The CSocD64 held an Interactive Dialogue with senior officials of the UN System on 鈥淯nited for Inclusion: Leveraging the United Nations System for Transformative Social Development鈥� and the five Executive Secretaries of the Regional Commissions made video presentations.
Mr. Claver Gatete (ECA): Mr. Gatete asked, 鈥渉ow do we build societies that are not only wealthier, but also inclusive?鈥� Declarations themselves do not change lives; their implementation does. If current trends continue, many countries will struggle to reach the SDGs. We must transition from informality to decent work through skills acquisition, digitization, and policy coherence. We must build resilient societies by integrating social protection, health, education, and sustainable financing.
Mr. Jos茅 Manuel Salazar-Xirinachs (ECLAC): The Doha Declaration modernizes the vision of multidimensional poverty, underlines the role of social protection, expresses the powerful idea of social cohesion, openly discusses financing, and stresses the importance of institutional and state capacities. What countries do on the ground and how ECLAC supports them is crucial. On policy approaches, ECLAC argues that countries are stuck in three development traps: (1) a low capacity to grow and transform trap, (2) a high inequality and low social mobility and weak social cohesion trap, and (3) a weak institutional capacities and ineffective governance trap.
Ms. Tatiana Molcean (ECE): ECE is witnessing profound social changes; populations are aging, inequalities re-widening, and green and digital transitions are reshaping economies. ECE will continue to work with Member States to integrate the priorities set in Doha. The ECE region faces a persistent housing emergency, which affects Member States. As countries carbonize, ECE鈥檚 guiding principles for a just transition ensure that the journey to net zero goes hand in hand with social justice.
Ms. Armida Salsiah Alisjahbana (ESCAP): The Doha Political Declaration is fully aligned with concerns expressed by Asia and the Pacific countries. Diversity is not a barrier, but a strength in creating people-centered solutions. Social protection is a proven and powerful tool for reducing poverty and inequality. ESCAP works to share experiences on aging and strengthen regional cooperation. Regional frameworks have helped countries share lessons, align priorities, mobilize resources, and adapt solutions across borders.
Mr. Mourad Wahba (ESCWA): Mr. Wahba has mixed feelings about the Doha Declaration. He expressed that he is proud of Qatar for hosting the Second World Summit for Social Development, but he regrets that we have not achieved social development since 1995. Mr. Wahba does have faith in the UN though and stressed that we must take advantage of the UN鈥檚 comparative advantage in multilateralism; we need to collect success stories where countries have achieved inclusive social development.
Mr. Gilbert F. Houngbo (ILO Director General): ILO stressed that we share a collective responsibility to translate the commitment made in Doha into complete progress.
Ms. Magdalena Sepulveda Carmona (Director on UNRISD): Today鈥檚 world is marked by rising inequalities, demographic shifts, digital divides, discrimination, and the growing pressure of climate impact and crisis. Three priorities for UNRISD include: (1) strengthening universal rights-based social protection, (2) Supporting just and inclusive transitions, and (3) Building fairer economic governance and expanding fiscal space.
Questions and Responses
Delegates raised a shared call for stronger, more coordinated support from the UN system to advance the Copenhagen and Doha commitments. Cuba asked what additional actions the international community can take to accelerate implementation. Philippines commended the Regional Commissions鈥� convening power and peer learning on issues like informality, aging, and migration. Malawi highlighted the compounding pressures of external shocks and limited fiscal space, while Egypt stressed the need to reduce duplication, better align limited resources, and ensure country-specific delivery. Children and Youth International also urged closer support to translate global commitments into locally grounded, youth-inclusive outcomes.
ECA highlighted its role in amplifying Africa鈥檚 voice in global economic and financing discussions and advancing targeted support for Least Developed Countries through dedicated analysis and visibility in its annual Sustainable Development reporting. Under ongoing UN reforms, it is aligning financial and human resources more strategically and strengthening work on multidimensional poverty and vulnerability to equip governments with practical, data-driven tools.
ECLAC emphasized close collaboration with DESA and partners to advance the Doha commitments, particularly on financing for development. Through annual forums with Ministers of Finance, it supports regional policy dialogue while providing applied research and technical advice on fiscal shocks, pension reform, labor markets, and productive development to create decent jobs and reduce informality.
ECE underscored aging as a defining regional priority and is supporting Member States in designing forward-looking policies on demographic change, social protection, and long-term sustainability. It stressed that strong coordination across governments and the UN system is critical for effective Doha implementation.
ESCAP pointed to regional cooperation as key to addressing informality and aging. Through the Regional Coordination Platform, it promotes knowledge sharing, joint programming, and practical policy solutions that strengthen social protection systems and foster more inclusive labor markets.
ESCWA emphasized the multidimensional nature of poverty and its links to inequality, calling for the UN to act as one system. It highlighted the commissions鈥� cross-border role in connecting countries, sharing expertise, and advancing integrated, inclusive social development strategies.