The side-event titled “Implementation of The Doha Political Declaration Regarding Social Protection at All Levels: Moving from Rhetoric to Action” will take place during the 64th session of the UN Commission for Social Development (CSocD64). The side event will be held in person on Friday, February 6, 2026 (11:30 am - 12:45 pm EST) in Conference Room 11 at the UN Headquarters.
The event will be live-streamed at the UNWeb TV.
Background
Further information: Flyer and Concept note.
Social protection is a cornerstone of the Doha Political Declaration, referenced 26 times as a major instrument to reduce inequalities, combat poverty and accelerator progress for sustainable development. With only five years remaining before the 2030 SDG deadline, progress remains uneven: nearly half of the world’s population still lacks any form of social protection coverage despite member countries coming up with robust and innovative strategies to expand coverage of social protection interventions. This gap underscores the urgency of moving from rhetoric to action in order to achieve universal social protection.
The side event aims to assess social protection coverage gaps and implementation challenges, emphasizing their impact on vulnerable populations, while showcasing how the Doha Political Declaration’s commitments can be translated into concrete, multi-level actions rooted in sustainability, equity, inclusion, and resilience. It will also present data to monitor progress, with special attention to marginalized groups such as women, youth, older persons, persons with disabilities, and rural communities. Expected outcomes include actionable policy recommendations, strengthened understanding of financing and monitoring barriers, and practical strategies to advance coordinated and inclusive social protection policies aligned with CSocD64, the SDGs, and the Doha Declaration. By highlighting country success stories and concrete examples, the event seeks to demonstrate how pledges can be operationalized, with key conclusions feeding into national, regional, and global reporting processes to ensure continuity and accountability.
Speakers:
Moderator: Dr. Despoina Afroditi Milaki, UN Representative, International Presentation Association
Organizers: Kenyan Government, USP 2030, International Labour Organization (ILO), Global Coalition of Social Protection Floors (GCSPF), Global Call to Action Against Poverty (GCAP), International Presentation Association (IPA), Bread for the World, Friedrich Ebert Stiftung.
