The SDSN at the Second World Summit for Social Development 2025
From November 3-6, 2025, the UN Sustainable Development Solutions Network (SDSN) participated in the Second World Summit for Social Development (WSSD2) in Doha, Qatar.
SDSN's Exhibition Space
Hosted at the Qatar National Convention Center, the SDG Academy proudly represented SDSN at the World Social Summit in Doha with an engaging exhibition booth. Set in the exhibition hall, delegates explored a vibrant showcase of initiatives driving progress on the SDGs. Our booth spotlighted SDSN’s diverse education programs, from the SDG Academy and Global Schools to Ages of Globalization and the Master’s in Development Practice (MDP), highlighting learning opportunities that span from primary education to lifelong learning.
Delegates were enthusiastic to discover the breadth of SDSN’s educational offerings. SDSN President Jeffrey Sachs stopped by to catch up with the team while catching a glimpse of himself on-screen in our Ages of Globalization feature: a timely preview of his upcoming live lecture series launching in February 2026. Learn more and enroll here.
The SDSN’s Engagements at WSSD2
Throughout the week, the SDSN and its partners hosted a series of events addressing a wide range of sustainable development challenges, including equitable access to quality education, job mobility and training within the green and digital transitions, education's role in peace, and the role of higher education institutions in the future of sustainable development.
View the recordings of the webinars on YouTube here.
Global Citizenship Education for All: Advancing Social Inclusion through Equitable Access to Quality Education
November 3, 2025 | 9:00 am NYC, 5:00 pm Doha
In this side event, we explored how two innovative projects—Mission 4.7 Malaysia and Ages of Globalization—are innovating GCED pedagogies to foster social inclusion, with particular attention to issues of access, localization, and implementation. Featuring experts from SDSN, the Center for Sustianable Development at Columbia University, the Ban Ki-moon Centre for Global Citizens, and the Georgia Tech College of Lifetime Learning, this event invited education policymakers and practitioners, civil society organizations, youth networks, and private-sector stakeholders to explore the transformative potential of GCED for advancing social inclusion, and to exchange best practices and lessons learned from two exemplary models.
Strengthening Education for Peace, Dignity, and Justice: Transformative models and initiatives
November 4, 2025 | 9:00 am NYC, 5:00 pm Doha
This WSSD2 session highlighted local initiatives and solutions that re-center education on principles of peace and harmony. Specifically, three themes were drawn out from a panel of expert speakers, including 1) Virtues, values, and holistic learning, 2) Knowledge systems and epistemic justice, and 3) Bringing together social and environmental peace. The session assembled scholars, practitioners, and youth to reimagine education to promote global peace and cement education’s value in the principles to be adopted at the Second World Social Summit.
Higher Education’s Value Proposition for Inclusive Futures for All: Cross-cutting multi-stakeholder solutions to advance Social Development
November 5, 2025 | 8:00 am NYC, 4:00 pm Doha
This Solutions Session showcased multistakeholder collaboration on the following cross-cutting instruments outlined in the World Social Summit draft political declaration: 1) quality education and life-long learning, 2) technology and artificial intelligence, and 3) innovations in finance to advance social development worldwide.
Pathways to Future Skills: Multistakeholder Solutions for a Sustainable and Inclusive Labour Market For All
November 6, 2025 | 8:00 am NYC, 4:00 pm Doha
This webinar, hosted by the SDSN and BuildSkills Academy, showcased the multistakeholder initiatives that are focusing on enabling a labour market that is more sustainable, inclusive, and that supports employability for all. It was built on discussions from the 2025 EU Green Week session “Pathways to a Circular Economy: Adapting VET Training to Market Needs” and identified scalable solutions that equip all workers with the skills they need for a sustainable future.
