What we do

We advance the goals of the Copenhagen Declaration and the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development through advocacy, education, and coalition-building at the United Nations. Our members submit position papers, deliver oral and written interventions, and participate in expert groups on issues ranging from poverty eradication to full employment and social integration. 

At the Second World Summit for Social Development, convened in Doha, Qatar in November 2025 to mark thirty years since Copenhagen, NGO CSocD led civil society engagement throughout the preparatory process and convened the Civil Society Forum — contributing to the consensus adoption of the Doha Political Declaration, an outcome document that reaffirms the ten Copenhagen commitments and aligns them with the ambitions of the 2030 Agenda for the years ahead.

Each year, we convene the Civil Society Forum alongside the UN Commission for Social Development and issue a Civil Society Declaration, formally presented by our Chair at the Commission’s opening session. 

Beyond these convenings, we pursue a sustained advocacy agenda directly with UN Member States — briefing Permanent Missions, meeting with delegations, and building the cross-regional consensus needed to carry social development commitments from paper to policy to people. Through our subcommittees on Advocacy, Communications, Education, Grassroots Engagement, and Member State Engagement, we translate global commitments into coordinated, lasting civil society action.

Main Functions of the NGO Committee for Social Development:

Advocacy

It advocates for people-centered social development at the UN, focusing on poverty eradication, social inclusion, and full employment. The committee pushes to keep social development high on the UN agenda.

The committee brings together non-governmental organizations (NGOs) from around the world to:

Share knowledge and best practices.

Coordinate joint statements and advocacy.

Participate in UN events, especially the annual Commission for Social Development (CSocD).

It helps organize and coordinate civil society forums, side events, and interactive dialogues during the Commission for Social Development.

Member NGOs can contribute to position papers, oral statements, and other documents submitted to the Commission. This helps shape the Commission’s recommendations to ECOSOC and, ultimately, the UN General Assembly.

It serves as a liaison between civil society and UN bodies, ensuring grassroots and marginalized voices are included in discussions about global social policies.