From April 2025 to March 2026, the NGO Committee for Social Development advanced inclusive social development through global convening, member engagement, advocacy, governance strengthening, and civil society participation within the United Nations system.
A Year of Convening, Advocacy, and Institutional Growth
The Committee strengthened its role as a civil society voice on social development by convening global forums, engaging Member States, revitalizing internal structures, and advancing people-centred advocacy.
We Convened
The Committee led the Civil Society Forum at the Second World Summit for Social Development in Doha and the Civil Society Forum for CSocD64 in New York.
We Advocated
Advocacy priorities were shared with all 193 UN Member States, with direct consultations held with 30 delegations.
We Strengthened
The Committee established a Council of Past Chairs, reviewed governance documents, and revived key subcommittees.
We Connected
Member engagement grew through forums, networking events, subcommittee work, and expanded participation across civil society organizations.
Civil society remained central to advancing social development.
The reporting year showed the Committee’s growing capacity to connect grassroots realities, civil society expertise, Member State engagement, and United Nations processes around a shared commitment to people-centred development.
Major Highlights from the Reporting Year
The Committee’s work during 2025–2026 linked the Copenhagen Declaration, the Doha Political Declaration, and the CSocD64 priority theme into a continuous pathway for social development advocacy.
Doha
Second World Summit for Social Development
The Committee conceptualized and convened the Civil Society Forum at WSSD2 in Doha, bringing together civil society leaders, UN entities, Member States, and regional stakeholders.
- Aligned programming with the Ten Commitments of the Summit process.
- Advanced implementation-focused recommendations.
- Reaffirmed civil society as an essential partner in social development.
New York
Civil Society Forum for CSocD64
The Forum created space for civil society organizations, Member States, youth groups, academic institutions, and community networks to contribute to the 64th session of the Commission for Social Development.
- Focused on coordinated, equitable, and inclusive policies.
- Highlighted poverty eradication, decent work, and social inclusion.
- Presented civil society recommendations to Member States and the CSocD Bureau.
Governance
Internal Strengthening
The Committee strengthened its institutional foundation through governance review, a Code of Conduct, and the establishment of the Council of Past Chairs.
- Improved institutional memory and continuity.
- Supported leadership transition and accountability.
- Prepared the operational manual for publication in May 2026.
Membership
Growing Engagement
Membership increased during the reporting year, reflecting renewed visibility and broader interest in the Committee’s work.
- Closed the year with 45 ECOSOC-accredited organizations.
- Held three in-person networking events.
- Strengthened cohesion, solidarity, and participation.
Advocacy Priorities Integrated into the Annual Report
The annexed Advocacy Priorities for the Second World Summit for Social Development expanded the Committee’s policy message around four urgent areas: poverty eradication, decent work, social inclusion, and social resilience.
Priority 1
Poverty Eradication
The Committee emphasized that social protection is a human right and one of the strongest tools for ending extreme poverty.
- Universal social protection systems and floors.
- Access to housing, credit, education, training, technology, and information.
- Debt relief, fair tax cooperation, and a Global Fund for Social Protection.
Priority 2
Decent Work
The Committee connected decent work to poverty reduction, social inclusion, fair wages, safe working conditions, and the recognition of care work.
- Implementation of ILO conventions, including ILO C-190.
- Equal pay for work of equal value.
- Protection for care workers, informal workers, and self-employed workers.
Priority 3
Social Inclusion
The Committee called for eliminating structural barriers and ensuring meaningful participation for people and communities most at risk of exclusion.
- Protection from intersecting forms of discrimination.
- Digital technology as a public good.
- Safeguards against AI and digital risks for vulnerable people.
Priority 4
Social Resilience
The Committee framed resilience as the ability of people and societies to prepare for, withstand, adapt to, and recover from crises without leaving communities behind.
- Universal access to essential basic services.
- Inclusive economic growth and decent work.
- Indigenous peoples’ rights, early warning systems, and crisis preparedness.
Organizational Stewardship and Sustainability
The Committee maintained a stable financial position, expanded membership, and strengthened its internal structures to support future advocacy and convening work.
Financial Stability
The Committee closed the reporting period with a balance of $6,709.96 and no major financial disruptions.
Donor Support
Member contributions and donations supported the Committee’s operations, publications, digital expenses, and convening work.
Subcommittee Revitalization
Revived subcommittees improved participation across advocacy, member state engagement, communications, learning, and grassroots work.
Member Engagement
Networking events and forum-related gatherings helped deepen institutional cohesion and civil society solidarity.
Gaps Identified and Language Proposed
Through its advocacy annex, the Committee identified areas where the Political Declaration required stronger, clearer, and more action-oriented language.
Gaps Identified
- Action-oriented commitments were too weak.
- Migration and displacement needed fuller treatment.
- AI risks were not sufficiently addressed.
- Civil society engagement needed stronger recognition.
- Homelessness and housing inadequacy needed deeper attention.
Proposed Contributions
- Recognize civil society organizations as essential partners.
- Add stronger language on homelessness, housing, and data collection.
- Address refugees, IDPs, climate displacement, and family unity.
- Advance Indigenous peoples’ rights to lands, territories, and resources.
- Adopt a five-year review process to maintain urgency.
Grassroots Perspectives at HLPF 2025
On 16 July 2025, the Grassroots Subcommittee organized a hybrid side event during the High-Level Political Forum on Sustainable Development focused on decent work and economic empowerment.
Decent Work and Economic Empowerment
The event highlighted grassroots perspectives on barriers and opportunities to achieving productive livelihoods and socio-economic well-being, especially for marginalized groups including women, youth, and persons with disabilities.
The discussion emphasized that decent work and economic empowerment are mutually reinforcing and essential for inclusive and sustainable development.
Recognition and Gratitude
The Committee recognized the contributions of its Executive Committee, Council of Past Chairs, governance review team, subcommittee leaders, institutional partners, donors, and member organizations.
Executive Leadership
The Executive Committee guided the Committee through a year of major convening, advocacy, and organizational growth.
Institutional Partners
UNDESA, the State of Qatar, FES, ECOSOC partners, and Member States supported key forums and engagements.
Donors and Supporters
Member organizations and individual contributors helped sustain the Committee’s activities and visibility.
From Copenhagen to Doha to Implementation
The Committee enters the next reporting period with renewed purpose, stronger governance, growing membership, and a clear commitment to advancing the Doha Political Declaration, the Copenhagen commitments, and the broader United Nations social development agenda (See Annex for more details).