HLPF 2025: Qatar at the Forefront of Social Development

New York, July 15, 2025 – In the inaugural week of this year’s High-Level Political Forum at the United Nations, the Government of Qatar hosted an event titled “On the Road to Doha: From HLPF 2025 to the Second World Summit for Social Development.” The event brought a thorough review of SDGs 3 (health and well-being), 8 (decent work and economic growth), and 17 (partnerships for the Goals), as well as reported on Qatar’s ambitions and goals for the upcoming World Summit for Social Development (WSSD2), scheduled for Doha on November 4–6, 2025.

H.E. Mr. Fahad Al-Sulaiti, Director-General of the Qatar Fund for Development, presented Qatar’s global development efforts by stating:

_“Between 2022 and 2023, Qatar Fund for Development has committed over 3.4 billion dollars towards responding to humanitarian and development issues in over 100 countries, with a strong focus on health, education, job creation, and economic empowerment. These investments are guided by the principle that people affected by conflict and poverty must not be seen only as beneficiaries, but always as active agents of change.”_

The Qatari delegation also affirmed that the Agenda 2030 must go beyond economic indicators and infrastructure to include dignity and inclusion for every individual. The event outlined the summit’s objective to bring together business leaders, youth, governments, and civil society to showcase progress in social development and build new partnerships.

By examining global progress in New York, governments and partners can identify specific priorities and commitments that will shape the Doha summit. This sequencing ensures that WSSD2 will take place in a fully informed landscaped, backed by the latest reports and statistics, allowing it to be a turning point for even greater social development efforts.

During the event hosted by Qatar, delegates highlighted the connections between health, employment, and global cooperation, aligning with the broader HLPF agenda. The delegation of Spain also raised concerns over the vulnerability of SDG 3 (Health and Well-being), referencing its experience hosting the Seville Conference. Meanwhile, representatives from Finland, Indonesia, Morocco, and international organizations such as the ILO and WHO also contributed perspectives on strengthening commitments to social justice and inclusion.

The “On the Road to Doha” event comes to show the importance of utilizing HLPF outcomes to inform the global community ahead of the WSSD2. By hosting this discussion and preparing to welcome the global community to Doha later this year, Qatar positions itself as a leading voice for sustainable and social development. Through its investments, partnerships, and willingness to convene dialogues by opening the floor to participants from all around the world, Qatar demonstrates its essential stance on the global stage for advancing the Sustainable Development Goals.

On the High Level Political Forum on Sustainable Development (HLPF)

The High-Level Political Forum on Sustainable Development is the United Nations’ central platform for overseeing progress on the 2030 Agenda and the Sustainable Development Goals. Originally established in 2013, it replaced the Commission on Sustainable Development to provide a stronger, more inclusive entity for reviewing global commitments, and evolved into a handling body for the 17 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), agreed upon by all 193 member states of the United Nations.

The HLPF convenes annually in July under the auspices of the Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC). It brings together member states, UN agencies, civil society, the academic sectors, and the private businesses to assess achievements, share best practices, and identify the remaining gaps in implementing the SDGs. A central component of the forum is the presentation of Voluntary National Reviews (VNRs), where countries report on their progress toward the goals, offering transparency and peer-learning opportunities.

This year’s HLPF is being held from from July 7 to 23 and focuses on an in-depth review of SDG 3 (health and well-being), SDG 8 (decent work and economic growth), SDG 10 (reducing inequalities), SDG 12 (responsible consumption and production), SDG 13 (climate action), and SDG 17 (partnerships for the Goals). Importantly, the outcomes of this year’s HLPF will feed directly into the Second World Summit for Social Development (WSSD2) in Doha.