Leaders in Doha Call for Action on Global Crises

The Qatar National Convention Center in Doha, the venue of of the Second World Summit for Social Development.

As global challenges intensify, governments, civil society groups, and international partners convened in Doha on Monday to discuss practical solutions to advance social development and address some of today’s most pressing crises — from rising hunger and poverty to growing inequality and climate-driven instability.

The discussions took place at the Doha Solutions Forum for Social Development and the first leaders’ meeting of the Global Alliance Against Hunger and Poverty, held on the sidelines of the Second World Summit for Social Development.

Learning from Each Other

Opening the Solutions Forum, President of the UN General Assembly Annalena Baerbock said the event marked a deliberate shift from “admiring the problem” to acting on proven solutions.

“Too often we face situations where we have no clear solution, no answer to the suffering we see, and it is heartbreaking,” she said. “Or we have the solution but are either unable or unwilling to do what needs to be done, which is frustrating.”

“Today is different,” she added. “We are here to avoid falling into those traps — to learn from each other, to benefit from good ideas, to join forces, and to live up to our common principles.”

Partnerships Make It Possible

Organized by the State of Qatar in collaboration with France and supported by the UN Department of Economic and Social Affairs (DESA), the Forum brought together government officials, private sector representatives, and other stakeholders. They shared impactful policies and projects in areas such as poverty eradication, decent work, and social inclusion.

Ms. Baerbock cited several examples, including a programme in Sierra Leone that supports persons with disabilities through training, job placement, and microloans.

In Sri Lanka, a civil society innovation hub trains young people for employment and reinvests its revenue into further skills development. In India, a national digital identity system has enabled the opening of more than 300 million bank accounts, expanding access to social services.

“These initiatives show what is possible when innovation, partnership, and resources come together,” she said, urging participants to seize new opportunities.

Scaling Up Solutions That Work

UN Deputy Secretary-General Amina Mohammed echoed the call to move from commitment to implementation. She highlighted the importance of the Doha Political Declaration, to be adopted during the World Summit.

“It calls for social contracts that work for people — fair, inclusive, and built for today’s realities,” she said. “To deliver, we must scale up solutions that work.”

She encouraged delegates to draw lessons from the successful initiatives shared at the Forum. “Harness these stories. Let them fuel your determination. Take them back to your communities and turn them into bold action — today and for generations to come.”

Global Alliance Meets to Confront Hunger Crisis

The focus on solutions continued as leaders gathered for the first high-level meeting of the Global Alliance Against Hunger and Poverty.

With more than 670 million people suffering from hunger and 2.3 billion facing moderate or severe food insecurity, General Assembly President Baerbock stressed that the global hunger crisis is not caused by a lack of food but by “inequality, conflict, and policy choices.”

“That means billions wondering where their next meal will come from,” she said. “Parents watching their children go to bed hungry. The crisis of hunger is entirely preventable.”

As the Planet Heats, Insecurity Spreads

She pointed to climate change as a rapidly intensifying driver of food insecurity. Describing farmlands in the Sahel “turned to dust,” she called the region “the new frontline of food insecurity,” warning that unchecked global warming could push up to 1.8 billion more people into hunger.

The Global Alliance — launched under Brazil’s G20 Presidency in 2024 — now includes nearly 200 members, including national governments, regional bodies, international organizations, and civil society groups.

Monday’s meeting sought to strengthen coordinated action by expanding social protection, supporting rural livelihoods, and investing in climate-resilient agriculture.

“AIn a world of plenty — where there should be more than enough to go around — ensuring that everyone, everywhere, has enough to eat is entirely possible,” Ms. Baerbock said. “A world free from hunger and poverty is not a distant aspiration. It is within reach — if we reach for it together.”