Engagement Opportunities in the lead up to WSSD2 2025

Host side events and stakeholder discussions

Heads of State component - Organized by UNESCO, in partnership with the African Union (AU) and the Government of Angola under the theme “Honoring the Past, Valuing Achievements, and Building the Africa We Want,” the Biennale aligns with the African Union’s 2025 theme, “Justice for Africans and People of African Descent through Reparations.”

organize outreach activities and share research insights emphasizing the critical role of care in achieving social development. These efforts will contribute to the WSSD by promoting dialogue and action on genderinclusive policies for sustainable progress.

To promote the UN Day events and work of the Organization worldwide

The II National Conference on Employment and Decent Work (II CNTED), to be held in Brazil in 2025, can play an important role in building inputs for the 2nd World Summit for Social Development. Following a stakeholder participation roadmap involving government, workers, employers and civil society at local, regional and national levels, the II CNTED will serve as a space for national mobilisation to identify and articulate employment and decent work policies aligned with the realities and expectations of the population. Its results, as guidelines for the generation of quality jobs, the strengthening of social protection and the fight against inequalities in the labour market, can feed into the WSSD2 discussions, aligning with the event's objectives of involving multiple actors in the formulation and implementation of effective social policies. Furthermore, the recommendations of the II CNTED can be shared in international fora, contributing to the global commitment to accelerate the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and strengthen stakeholder participation in building a more inclusive social agenda.

A key multistakeholder platform for discussing food security and nutrition policies. Outcomes from the CFS can directly inform the Summit’s discussions on sustainable food systems and their role in advancing social development goals.

A youth-led global movement focusing on transforming agrifood systems. The Forum’s outcomes can provide innovative ideas and youth perspectives to the Summit's deliberations on future sustainable development strategies.

Briefing on the Asia-Pacific preparations for the Second World Summit for Social Development in 2025 during the Eighth Committee on Social Development, 8-10 October 2024. This multi-stakeholder special event provided an overview on the proposed plan for preparations for the World Social Summit 2025 in Asia and the Pacific and discussed social development issues of importance to the region, including on decent work, demographic trends and intergenerational relations, gender equality, the care economy, and social protection.   
 

The meeting will be held during the 86th session of the Committee on Urban Development, Housing and Land Management (Geneva, 8-10 October 2025) and will address challenges related to housing affordability and other topical issues such as sustainability, and energy-efficiency of housing. Ministers will be invited to agree on pledges or practical commitments in this regard.

This meeting brings together city leaders from all the UN regions for facilitating dialogue among cities, member States and international organizations. UNECE had transmitted to the UN Secretary General the outcome statement adopted by the Forum of Mayors at its 4th meeting, « the Cities Summit for the Future » (Geneva, 30 September-1 October 2024), which highlighted the essential role and concrete commitments of local and regional governments in implementing the Pact of the Future, including its action 6. The City leaders recalled inter alia that local and regional governments are guardians of public trust and in the position to ensure equity and resilience through the provision of public services and social protection systems.

The event aims to advance the universal right to culture by convening 194 Member States and key stakeholders to shape the global cultural agenda and to promote equitable, inclusive sustainable development. Recognizing that unequal access to culture is a key component of the multifaceted nature of inequalities, the Conference will aim to reinvigorate policy commitments to cultural rights in view of catalyzing social inclusion processes. Concrete policy commitments by Member States to enhance social inclusion through culture can meaningfully contribute to the WSSD2.

Conference and music concerts towards sustainable development.

The global event brings together 2,000 representatives from 759 biosphere reserves, high-level government representatives, academia, local communities and other network members, and will endorse a new 10-year strategic action plan. Discussions will include thematic areas – such as the integration of conservation and sustainable development that are in alignment with the WSSD2 key themes.

Organise or co-convene side events