Second World Summit for Social Development – Doha 2025

4–6 November 2025, Doha, Qatar

Solution Session titled:

 

Families at the Core: Leveraging Family-Centered Social Protection for Inclusive, Multigenerational Development

 

Organized by Family Watch International
Co-sponsored by the Permanent Mission of the Republic of Djibouti to the UN

 

  • Date: Wednesday, 5 Nov 2025, 4:00 p.m. – 5:15 p.m. (Universal Time Coordinated UTC+3)
  • Event Format: Virtual Panel Discussion and Interactive Dialogue.
    Zoom link: https://us02web.zoom.us/j/82533902680

 

Format & Duration:

  • A 75-minute interactive panel, featuring panelists from diverse regions and sectors (government, civil society, academia), and fostering dynamic exchange and audience engagement.

 

Panel Discussion:

 

Moderated by:

  • Mrs. Annie Franklin, Director of International Activities, Family Watch International

 

Speakers:

  • Mr. Youssouf Aden, Counsellor, Permanent Mission of Djibouti to the UN in New York
  • Mr. Hafid El Hachimi, UN Representative, Family Watch International
  • Dr. Ahmed Aref, Director of Family Research and Policy, Doha International Family Institute
  • Dr. Stefano Gennarini, Vice President for Legal Studies – Center for Family and Human Rights (C-Fam)
  • Dr. Angela Dwamena-Aboagye, Founder of Ark Foundation Shelters for survivors of Gender Violence. 1

 

Rationale:

Families constitute the foundational unit of society, often filling gaps left by public policy shortcomings. Yet, social development agendas frequently overlook the systemic importance of family structures in delivering social protection, care work, and resilience—especially during crises such as pandemics, economic shocks, or demographic shifts.

This Solution Session proposes to spotlight family-centered social protection strategies as essential for combating poverty, ensuring decent work, promoting social inclusion, and advancing equitable development outcomes—directly aligning with the core priorities of WSSD2: poverty eradication, full employment/decent work, social inclusion, and social justice.

 

Objectives:

  1. Elevate the role of family in achieving SDGs and emphasize family as a way to reinvigorate and update the Copenhagen vision for the 21st century—by reviving the family as an engine for social development and protection.
  2. Showcase proven family-oriented social protection models (e.g., conditional cash transfers, parental leave, caregiving allowances, inclusive health and childcare services).
  3. Co-create actionable policy recommendations that integrate family-based approaches into national and global social protection frameworks, in full respect of the cultural values of society.
  4. Build partnerships across government, civil society, academia, and the practitioner community for sustained influence post-summit.

 

Alignment with Summit Priorities:

  • Poverty Eradication & Social Protection: Demonstrates how family-focused mechanisms enhance household resilience and mitigate poverty across generations.
  • Decent Work & Social Inclusion: Highlights how family-friendly policies (like caregiving support) boost labor participation, strengthen motherhood, and support intergenerational inclusion.
  • SDG Integration & Future Orientation: Links family well-being to the SDGs on health (SDG 3), education (SDG 4), and reduced inequalities (SDG 10), while addressing climate and digital vulnerabilities that affect families.
  • Copenhagen Commitments Legacy: Connects to foundational pledges on education, social integration, and equitable access by framing them through family support systems.

 

Structure & Flow (Sample Agenda):

  • Opening (5 minutes): The moderator introduces the thematic framing—why family- centered protection is integral to social development.
  • Panel Presentations (50 minutes): Government/Public Sector Perspective; CSO/Community Case Study: family-oriented social programs; Academic/Expert Insight: Data-driven analysis on multigenerational impact. 2
  • Interactive Workshop (15 minutes): Participants collaborate to draft high-level policy recommendations for integrating family strategies into social protection frameworks.
  • Closing (5 minutes): Moderators and panelists summarize key recommendations, with a 3-minute synthesis shared later in the Civil Society Forum closing panel.

 

Expected Outcomes:

Increased understanding of the importance of family-centered social protection policies on social development and children’s well-being. Making practical policy recommendations for integrating family-focused measures into national social development strategies. Strengthened cross-sectoral network among networks among stakeholders committed to family-informed social development action. Wider visibility and recognition for family advocacy at the global summit stage.

 

Follow-Up & Legacy:

  • Submit a brief report summarizing session highlights and recommendations to the WSSD2 Secretariat.
  • Continue engagement through UNDESA, NGO CSocD, and relevant platforms to integrate Session insights into national policy dialogues and follow up on the summit.