Arab Youth at the Heart of Social Development: Arab Youth Sustainable Development Network Shines at the Doha Summit
Doha, Qatar – November 6, 2025
Reaffirming the pivotal role of Arab youth in shaping the future of sustainable development, the Arab Youth Sustainable Development Network (AYSDN) actively participated in the Second World Summit for Social Development (WSSD2), held in Doha, Qatar, from November 4–6, 2025.
The summit — convened thirty years after the historic Copenhagen Summit — served as a global platform to renew international commitment to achieving social justice, eradicating poverty, and promoting decent work and social inclusion.
The Voice of Arab Youth on a Global Stage
AYSDN, a regional network of young experts and professionals from across the Middle East and North Africa working toward the UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), brought forward the perspectives and aspirations of Arab youth, emphasizing the need for their empowerment and meaningful participation in decision-making processes related to social and economic development.
The network stressed that achieving the SDGs in the Arab region requires genuine investment in youth potential, ensuring access to quality education, productive employment opportunities, and civic engagement. AYSDN also called for innovative and technology-driven solutions to tackle poverty and unemployment, leveraging digital transformation to enhance financial and social inclusion.
A Renewed Commitment to Social Justice
In alignment with the Summit’s agenda, AYSDN’s interventions focused on three key themes:
Social Inclusion: Advocating for inclusive policies that ensure no one is left behind, with special attention to the most vulnerable groups.
Employment and Decent Work: Highlighting the need to create sustainable, decent jobs that align with technological change and the green economy.
Environmental and Social Sustainability: Linking social development to environmental sustainability and recognizing youth as a driving force in addressing climate challenges.
Youth Perspectives Shaping the “Doha Political Declaration”
The Summit aims to adopt the “Doha Political Declaration,” envisioned as a renewed global roadmap for advancing social development. AYSDN’s contributions enriched the discussions, ensuring that Arab youth priorities are embedded within the global social development agenda.
The participation of the Arab Youth Sustainable Development Network in the Doha Summit was not merely symbolic — it was a powerful statement that Arab youth are essential partners in building a more just, inclusive, and sustainable future for the region and the world.