Implementation of the Doha Political Declaration Regarding Social Protection at All Levels: Moving from Rhetoric to Action (CSocD64 Side Event)
The CSocD64 side event titled ‘Implementation of the Doha Political Declaration Regarding Social Protection at All Levels: Moving from Rhetoric to Action’ focused on how to turn commitments into practical results as the 2030 SDG deadline nears. Moderated by Despoina Afroditi Milaki, the discussion highlighted that universal social protection is achievable when backed by strong laws, sustainable financing, and genuine partnerships. Kenya’s experience, shared by Jane Muyanga, showed progress through constitutional guarantees, domestically funded cash transfers, digital delivery systems, and expanded health coverage, while acknowledging ongoing funding and climate challenges. Contributions from the International Labour Organization, trade unions, employers, and civil society reinforced that social protection is an investment in resilience, decent work, and gender equality. Speakers agreed that moving forward requires national implementation plans by 2028, stronger financing, meaningful civil society engagement, and clear accountability to ensure no one is left behind.
Author: Clare Tuckwell, Youth Intern, Australia
CSOCD64: Implementation of the Doha Political Declaration Regarding Social Protection at All Levels: Moving from Rhetoric to Action
The Doha Political Declaration → recognises social protection as a backbone of social development and underscores the need of reducing inequality, compacting poverty and accelerating progress
Progress on the UN Sustainable Development Goals remains uneven → over 50% of the global population lacks access to global social protection coverage, hence it is urgent for rhetoric to be translated into action
The Doha Declaration calls for:
■ Accelerated action to achieve the 2030 SDG Agenda
■ Strengthening peace, justice and institutions (SDG 16) = a direct response to the rise of armed conflict, democratic erosion, corruption, the weakened rule of law and suppression of dissent
■ Reforming global financial systems
■ Supporting developing nations through debt relief and climate finance
■ Protecting multilateralism in a fragmented geopolitical climate
This CSOCD64 session, ‘Implementation of the Doha Political Declaration Regarding Social Protection at All Levels: Moving from Rhetoric to Action” places a distinct emphasis on translating political commitments from the Doha Political Declaration into concrete action
Delegates stressed that social protection must be seen not as a cost but as an investment and a human right, fundamental to inclusion, dignity and sustainable development
Key implementation challenges:
○ Coverage gaps → many populations; especially women, rural residents, older people, people with disabilities, lack adequate social protection systems
○ Financing constraints → the narrative that social protection is unaffordable hinders progress
Government of Kenya: Jane Muyanga
■ Anchored in a strong, robust legal framework → Kenyan Social Security Protection Act (2025) = a legal framework, creating a social protection fund for sustainable financing
■ Established a national drought and emergency fund, providing predictable financial assistance to vulnerable regions → thus strengthening community resilience and safeguarding them from climactic shocks
■ Universal health coverage, social health insurance – now covers 27 million Kenyans
■ Only 0.4% of GDP is directed towards social protection → a key concern that needs to be addressed in order to achieve the objectives of the Doha Declaration
■ Unemployment rate = 2.6%
■ Poverty rate = 29.0% in Africa
■ Expenditure of social protection, excluding healthcare, of GDP is 5.8%
■ Population covered by at least one social protection intervention in Africa is 10.9% against the minimum global average of 15.1%
International Labour Office in New York: Carlos Campion
■ Within the Doha Declaration, there are 25 references to social protection in the Doha Declaration, emphasising the importance of social protection, increasing resilience, fostering social inclusion, improving child nutrition, tackling youth unemployment, ensuring women’s economic empowerment and responding to population aging
■ The Declaration calls on countries to reinforce financial investments to reinforce social systems, increase coverage by 2% points per annum in order to be fulfilled
■ Largest gaps in the most vulnerable groups → especially low income countries
■ 2 percentage points of coverage extension per year – hence, resources need to be mobilised through progressive taxes to fulfil this goal
Iram Arf – International Trade Union Confederation
○ There is scope for social protection coverage to be afforded → however, it is a matter of political will and prioritisation → social expenditure is not a cost, but rather an investment
○ Reprioritising public spending and progressive taxes, illicit financial flows, tax evasion
○ International solidarity is crucial in this area → at least 7% of all official development aid to be allocated toward social development
○ Declaration proves an additional stepping stone towards achieving SDGs → REAFFIRMS THEIR RELEVANCE FO for the future to come
Stephanie Vinette – International Organisation of Employers
○ The importance of social protection systems → key for resilient economies. They can mitigate the extent of economic impact
○ The obstacles hindering access to social protection → human rights instruments and ILO standards provide guidelines for social security. But their practical implementation can be achieved if it is allocated its economic dimension
○ Technology can enable the digitilisation of social protection systems → used as a mechanism for monitoring, tracking and formalising economic activities
Global Coalition to Action Against Poverty
○ Budgets are not in place to protect the most vulnerable groups
○ Social protection floor provides income for older people, children, mothers, the unemployment and it provides health for all → foundational for SDG 1
○ Rhetoric that it is a cost rather than an invention → the flaw lies in governments realigning their priorities
○ All stakeholders should engage in a clear and joint focus in accountability to measure the implementation of the Doha Declaration, to expose gaps and provide coordinated efforts towards advancing the collective agenda
○ Call into question what is an excuse that ‘domestic resources are insufficient’ → political choices and global rules
Representative of Portugal: Jorje Joranda
○ A comprehensive social system with access to universal health care, unemployment protection, minimum income systems are essential → the pillars of Portugal’s social security system
○ The disproportionate burden that women face for domestic pressures
Looking ahead, three ways to implement Doha Declaration:
■ Strengthening advocacy and coverage of social protection floors → thus ensuring social protection keeps pace with evolving labour markets, including nonstandard forms of work
■ Promoting policy coherence with social protection with employment,education, health policies → recognising that social justice requires a coordinated, integrated approach
■ Advancing international cooperation and multilateral dialogue – in terms amongst international stakeholders
Key Policy Recommendations:
○ Develop time bound national implementation plans → characterised by clear benchmarks and deadlines, particularly towards universal social protection coverage. Ensure that plans are coordinated across ministries (finance, labour, health, social development)
○ Commit to universal social protection floors → implement universal social protection floors that are consistent with standards promoted by the ILO that guarantee minimum income security and access to essential health care across the life course
○ Strengthen sustainable financing mechanisms → expand domestic resource mobilisation (e.g., progressive taxation, social contributions)
Author: Anika Banerji, Youth Intern, Australia
