The Global Call to Action Against Poverty (GCAP), together with key government, UN, trade union and civil society partners, is co-organising a side event at the 64th session of the UN Commission for Social Development (CSocD64) to advance action on social protection commitments under the Doha Political Declaration.

Details below:

Topic: Implementation of the Doha Political Declaration Regarding Social Protection at All Levels: Moving from Rhetoric to Action

 Date: Friday, 6 February 2026
 Time: 11:30 am – 12:45 pm (New York, EST)/4:30pm gmt
 Venue: Conference Room 11, United Nations Headquarters, New York
 Live stream on UN Web TV: https://webtv.un.org/en/asset/k1u/k1uqmrgxa2

 Concept Note here

Please note that interpretation will unfortunately not be available for this event. As the event is held at the UN Headquarters, interpretation services are extremely expensive and could not be accommodated.

The CSocD64 is taking place at the United Nations Headquarters in New York from 2–10 February 2026.

Background

Social protection is a cornerstone of the Doha Political Declaration, referenced 26 times as a key instrument to reduce inequalities, combat poverty and accelerate progress toward sustainable development. With only five years remaining until the 2030 SDG deadline, progress remains uneven—nearly half of the world’s population still lacks any form of social protection coverage, despite robust and innovative national strategies.

Objective

This side event aims to move beyond commitments and assess coverage gaps, implementation challenges and financing barriers, particularly their impact on vulnerable and marginalised populations. The discussion will focus on translating the Doha Declaration into concrete, coordinated and inclusive actions at national, regional and global levels.

Special attention will be given to women, youth, older persons, persons with disabilities and rural communities. The event will also showcase country experiences, data for monitoring progress, and practical policy solutions aligned with CSocD64, the SDGs and the Doha Political Declaration. Key conclusions will contribute to ongoing reporting and accountability processes.

Speakers

• Opening remarks: Jane Muyanga, Director, Social Protection Secretariat, Government of Kenya
• Veronika Wodsak, Social Protection Policy Specialist, International Labour Organization (ILO)
• Peter Ombasa, Assistant Director, Children’s Service | Ministry of Labour and Social Protection, State Department of Social Protection and Senior Citizen Affairs
• Irem Arf, Policy Advisor, International Trade Union Confederation (ITUC)
• Stephanie Winet, Head of Stakeholder Engagement, International Organisation of Employers
• Sylvia Beales, Global Coalition for Social Protection Floors (GCSPF) and Global Call to Action Against Poverty (GCAP)
• Closing remarks: Jorge Aranda, Deputy Permanent Representative of Portugal

Moderator: Dr. Despoina Afroditi Milaki, UN Representative, International Presentation Association (IPA)

Organisers

Government of Kenya, USP2030, International Labour Organization (ILO), Global Coalition for Social Protection Floors (GCSPF), Global Call to Action Against Poverty (GCAP), International Presentation Association (IPA), Bread for the World, Friedrich Ebert Stiftung.

We look forward to your participation.