World leaders are gathering in Doha this week for the Second World Summit on Social Development (WSSD2), three decades after the first Summit in Copenhagen. For Africa, this gathering is not a commemorative moment, but a pivotal opportunity to rally partners towards social development that can be built to last in a rapidly changing world.

Why this Summit matters for Africa?

Over the past thirty years, Africa has made progress in reducing extreme poverty, expanding education, and improving health outcomes. Today, 31 African countries are at middle income status (both lower-middle and upper-middle-income countries). Yet, the continent still faces persistent challenges: climate shocks, economic volatility, youth unemployment, and inequality. The question today is no longer only how to lift people out of poverty, but to ensure that people prosper, and that prosperity is sustainable and resistant to shocks. This requires a shift in development approaches.

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