UNESCO was at the forefront of insightful discussions about social responsibility practices and sustainability issues, showcasing its commitment to implementing the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development through integrating environmental, economic, and social goals into business models.
UNESCO was a key partner at the Qatar CSR Summit 2024, held from 30th April to 2nd May in Doha and organized under the Patronage of HE Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman bin Jassim Al Thani, Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs of the State of Qatar and organized by Qatar University, Mubadara for Social Impact and IFP Group. Under the theme of ‘The Future of CSR in a Circular Economy,’ the 2nd edition of the Qatar CSR Summit focused on how organizations can align their economic, social, and environmental objectives with their operational strategies.
Highlighting the event was the keynote address delivered by Mr Julien Pellaux, Director of Partnerships at UNESCO Headquarters. His insightful speech captivated the audience, offering strategic insights and visionary perspectives on shared-value partnerships. Setting the tone for the conference, Mr Pellaux emphasized how UNESCO strongly believes that is possible to advance business interests while driving sustainable development impact through more sustainable, just and inclusive practices.
Mr Julien Pellaux, Director of Partnerships at UNESCO Headquarters said, “I invite companies to join UNESCO so that we can find synergies and achieve impact at scale. We can partner to find ways to align CSR priorities with UNESCO’s mission in support of the 2030 Agenda.”
Moreover, UNESCO played a pivotal role in fostering dialogue and collaboration by moderating a panel discussion, ‘Unlocking the Potential of Business for Sustainable Development’. Leveraging its expertise, the organization facilitated a dynamic exchange of ideas among industry experts and thought leaders from the UN Global Compact, Talabat and Darwish Interserve, addressing pressing challenges and exploring future opportunities in sustainability approaches.
In addition to its active participation in the Summit, UNESCO made a significant contribution to the 2024 CSR Annual Report, consolidating key findings and recommendations from various sessions of the Qatar CSR Summit. This comprehensive document will serve as a valuable resource for stakeholders, guiding future initiatives and driving positive change within CSR policies.
As a specialized agency of the United Nations, UNESCO has a unique mandate to build sustainable development and drive positive societal changes through targeted interventions in the areas of education, culture, the sciences and communication and information. Through CSR initiatives, UNESCO is an official partner in a large number of collaborative relationships with the private sector, ranging from fundraising to strategic partnerships, intervening in various degrees from being involved in programme delivery arrangements, providing policy guidance, technical assistance and expertise, to playing a vital role in promoting its core ethical and programmatic values through advocacy and awareness-raising.
