Doha, September 23 (QNA) - Adopted by the United Nation's General Assembly on December 4, 1986, the Declaration on the Right to Development celebrates its 40th anniversary this year as a foundational pillar establishing development as an inalienable human right.

This milestone marked a major advancement in the organization's pursuit of freedom, equality, and justice by calling for guaranteed equal opportunities and the equitable distribution of economic resources.

On the occasion of the 40th anniversary of the adoption of the Declaration, the United Nations and international institutions are organizing several events, most notably the United Nations General Assembly High-Level Week during the proceedings of the 81st session of the Assembly. The UN Secretary-General is holding a high-level meeting on September 23 at UN headquarters in New York to review the achievements of the Declaration on the Right to Development, discuss developmental disparities, debt issues, financing, and the North-South gap, and emphasize the necessity of building a more just and equitable international economic system that supports sustainable and inclusive development.

The UN consistently hails Qatar as an indispensable model for implementing the international component of the Right to Development. This recognition reflects Qatar's continuous, generous support through national and charitable institutions to UN bodies for international cooperation and sustainable development, which has helped provide thousands of jobs and bolstered social protection and education in developing nations and conflict zones.

The foreign policy priorities of the State of Qatar focus on promoting sustainable development, providing humanitarian aid in war and conflict zones, and supporting and consolidating efforts aimed at reducing projected humanitarian needs in emergency situations.

Through its leading institutions and bodies, such as the Qatar Fund For Development (QFFD), Education Above All (EAA) Foundation, Silatech, the Qatar Red Crescent, and charitable associations, Qatar has always maintained a strong presence in developing countries and areas affected by disasters and conflicts, providing support and assistance.

From 2013 until July 2025, the State of Qatar provided aid exceeding USD 7.3 billion to more than 100 countries worldwide, supporting international humanitarian and developmental efforts.

In July 2025, the Qatar Fund For Development signed 16 strategic agreements exceeding USD 520 million to fund diverse initiatives benefiting over 17 million people globally. Furthermore, in 2023, it contributed USD 60 million to the Doha Program of Action for Least Developed Countries, advancing sustainable development and long-term prosperity in vulnerable nations.

Qatar also contributed USD 30 million to the United Nations Development Program (UNDP) Accelerator Labs network, which serves more than 115 developing countries. In 2025, the State of Qatar signed core contribution agreements with a number of key UN agencies to provide vital support for their general funding. These agreements included a USD 16 million agreement with the United Nations Development Program for the years 2025 and 2026, a USD 1 million agreement with UN Women, and an USD 8 million agreement with the United Nations Children's Fund (UNICEF).

The international partnerships of the State of Qatar have left a profound impact worldwide, with Qatar providing humanitarian aid to thousands of people affected by crises, including wars and natural disasters. In 2025, the State of Qatar committed to providing USD 11 million to build homes for flood victims in Pakistan, while in 2023 it dispatched search and rescue teams equipped with gear to Morocco following the earthquake that struck the country. In the same year, following the earthquakes in Turkiye and Syria, Qatar provided aid exceeding USD 150 million, alongside supplying 10,000 mobile homes, 3 field hospitals, and urgent relief that reached more than 1.6 million people.

Through the Education Above All Foundation, the State of Qatar also contributes to supporting human, social, and economic development by ensuring access to quality education for all. The foundation has left an influential global imprint, successfully returning more than 16 million out-of-school children to the classroom in over 60 countries through more than 100 projects implemented in partnership with international entities. It has also pledged USD 100 million to combat climate change in least developed countries and small island developing states.

In December 2025, Doha hosted the High-Level Meeting for the Least Developed Countries, held under the title "Forging Ambitious Global Partnerships for Sustainable and Resilient Graduation of Least Developed Countries (LDCs)."

Jointly organized by Qatar and the UN Office of the High Representative for LDCs, Landlocked Developing Countries (LLDCs) and Small Island Developing States (SIDS) under the 2022–2031 Doha Program of Action, the meeting brought together government heads, ministers, experts, development partners, and UN representatives to explore ways to support nations striving to graduate from the LDC category through internationally backed national plans.

The Doha Program of Action for the period 2022–2031 includes six core priorities, most notably: investing in human capital, harnessing science, technology, and innovation, supporting international trade, addressing financing for development and domestic resource mobilization, addressing debt sustainability, and tackling climate change. The program also included calls to strengthen North-South international partnerships and achieve a transition from promises to implementation.

Qatar is classified among the top donors to UN humanitarian offices, such as the Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA), the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR), and the Central Emergency Response Fund (CERF). Qatar also supports UNDP programs, climate change initiatives, and food security projects in developing countries and least developed countries. Qatari support extends to cooperation with approximately 40 UN bodies and agencies, alongside hosting regional UN offices in Doha to enhance international humanitarian and development work.

In November 2025, HE United Nations Secretary-General Antonio Guterres commended the State of Qatar's support for the international organization, stating that it is a generous supporter of humanitarian relief efforts worldwide and an advocate for education. (QNA)