is a recent initiative of the Department of Economic and Social Affairs to bring together personalities from Governments, international and regional organizations, the private sector and civil society for an informal dialogue on global issues of development and social progress.

The Forum is part of the follow-up to the outcome of the 1995 World Summit for Social Development as well as of subsequent major international gatherings, including the Millennium Summit. The overarching theme of the International Forum for Social Development, which is being carried out as a technical cooperation activity financed by voluntary contributions, is Open Societies, Open Economies: Challenges and Opportunities. The Forum seeks to promote international cooperation for social development and to support developing countries and social groups not currently benefiting from the globalization process.

The theme of the first meeting of the Forum, which was held in New York on 7-8 February 2002 immediately prior to the 40th session of the Commission for Social Development, was "Financing Global Social Development". This Forum comprised two events: 1) A Symposium, open to members of delegations as well as Secretariat staff, representatives of non-governmental organizations and the media. 2) A closed Seminar on the following day, with around 20 participants, which considered in greater detail some of the issues debated at the Symposium. The Coordinator of the Forum presented a preliminary report to the Commission on the outcome of the first meeting. The final report can be accessed here

The second meeting of the Forum took place on 16-17 October 2002, also in New York, and was devoted to the question of "Cooperation for social development: the international dimension". A summary report of this meeting was presented to the 41st session of the Commission for Social development which was held 10-21 February 2003. The Summary of findings can be accessed here

The third meeting of the Forum was held on 7-8 October 2003 at United Nations Headquarters in New York on the subject of "International Migrants and Development". The Summary of findings can be accessed here

The fourth meeting of the Forum was held on 5-6 October 2004 at United Nations Headquarters in New York on the subject of "Equity, Inequalities and Interdependence". The final report can be accessed here