From June 9 to 11, 2025, Obs had the pleasure of attending (virtually) the UNU-WIDER Development Conference “Safeguarding Tomorrow – Innovative Approaches to Growth and Equity”. This conference celebrated the 40th anniversary of the United Nations University World Institute for Development Economics Research (UNU-WIDER) and brought together policymakers, academics, and young researchers to tackle one of the biggest questions of our time: how can inclusive growth be built in a world facing overlapping crises?
The conference offered a rich program of policy panels, parallel sessions, and keynote lectures that covered a wide range of topics, from financing social protection systems to making welfare more inclusive and responsive in fragile and conflict-affected states. What stood out most was how interdisciplinary and creative the discussions were. Sessions did not just repeat the usual policy talk: they challenged assumptions and offered real, innovative ideas for making social protection systems more sustainable and just.
One of the most inspiring moments was the WIDER Annual Lecture by Nobel Laureate Abhijit Banerjee, who emphasized the need for policy that is not only data-driven but also deeply human. He reminded attendees that meaningful development must be grounded in the daily realities of those it aims to serve, and that researchers have a role to play in telling these stories.
The conference, which intern Kira Neumann attended, proved both eye-opening and energizing, showing how academic research, when paired with strong ethical leadership and cross-sector dialogue, can directly inform change. The conference generated a renewed sense of purpose and many ideas for how media, religion, and policy can come together to build a more inclusive tomorrow.