The Academic Network for Development Dialogue (ANDD) Third Annual Meeting was held on Thursday 18 May 2023, and was organized by Qatar University in collaboration with the United Nations Economic and Social Commission for Western Asia (ESCWA) and Al-Quds University, under the umbrella of the ANDD initiatives. It aimed at discussing and encouraging topics / directions, and fresh perspectives on regional organizations and policy concerns from an academic point of view, as well as gaps in regional strategies for achieving sustainable development goals.

The ANDD meeting was held under the title "Success Stories in Incorporating SDGs in Education, Research, and Practice", and involved different categories of researchers, students and United Nations staff, discussing various aspects of the designated topics. The discussion being an effective tool for addressing issues and topics from various perspectives, as well as opening a fertile field for the exchange of ideas, visions, and solutions. Particularly with regard to the selected topics that were built in accordance with regional challenges and regional programs of the United Nations system, which will lead to the production of research articles published in international journals in the future.

The meeting witnessed many speeches, meetings and discussion sessions with the participation of a group of speakers from the State of Qatar and abroad. Which dealt with the various axes included in the conference agenda such as education, research, practice, and its connection to the sustainable development goals. As well as the role of the private sector in implementing the sustainable development goals, as well as on how inter- and non-governmental organizations serve these goals.

By the end of the meeting, reviewed stories from reality and a summary of the first edition of the ANDD paper series were presented, as well as the announcement of the paper series second edition.

Prof. Mariam Al-Maadeed, Vice President of Qatar University for Research and Graduate Studies, pointed out "The State of Qatar has put sustainable development within all successive national development strategies that the state has achieved a qualitative renaissance in various fields and initiatives and continuing to keep pace with the path of the National Vision 2030. Qatar University embraces sustainability in its programs and activities. It also, cooperates with many internal and external parties in this regard, including The United Nations Organization, and the Academic Network for Development Dialogue (ANDD) is the best example.”

Dr. Elham Kateeb, Dean of Scientific Research, Al-Quds University (AQU), stated, “Arab countries have made significant progress in sustainable development goals over the past few decades, such as combating poverty, improving the quality of education and health, gender equality and economic growth. However, challenges remain, especially in conflict-affected countries.”

His Excellency Mr. Khalifa bin Jassim Al Kuwari, Director General of the Qatar Fund for Development, said in his speech: "The 2030 Agenda issued by the United Nations includes a large number of goals that seek to eradicate poverty, promote comprehensive and equitable economic development, and achieve community participation and environmental sustainability. Development goals are interrelated. Therefore, any success or failure of any of them in turn affects the chances of achieving the other goals.”

His Excellency Dr. Salem Al-Malik, Director General of the Islamic World Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (ICESCO), said: "The goal of sustainable development remained one goal despite the multiple ways to reach. Which is, improving the living conditions of every individual in society, developing means and methods of production, and managing them in ways that do not exhaust the resources of our planet have been the goal towards which convoys of ideas and tasks have been converging, since the adoption of the sustainable development plan in 2015.”

It is noteworthy that the Academic Network for Development Dialogue (ANDD), which was launched 2020, currently includes 36 members from universities and educational institutions at the level of the Arab region and the world, including Qatar University and the United Nations Economic and Social Commission for Western Asia (ESCWA), with the support of the Academic Council of the United Nations (ACUNS).

The ANDD focuses on creating an intellectual sharing process with the aim of bridging the national knowledge gap and devoting academic expertise and scientific results to support progress towards sustainable development at the national and regional levels in the Arab world.