Meet the Librarians at the World Social Summit 2025

IFLA’s engagement at this landscape meeting of national and international authorities, as well as experts and activists from around the world, will be led by Alaa Ahmed (Egypt), Zoubeida Bouallagui (Tunisia) and Rami Oudeh (Jordan). Find out about them and the messages they are bringing to the Summit. 

Tomorrow, the 2nd World Summit on Social Development opens in Doha, Qatar, reflecting on 30 years of experience of promoting inclusion and decent work, and combatting poverty and discrimination.

With a core role in helping people enjoy their rights and improve their lives through knowledge and information, libraries are arguably an essential and multi-functional part of the infrastructure for achieving social development.

You can read more about the overall context for the Summit in our news story, but here you can find out more about the librarians who will be present, ensuring that other delegates understand both what libraries are already doing, and what more is possible.

We asked each of them to introduce themselves briefly, and then to share what social development means for them, which aspect of the Copenhagen Commitments which are up for review at the Summit speaks to them most, and in a sentence, what message they want to share.

Alaa Ahmed, Egypt

Alaa is a graduate of the Department of Libraries and Information graduate at Helwan University. She has worked on several digital transformation projects under the Egyptian Ministry of Communications, including digitising and cataloguing the Ministry of Justice Library and the Library of the Institute of Arts. She has also worked in public and private libraries and in publishing houses that operate libraries open to the public.

She is deeply passionate about improving access to knowledge through digital transformation and highlighting libraries’ role as key drivers of social development.

What does social development mean for you?

For me, successful social development happens when everyone has equal access to information, education, and opportunities to improve their lives. It is when access to knowledge empowers people to learn, participate, and contribute to building stronger and more connected communities. Libraries play a vital role in making this a reality for everyone.

Which of the Copenhagen Commitments resonates with you most?

As a librarian, I see libraries strongly aligned with several of the Copenhagen Commitments — especially those related to promoting education and access to knowledge, achieving equality between women and men, and accelerating social and human development in Africa and the least developed countries. Libraries empower people through information, support lifelong learning, and create inclusive spaces that promote gender equality. They also contribute to social and economic development.

What message will you be bringing to delegates at the World Social Summit?

Libraries are key partners in achieving social development. They connect people with knowledge, empower communities, and make inclusion and equality a lived reality.

Rami Oudeh, Jordan

Rami Oudeh is a librarian at the Abdul Hameed Shoman Foundation in Jordan, where he supports cultural and educational programs, promotes library services, and guides visitors in accessing knowledge. With a background in chemistry and certification as a Quality Management System Lead Auditor (IRCA), he brings a multidisciplinary approach to library work. Rami has also contributed to youth mentorship and education through roles with the Crown Prince Foundation and MIT LEAPS.

What does social development mean for you?

Successful social development means creating inclusive, informed, and culturally enriched communities where individuals -especially youth- have equitable access to knowledge, education, and opportunities to grow and contribute meaningfully to society.

Which of the Copenhagen Commitments resonates with you most?

The commitment that resonates most with me is “Attain universal and equitable access to education and primary health care”, as it reflects my daily mission to guide library visitors, support cultural programs, and ensure that knowledge is accessible to all, regardless of background.

What message will you be bringing to delegates at the World Social Summit?

Empowering communities through libraries is not just about books, it’s about building bridges to opportunity, equity, and sustainable development.

Zoubeida Bouallagui, Tunisia

Zoubeida is Head of the Technical Department at the Public Reading Directorate at the Tunisian Ministry of Culture. She has 15 years of experience in the field of libraries and information centers, running a rich range of projects that help to realise the potential of libraries to change lives for the better.

Amongst other things, she has been the project manager for the implement of an information system for public libraries, a project to set up libraries for the people who are blind or have visually impairments, and one to establish pilot spaces for children and young people.

What does social development mean for you?

Successful social development is the comprehensive development of all individuals without exclusion in all areas.

Which of the Copenhagen Commitments resonates with you most?

For me, it is the call to promote social integration, encouraging this through the enhancement and protection of all human rights. I believe that every person has the ability to perform at their best if given the necessary opportunities – something that libraries exist to make happen!

What message will you be bringing to delegates at the World Social Summit?

Collective thinking without restrictions or affiliations is the only way to achieve comprehensive development.