The Doha International Family Institute (DIFI), a member of Qatar Foundation (QF), is making ‘Parenting, Child Well-Being and Development’ the central focus of its annual international conference which will be held on 23 – 24 October at Qatar National Convention Centre.

The international gathering will be held under the patronage of HH Sheikha Moza bint Nasser, Chairperson of Qatar Foundation, in partnership with UNICEF. It will provide a crucial platform for policymakers, practitioners, researchers and representatives of civil society organisations from around the world to discuss and debate parenting issues and propose interventions to support parenting and nurture child well-being.

Noor Al Malki Al Jehani, Executive Director of DIFI, said policymakers and key stakeholders will convene in Doha to tackle the current challenges facing parents in the region and how these can be overcome to improve child well-being.

Parents play an essential role in the positive development of children and in addressing family units in the region. It is imperative that we formulate and adopt family policies which are region-specific and ensure parents and children are supported.’

Geert Cappelaere, Regional Director of UNICEF Middle East and North Africa, said they welcome this initiative that he said highlights the impact of parenting on a child’s well-being and development.

UNICEF strongly believes that the early stages of a child’s life are the most crucial and a child’s brain needs to be nurtured from birth. Failure to provide a healthy early childhood is likely to have irreversible consequences on the future of a child.’

The conference will feature plenary sessions and panel discussions that will bring together a number of notable speakers and moderators. Its first day will explore numerous topics relating to parenting and child well-being, including Supporting Working Parents, Parenting in a Humanitarian Setting, Parent in the Digital Age, Opportunities and Challenges, and the Role of Civil Society in Promoting Parenting.

Parallel sessions on the second and final day of the conference will explore the following topics: Parenting Children Living with Disabilities, Parenting Children with Behavioural Problems, Parenting Across the Region, and Best Practices – East Asia and Pacific.

For more details on featured speakers and sessions, and to register for the conference, visit difi.org.qa.