DESA-EN | United Nations
Commission on Population and Development, 13-17 April
Committee of Experts on Public Administration, 13-17 April
ECOSOC Youth Forum, 14-16 April
UN Permanent Forum on Indigenous Issues, 20 April – 1 May
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Promoting and defending the rights of Indigenous Peoples is more important than ever
22 April 2026 - The
UN Permanent Forum on Indigenous Issues
serves as a vital platform for Indigenous Peoples from across the world, to engage in dialogue with Member States and the UN system, culminating in a report providing tangible recommendations to advance the rights of Indigenous Peoples.
UN DESA/Predrag Vasic
Guterres urges countries to ‘unleash the renewables revolution’
22 April 2026 - UN Secretary-General António Guterres has again urged governments to step up the transition from fossil fuels to clean energy as war and climate risks create unprecedented challenges.
Secretary-General hopefuls make their case in televised ‘interactive dialogues’
21 April 2026 - From 1 January 2027, there will be a new person in charge on the 38
th
floor of UN Headquarters: after 10 years, having completed the maximum two mandates, António Guterres is stepping down.
UN Forum puts spotlight on healthcare for Indigenous Peoples
21 April 2026 - More than 1,000 participants are expected to attend the latest session
of the UN Permanent Forum on Indigenous Issues (UNPFII)
– the platform that has placed their concerns at the centre of international debate over the past 25 years.
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What does UN DESA do?
Intergovernmental support
By facilitating major global conferences and summits in the economic, social and environmental fields, as mandated by UN Member States, UN DESA assists countries as they find common ground, set norms, and take decisive steps forward.
Analysis
As the think tank of the UN, DESA, generates, analyses and compiles a wide range of economic, social and environmental data and statistics to inform and advise Member States and other stakeholders as they take stock of trends and policy options to tackle common problems.
Capacity-building
UN DESA assists in translating policy frameworks developed in UN conferences and summits into programmes at the country level and, through technical assistance, supports Member States in building national capacities.
Towards Sustainable Development for All
SDGs in Numbers
Using the latest data and estimates, the annual Sustainable Development Goals Report provides an overview of the world’s implementation efforts to date, highlighting areas of progress and areas where more action needs to be taken to ensure no one is left behind.
Acceleration Actions
The SDG Acceleration Actions help inspire and mobilize actions around the world to promote the implementation of the SDGs, as well as build resilience and bring inclusive recovery in the context of new realities post COVID-19.
UN DESA’s Follow-Up to the Decade of Action
For the Decade of Action, UN DESA is mobilizing to overcome COVID-19 and other global crises, and preparing for future challenges to help Member States realize the 2030 Agenda.
SDG Blog
From presidents to grassroots activists and from top UN officials to sport stars, UN DESA’s SDG Blog is where you can find every perspective on the Sustainable Development Goals.
Key Topics
Leaving No One Behind
UN DESA’s work is firmly focused on inclusion of the most vulnerable, giving particular attention to youth, indigenous peoples, older persons and persons with disabilities. Promoting gender equality and the empowerment of women remains a constant guide.
Financing Sustainable Development
Insufficient financing remains one of the greatest bottlenecks that prevents the world from achieving the Sustainable Development Goals. UN DESA helps Member States close the financing gap for sustainable development.
Enhancing Global Partnerships
The achievement of the 2030 Agenda will require an unprecedented level of cooperation and collaboration among all levels of government, civil society, business, foundations, academia, and others, and finding new ways of working.
Data for the SDGs
Now more than ever, high-quality, trustworthy data from strong national statistical systems are needed to inform evidence-based decision-making and measure the progress towards achieving sustainable development. UN DESA supports countries in every corner of the world to bolster their statistical capacities.
Thought Leadership
Using timely, principled and authoritative information to highlight solutions and foster solidarity, UN DESA sets the tone of the global conversation on social and economic issues through its cutting-edge analytical products and policy advice.
Science, Technology and Innovation
UN DESA plays a global leadership role in advancing cooperation at the science-policy-society interface, and in multi-stakeholder engagement on science, technology and innovation for the SDGs, areas of work established through the Rio+20 conference and the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development.
Climate Action
The 2030 Agenda and the Paris Agreement can serve as a compass to help policy makers meet urgent needs while aligning short-term solutions to medium and long-term climate and sustainable development objectives. UN DESA is moving the needle forward for harnessing synergies across development and climate action.
Strengthening Institutions
Strong public institutions are critical for achieving the SDGs ensuring that no one is left behind. UN DESA continues to raise awareness of SDG 16 on peace, justice and strong institutions while also helping countries build the capacity of their public institutions to combat the COVID-19 pandemic and achieve the SDGs.
High-level Political Forum on Sustainable Development (HLPF)
Every year since 2015, nations come together in New York to evaluate their efforts to achieve the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development and the SDGs. UN DESA has been supporting them in this critical task.
UN DESA Products
Publications
As a thought leader for the development-pillar of the UN, DESA publications provide timely analysis on the SDGS and related global socioeconomic issues.
Databases
The Department’s databases serve as a gateway to a broad range of data and statistics that support evidence-based decision-making, and as a hub for global partnerships and good practices.
Policy Briefs
Working Papers
The preliminary analyses and insights in our working papers are the foundation of stimulating intellectual discussions on a broad range of economic, social and environmental issues relevant to the global development agenda.
Webinars
UN DESA’s interactive webinars foster an inclusive global dialogue on the development challenges of our time and strengthen outreach to stakeholders worldwide.
Statements
Statements by senior management amplify the global narrative in support of Member States’ efforts to reach the SDGs and leave no one behind.
UN DESA Voice
Our monthly newsletter, UN DESA Voice is an insider’s look at the latest news, events and opinions from the home of sustainable development. It is essential reading for anyone who wants to stay in the know about global issues. Sign up now!
Videos
Take a look at UN DESA’s latest inspiring interviews and informative explainers or browse our rich archive of videos on delivering sustainable development for all.
Infographics
In here, we do not tell – we show. Explore the wonderful, visual world of sustainable development told through infographics.
More from UN DESA
Harnessing Climate and SDGs Synergies
UN DESA is moving the needle forward in harnessing synergies across development and climate action. The 2030 Agenda and the Paris Agreement serve as a compass to help policy makers meet urgent needs while aligning short-term solutions to medium and long-term climate and sustainable development objectives.  Together with the UNFCCC and other partners, UN DESA is helping Member States ensure more coherence across Nationally Determined Contributions and National Development Plans, as well as National Adaptation Plans and National Disaster Risk Reduction Strategies.
Sustainable Forests
UN DESA leads global efforts to support the international dialogue on forest policy. The Department helps countries to develop their capacity to monitor progress towards sustainable forest management and mobilize forest financing. Our work supports the implementation of the UN Strategic Plan for Forests and the UN Forest Instrument and is guided by the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development and other global agreements.
Protecting Our Ocean
UN DESA has been supporting the Governments of Kenya and Portugal to organize for the UN Ocean Conference and its preparatory meetings. The Department, in collaboration with related UN entities, works to inform UN senior leadership in addressing climate change and its impacts on the ocean as one of the most significant challenges to achieving the 2030 Agenda and SDG 14.
Sustainable Transport
The UN Sustainable Transport Conference, originally scheduled for May in Beijing, was postponed due to the COVID-19 pandemic.  UN DESA, led by its Under-Secretary-General as the conference Secretary-General, continues to mobilize all stakeholders and strengthen thought leadership to promote sustainable transport, including through inter-agency report analyses, webinars and discussions in related fora.
Sustainable Energy
As the Secretariat of UN-Energy, UN DESA supports implementation of the UN Decade of Sustainable Energy for All 2014-2024 and the work of intergovernmental processes in the areas of energy. The Department convenes the more than 40-member multistakeholder SDG 7 Technical Advisory Group, addressing universal access and clean energy transitions. The Department has also begun preparations for the High-Level Dialogue on Energy to be held in 2021, with the Under-Secretary-General of UN DESA serving as the Dialogue Secretary-General.
Water and Sanitation
UN DESA leads the support to UN Member States in the implementation of the International Decade for Action “Water for Sustainable Development”, 2018-2028. The Department is also coordinating preparations for the 2023 UN Conference on the Water Action Decade, together with UN-Water, the Government of Portugal and the Government of Tajikistan.
About UN DESA
What We Do
Leadership
Advisory Board
Policy Dialogues
ECESA
Organigramme
Key Topics
Climate Action
Data
Financing
Global Partnerships
HLPF
Leaving No One Behind
Science, Technology and Innovation
Strengthening Institutions
Thought Leadership
UN DESA Products
Publications
Databases
Policy Briefs
Working Papers
Webinars
Statements
UN DESA Voice
Videos
UN DESA Divisions
Office of Intergovernmental Support and Coordination for Sustainable Development
Division for Sustainable Development Goals
Population Division
Division for Public Institutions and Digital Government
Financing for Sustainable Development Office
Division for Inclusive Social Development
Statistics Division
Economic Analysis and Policy Division
United Nations Forum on Forests
Capacity Development Programme Management Office