#united nations department of economic and social affairs

[developmentinformationday]

(Session 2) Commodity Price Volatility and the Sustainable Development Goals.

The workshop, co-organized by FSDO/DESA, The Harriet Tubman Institute, and The Monetary Policy Institute, to be held on October 31, 2024, will discuss the theme "Commodity Price Volatility and the Sustainable Development Goals."

Watch (Session 2) Commodity Price Volatility and the Sustainable Development Goals!

[socialjusticeday]

(Session 1) Commodity Price Volatility and the Sustainable Development Goals.

The workshop, co-organized by FSDO/DESA, The Harriet Tubman Institute, and The Monetary Policy Institute, to be held on October 31, 2024, will discuss the theme "Commodity Price Volatility and the Sustainable Development Goals."

Welcome

Opening remarks

Setting the Stage: "Perspectives on Inflation from the World Economic Situation and Prospects"

Keynote presentations:

-  "Towards Post-Neoliberal Stabilization Policy: Revisiting buffer stocks in an age of overlapping emergencies"

-  "Primary Commodity Exports and All Debt: A conversation on economic development models"

-  "Exploring How Digital, Grassroot Economics, Creative Management Strategies and the 3F Model can Help Champion Improving Value Chains in the Commodities Markets"

-  "Development as (Economic) Sovereignty: A Paradigm shift and composite index"

Participants will examine the various factors driving the excessive volatility of commodity prices, which has constrained the resources of developing countries in achieving sustainable development goals. They will also discuss the main challenges and essential policies required to address the market structures contributing to this issue.

Website

Programme

Watch (Session 1) Commodity Price Volatility and the Sustainable Development Goals!

[worldpopulationday]

Engaging Youth and Academia with the World Population Prospects 2024: A UN DESA Global Policy Dialogue for the Classroom.

Join the United Nations Department of Economic and Social Affairs (UN DESA) and the United Nations Academic Impact for a special Global Policy Dialogue for the Classroom focused on breaking down the recent "World Population Prospects 2024."

Watch Engaging Youth and Academia with the World Population Prospects 2024: A UN DESA Global Policy Dialogue for the Classroom!

[womensjudgesday]

SDG 16 as an Enabler of the 2030 Agenda (HLPF 2024 Side Event).

According to the UN Secretary-General in his Progress Report of the SDGs, in 2023 only 15% of the goals were on track to meet their targets by 2030, with SDG 16 falling severely off track. Promoting peaceful and inclusive societies, providing access to justice for all, and building effective, accountable institutions at all levels have a significant impact on public and private society, in formal institutions and de facto norms. SDG 16 is thus an enabler, accelerator, and one of the key conditions for achieving all SDGs through its cross-cutting nature that impacts many types of sustainable development that are foundational for addressing the complex interlinkages between poverty, inequality, climate change, and economic instability. 

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Organized by the International Institute for Democracy and Electoral Assistance (IDEA), this event will highlight the interlinkages between SDG 16 and the 2030 Agenda drawing from the findings of its new report, and showcase how policymakers working across the 2030 Agenda can accelerate action on development outcomes by supporting and investing in SDG 16 moving forward. In partnership with Member States, Civil Society and other stakeholders, this event will also highlight the importance of partnerships for the effective implementation of SDG 16 and its impact on all other goals of the 2030 Agenda.

Related Sites and Documents

Concept Note

Watch the SDG 16 as an Enabler of the 2030 Agenda (HLPF 2024 Side Event)!

[coopsday]

Cooperatives Building a Better Future for All.

This year on July 6, cooperatives around the world will celebrate the International Day of Cooperatives with the theme "Cooperatives Building a Better Future for All". Cooperatives will have the opportunity to showcase their current and historical contributions to building a sustainable future, accelerating efforts to implement the Sustainable Development Goals (SDG) by 2030.

Watch the UN DESA International Day/International Year of Cooperatives!

[southsouthcooperationday]

Remarks at Organizational Session of the Ad Hoc Committee to Draft Terms of Reference for a United Nations Framework Convention on International Tax Cooperation.

Excellencies, Distinguished Delegates, Ladies and Gentlemen,

I have the honour to declare open this organizational session of the Ad Hoc Committee to Draft Terms of Reference for a United Nations Framework Convention on International Tax Cooperation.  On behalf of the Secretariat, I would like to welcome everyone present here today and following online via UN Web TV.

The General Assembly established this new, ad hoc intergovernmental body by its resolution 78/230 of 22 December 2023.  This was a historic step forward in promoting inclusive and effective international tax cooperation at the United Nations.  It is also a key step in achieving the Addis Ababa Action Agenda and the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development.

Aggressive tax avoidance and tax evasion have a corrosive effect on public trust, financial integrity, the rule of law and sustainable development across the globe.  Advancing inclusive and effective international tax cooperation can address these challenges and foster trust. It can also help countries mobilize domestic resources and support investment in the SDGs.

This UN intergovernmental process can help shape an international tax system that serves multiple purposes.  The system must respect countries’ sovereignty and the way markets operate and business is done in our modern world.  It must also establish transparent international tax rules and procedures that respond to the needs, priorities, and capacities of all countries. 

Distinguished Delegates,

Great strides have been made in international tax cooperation, at the OECD, the United Nations, and in regional and sub-regional tax organizations, that engage all stakeholders in tax systems.

Despite best efforts to address global taxation issues, many developing countries still feel that they have little to no contribution in setting the international tax rules that address their priorities.

This Ad Hoc Committee convenes for the first time, with the mandate to develop draft terms of reference for a UN Framework Convention on International Tax Cooperation. 

All UN Member States must make the most of this rare opportunity to develop an instrument that addresses global challenges that are not adequately addressed by existing arrangements, including the priorities of developing countries.  Such an instrument would strengthen synergies with existing arrangements.

 A framework-protocol approach would not solve all the challenges or create opportunities in international tax at once.  Yet, it could lead to increased revenue collection, curb tax evasion and illicit financial flows, and ensure tax is used more effectively as a policy lever for sustainable development in the short to medium term.

I would like to thank the Bureau-designate for its hard work in preparing for this organizational session over the past several weeks, in consultation with Member States through the regional groups.

It is now up to this Ad Hoc Committee, over the next three days, to lay the Committee’s approach, the organizational foundations, and initiate substantive preparations to deliver on its mandate.

The first task before the Committee is electing its officers.  The resolution specifies that the bureau of the ad hoc intergovernmental committee shall be made up of not more than 20 members.  It shall consist of one chair, one rapporteur, and 18 vice-chairs, elected on the basis of balanced geographical representation and taking into account gender balance, with each of the five regional groups equally represented. 

I wish you every success in this session and on the delivery of your important mandate. 

Thank you!

[autismday]

Awareness-Acceptance-Appreciation.

The World Autism Awareness Day virtual event is 2 April at 10 AM EST and will feature an all-autistic panel across six regions. They'll share their thoughts on the state of affairs and the importance of SDGs for autistic people

[intlforestday]

Accelerating Innovation and Data Management for Forests: A UN DESA Global Policy Dialogue.

Join the UN DESA for a Global Policy Dialogue looking at Sustainable Development Goal 15, Life on Land, which is in the spotlight as International Day of Forests is commemorated on March 21st.

Watch the Accelerating Innovation and Data Management for Forests: A UN DESA Global Policy Dialogue!

[worldelderabuseawarenessday]

Addressing Gender-Based Violence (GBV) in Older Age.

The World Elder Abuse Awareness Day (WEAAD) is observed on 15 June. It was officially recognized by the United Nations General Assembly in its resolution 66/127 in 2011, following a request by the International Network for the Prevention of Elder Abuse (INPEA), who first established the commemoration in 2006. WEAAD represents the one day in the year when the world voices its opposition to elder abuse, a human rights violation, and helps to enhance the recognition of the dignity of older persons and their right to live free of fear and violence. In the context of last year’s commemoration of WEAAD, the WHO, in partnership with UN DESA, OHCHR, UNFPA, and UN-WOMEN, with support from INPEA, published Tackling abuse of older people: five priorities for the UN Decade of Healthy Ageing 2021–2030. The resource outlined key priorities to prevent and respond to abuse of older persons and, hence, contribute to improving their health, well-being and dignity. This year, the commemoration will provide an update on the implementation of the priorities. Ahead of the milestone of the 75th anniversary of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights (UDHR), this year’s commemoration of WEAAD will also connect with the year-long campaign to promote and recognise the 75th anniversary. As the month of June of the campaign will focus on showcasing the UDHR by raising awareness on its legacy, relevance and activism as relates to women’s rights, the theme of the 2023 WEAAD commemoration in the United Nations Headquarters in New York is entitled Closing the Circle: Addressing Gender-Based Violence (GBV) in Older Age - Policy, Law and Evidence-based Responses.

[unpublicserviceday]

Innovating the Future Public Service.

United Nations Public Service Day, celebrated on 23 June each year, recognizes the value and virtue of public service to the community; highlights the contribution of public service in the development process; recognizes the work of public servants, and encourages young people to pursue careers in the public sector. The day also provides an opportunity to recognize the work of public service innovation through the Annual UN Public Service Awards Programme.

To celebrate the 2021 United Nations Public Service Day, the Division of Public Institutions and Digital Government of the United Nations Department of Economic and Social Affairs, in collaboration with the government of the United Arab Emirates will host a 1.5-hour virtual event on the 23 June under the theme of "Innovating the Future Public Service: New Government Models for a New Era to Reach the SDGs". The event will bring together key stakeholders, public servants and UN officials to honor the work of public servants.

The event will highlight and discuss the increasingly centric role that innovation and technology play in the delivery of public services and in doing so, examine how to better prepare the future public service for a new era, so as to reach the 2030 sustainable development goals. It will examine the various approaches countries are taking to equip public servants with the skills necessary to be effective, responsive and relevant in the digital age. It will also highlight lessons learned from the past year, as many countries and public servants have been thrust into the digital era, quickly adopting, innovating and using online mechanisms to continue their work during the pandemic. 

Virtual Celebration of the United Nations Public Service Day 2021 - Innovating the Future Public Service.

[humansolidarityday]

Address the value of solidarity and intergenerational approaches as a tool for social development.

A press briefing was held on to address the value of solidarity and intergenerational approaches as a tool for social development.

The main presenter was His Excellency, Mr. Ghazi Jomaa, Ambassador, Permanent Mission of Tunisia to the United Nations, to speak from a State perspective. He was joined by Ms. Jessica Frank, Chairperson of the NGO Committee on Ageing to the United Nations and a youth practitioner, who spoke on the application of intergenerational solidarity in projects and programmes.

International Human Solidarity Day 2010

[developmentinformationday]

Growth of economic output.

The world economy is forecast to grow by 2.7% in 2024 and 2.8% in 2025, reflecting improved prospects in the USA and several large economies. The outlook is only cautiously optimistic as economic vulnerabilities remain.

World Economic Situation and Prospects as of mid-2024.

[worldpopulationday]

(6th plenary meeting) 57th session of the Commission on Population and Development, CPD57.

Under the theme: The ICPD Programme of Action and its Contribution to Agenda 2030.

(Continued) General discussion, statements

Assessing the status of implementation of the Programme of Action of the International Conference on Population and Development and its contribution to the follow-up and review of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development during the decade of action and delivery for sustainable development.

Watch the (6th plenary meeting) 57th session of the Commission on Population and Development, CPD57

The 57th session of the Commission on Population and Development (CPD57) will meet from 29 April to 3 May 2024. Theme: The ICPD Programme of Action and its Contribution to Agenda 2030.

Commission on Population and Development fifty-seven session Provisional Agenda (CPD57)

[remittancesday]

Remittances helps families to achieve their own Sustainable Development Goals.

By 2030, it is projected that over US$ 5 trillion will be sent home by migrants to low- and middle-income countries (LMICs), with much of this money going directly to rural areas where 80 per cent of the world’s poor live, face food shortages, and the impacts of climate change.

This money, sent by migrants and diaspora communities, directly supports millions of families to achieve their own Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). They contribute directly to poverty alleviation, education, healthcare, small business development, gender equality, and rural economic growth.

[coopsday]

Cooperatives in Social Development: Supporting Cooperatives as Sustainable and Successful Business Enterprises.

The United Nations Department of Economic and Social Affairs (UN DESA) conducted an expert group meeting (EGM) on “Cooperatives in Social Development: Supporting Cooperatives as Sustainable and Successful Business Enterprises”. The main objective was to produce insights and a series of recommendations to help expand the sector. The conclusions will support in drafting the 2023 report of the United Nations Secretary-General on cooperatives in social development.

Held at the UN Headquarters in New York from the 31 May to the 1 June, the event consisted of seven sessions where cooperative experts presented ideas and discussed the key challenges and opportunities faced by the cooperative movement and create guidelines and recommendations for governments and other actors to help enhance cooperative development, which would inherently boost social development.

The experts were drawn from various fields including researchers from the academia, practitioners from the cooperative movement and government departments in charge of cooperatives from Argentina, t. The International Cooperative Alliance was represented by Joseph Njuguna, the Director of Policy; Iñigo Albizuri, member of the ICA Board and President of CICOPA as well as Mondragon Corporation’s Global Head of Public Affairs.

Find more information together with the papers and presentations of the expert here.  

Cases from Mondragon Corporation and Kibbutz movement were discussed to evaluate their entrepreneurial ecosystem and analyse a range of support measures for promoting cooperatives. 

“This framework allows policymakers to identify policies and practices that are implemented in each of the ecosystem areas and compare them with other regional experiences. The configuration of the ecosystems may change depending on the context, but the framework serves as a general basis for the analysis of existing situation”, says Joseph Njuguna, ICA Director of Policy. 

Some of the key recommendations proposed includes supporting research on cooperative ecosystems, capacity building of cooperative members and leaders, deepening and widening knowledge on cooperatives and governments’ support in promoting the potential of cooperatives, through inclusion in the national development plans and SDG reporting processes, including Voluntary National Reviews for the High-level Political Forum, among others.

The report of the meeting will be published and shared in due course.

The United Nations has long viewed the cooperative movement as a key partner in enhancing social development and cooperatives as very suited enterprises to achieve the SDGs. The United Nations General Assembly has been adopting resolutions concerning cooperatives in social development since 1950s and systematically every 2 years since 1992.  These resolutions recognize that cooperatives, in their various forms, promote the fullest possible participation in the economic and social development of local communities and all people, including women, youth, older persons, persons with disabilities and indigenous peoples, whose inclusion strengthens economic and social development, and contribute to the eradication of poverty and hunger. 

The most recent United Nations General Assembly resolution on Cooperatives in Social Development adopted in December 2021,  A/RES/76/135, recognizes that cooperative enterprises often serve the socially excluded and vulnerable segments of the population and encourages governments to focus their support to cooperatives as sustainable and successful enterprises that contribute directly to “decent employment generation, poverty and hunger eradication, education, social protection, including universal health coverage, financial inclusion and the creation of affordable housing options across a variety of economic sector.

As a follow-up to these resolutions, the UN Secretary General writes a report to examine their implementation. In his recent report on cooperatives in social development of 2021, the United Nations Secretary General Antonio Guterres recognised the importance of cooperatives as key economic and social actors in the global recovery strategy after the COVID-19 pandemic. The 2023 report will be examining the implementation of the resolution that was adopted in 2021.

[southsouthcooperationday]

Press Conference: Launch of the Financing for Sustainable Development Report 2024: Financing for Development at a Crossroads.

Amina Mohammed will be joined by Mr. Navid Hanif, Assistant Secretary-General for Economic Development, DESA and Ms. Shari Spiegel, Acting Director, Financing for Sustainable Development Office (FSDO), DESA. 

Press Conference: Amina Mohammed, UN Deputy Secretary-General on the Financing for Sustainable Development Report 2024: Financing for Development at a Crossroads