In order to assist nations throughout the world in achieving their economic, social, and environmental objectives, the UN Department of Economic and Social Affairs (UN-DESA), a division of the UN Secretariat, closely collaborates with governments and stakeholders. The three components of DESA’s work program are norm-setting, analysis, and capacity-building. The Department participates in policy-making bodies, hosts significant UN conferences, projects demographic trends, publishes top-notch economic research, or aids nations in building capacity. Providing policy research and analysis for member nations to use in their discussions and decision-making is one of DESA’s main contributions. Many of the most serious socio-economic problems in the world have been solved in recent decades thanks to DESA’s in-depth policy analysis. As required by the UN Member States, DESA organizes significant international conferences and summits to help nations reach a consensus and move forward with determination. Additionally, DESA plans and funds dialogues with a variety of stakeholders, such as the private sector and civil society. On demand, DESA also gives government officials advice and support as they put the plans and programs created at UN conferences into action in their own nations.
India has emerged as the top place of origin for immigrants worldwide, according to the International Migrant Stock 2019 report published by the United Nations Department of Economic and Social Affairs (UN-DESA).
Goals of the UN-Department of Economic and Social Affairs:
- The goal of UN-DESA is to advance sustainable development for all, with a particular emphasis on the most vulnerable.
- This represents a fundamental concern for equity and equality in both industrialized and developing nations, no matter how big or little they may be.
- The United Nations is unusual in that it places such a strong focus on the equitable participation of all individuals and countries, which also lends the global credibility to the development agenda.
- It highlights the requirement that all parties, including governments, the UN and other international organisations, civil society, and the corporate sector, contribute to enhancing economic and social well-being.
Functions of the UN Department of Economic and Social Affairs:
- Giving member states access to policy research and analysis to aid in their discussions and decision-making is one of DESA’s main contributions.
- DESA is entrusted with assisting the UN Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC) and UN General Assembly in their deliberations, as well as those of ECOSOC’s subsidiary committees.
- Promoting progress and enhancing accountability in reaching UN development goals are, in this sense, DESA’s top priority.
- DESA is in charge of ensuring that the ECOSOC body acts as a conduit for civil society participation with the UN.
- The UN Secretariat’s principal “author” Department is DESA.
- They do research and analyse a variety of social, political, and environmental topics.
- It offers the Special Representative of the Secretary-General for International Migration and Development programming support.
- Numerous flagship publications and significant international studies produced by DESA are crucial for UN talks and decisions regarding global policy.
- The numerous publications produced by DESA are made available in print and electronic forms every year. Additionally, DESA is renowned for its high-quality data, which includes statistics and demographic estimates that have long been used as international standards for trustworthy data.
- As the deadline for attaining the Goals in 2015 draws near, DESA is now collaborating with a number of partners to build on the MDGs and contribute to the development of a future vision that prioritizes people and the environment.
Divisions of the UN Department of Economic and Social Affairs:
Division for Sustainable Development Goals:
The Secretariat for SDGs will be the Division for Sustainable Development Goals. It concentrated on giving the 17 Sustainable Development Goals and the associated theme challenges substantive support and capacity building. Water, energy, climate, ocean, urbanization, transportation, research and technology, the Global Sustainable Development Report (GSDR), collaborations, and SIDS are just a few of the topics that are involved. The Division will participate in the High-Level Political Forum, Economic and Social Council, and General Assembly intergovernmental activities related to the 2030 Agenda. It will coordinate important contributions for the discussions of reviewing and putting the 2030 Agenda into practice. The redesigned subprogram will also act as the 2030 Agenda departmental anchor.
Financing for Sustainable Development Forum:
It acts as a focal point for comprehensive, integrated, effective, and inclusive substantive and organisational support to the processes for financing development. Using the advantages of inter-agency expertise and the knowledge of the United Nations development system, it develops action-oriented policy analysis, tangible ideas and recommendations on finance for sustainable development and methods of implementation. It supports the coordinated strategies used by the UN to address global financial concerns. One way to address these challenges is through supporting the UN’s dialogue with the Group of 20. Additionally, it acts as the focal point for work on global tax cooperation and international development cooperation within the United Nations System.
Economic Analysis and Policy Division:
On global macroeconomic trends, it offers research and policy analysis. As the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development is broadly put into practise, it includes prospects, frontier issues, emergent challenges, and issues related to countries in particular situations. The Committee for Development Policy’s secretariat is also EAPD. Through research, workshops, and training, EAPD oversees capacity-building projects in developing nations.
Population Division:
It carries out demographic studies, supports intergovernmental UN procedures related to population and development, and helps nations build their capacity to gather and handle population data and information. It generates specific indicators pertaining to the Millennium Development Goals’ targets for reproductive health. It supports the General Assembly’s discussions on international migration and development.
Statistic Division:
It is devoted to improving the world statistical system. It gather and disseminate statistical data on a worldwide scale, create guidelines and standards for statistical work, and aid nations in their attempts to improve their national statistical frameworks. It assist the UN Statistical Commission’s operation as the supreme body of the world statistical system and help coordinate international statistical activities.
Challenges to the UN Department of Economic and Social Affairs:
- Sustainable Development: A number of obstacles stand in the way of the establishment of sustainable goals. 2008 saw a significant food crisis as a result of the rise in food and energy costs. The strain on countries that import energy has decreased somewhat as a result of the subsequent drop in energy prices. Food costs are still very high. The situation has worsened as a result of the 2009 global financial and economic crisis.
- Ageism: Ageism toward younger and older individuals is pervasive, goes unacknowledged, is unopposed, and has significant negative effects on our economy and society. Ageism costs economies billions of dollars and results in worse health, social isolation, and earlier deaths.
Conclusion:
According to the request of UN Member States, UN DESA organizes important international conferences and summits. The UN DESA plays a key role in the global follow-up and review of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development and the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). It is also serving as the secretariat for the High-Level Political Forum (HLPF) on Sustainable Development, the main United Nations platform on sustainable development. The HLPF thoroughly examined SDG 6 on water and sanitation in 2018. Currently, UN DESA supports the International Decade (2018-2028) for Action’s implementation. As a conclusion, it can be claimed that sustainable development promotes consistency in the demands placed on the environment. Future generations can use the resources because of it. These initiatives are the greatest for ensuring that the world has a bright future.