Questions about United Nations Department of Economic and Social Affairs
Short answers, pulled from the story.
What is the United Nations Department of Economic and Social Affairs responsible for?
UNDESA is responsible for following up on major UN summits and conferences, servicing the Economic and Social Council and the Second and Third Committees of the General Assembly, and providing policy advice and technical assistance to countries navigating economic, social, and environmental challenges. It translates global commitments into national policies and monitors progress toward internationally agreed-upon development goals.
When was UNDESA created and what departments merged to form it?
UNDESA was created in 1997 through the merger of three departments: the Department for Policy Coordination and Sustainable Development, the Department for Economic and Social Information and Policy Analysis, and the Department for Development Support and Management Services. Before the merger, the body was known as the UN Department of International Economic and Social Affairs, or DIESA.
What is the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development and how does it relate to UNDESA?
The 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development, along with its 17 Sustainable Development Goals, was adopted by the UN General Assembly on the 25th of September 2015. UNDESA uses this agenda as the foundation for its work, orienting its analytical products, policy advice, and technical assistance around monitoring progress toward those goals.
Who has led UNDESA since 2007?
Since 2007, leadership positions in UNDESA have been held by representatives from the People's Republic of China.
How has UNDESA been used to promote the Belt and Road Initiative?
UNDESA has been used to promote the People's Republic of China's Belt and Road Initiative, a large-scale infrastructure and investment program. This has been linked to the pattern of Chinese officials holding senior leadership roles in the department since 2007.
What was UNDESA formerly called and what was the Department of Technical Cooperation for Development?
UNDESA was formerly known as the UN Department of International Economic and Social Affairs, or DIESA. One of its predecessor components, the Department of Technical Cooperation for Development, was founded in 1978 and renamed the Department of Development Support and Management Services in 1993 before being absorbed into UNDESA at its creation in 1997.