Welcome to the United Nations
Global Policy Dialogue Series
About the Global Policy Dialogue Series
To support the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and other initiatives of the Department and the wider UN system, UN DESA launched a Global Policy Dialogue Series in July 2020 aimed at highlighting solutions for accelerating SDG implementation. The series is made possible through the United Nations Peace and Development Trust Fund.
The sessions are dynamic, with UN DESA using its convening power to bring together global thought leaders and its own socioeconomic experts to consider today’s major issues. The conversations, typically 90 minutes long, are led by a professional moderator to ensure that the discussions are sharp and to the point. UN DESA partners with other UN entities and top socioeconomic forums, and broadcasts everything live on Zoom and/or the Department’s social media pages to expand its reach to audiences that may not typically follow UN proceedings. The events are held in English with translation in American Sign Language where possible and multilingual captioning available. The results of these discussions are shared with UN leadership and will inform future work on the economic and social effects of the pandemic.
Empowering Youth, Transforming Work: Global Solutions for Decent Employment
On the margins of the Second World Summit on Social Development (WSSD2), UN DESA, in partnership with Global Youth Philanthropy (GYP), held a Solutions Session side event entitled “Empowering Youth, Transforming Work: Global Solutions for Decent Employment.” The event brought together youth leaders from the private sector and civil society with members of the UN High-level Advisory Board on Economic and Social Affairs (HLAB) to explore concrete, scalable solutions that can unlock decent work opportunities for young people everywhere, for the benefit of everyone.
Charting New Directions: Shaping the Future of Sustainable Development
On 24 October 2025, the 80th anniversary of the signing of the charter of the United Nations, UN DESA convened a Global Policy Dialogue, "Charting New Directions: Shaping the Future of Sustainable Development” with members of the UN High-level Advisory Board on Economic and Social Affairs (HLAB). Speakers explored different avenues for achieving and maintaining inclusive, sustainable, and forward-looking development towards and beyond 2030.
Accelerating Social Progress to Boost SDG Implementation
On the margins of the 2025 High-level Political Forum on Sustainable Development (HLPF), the UN Department of Economic and Social Affairs (UN DESA) held a special event exploring how we can guide integrated policy solutions to advance several of the SDGs under review this year: SDG 3 (Good Health and Well-being), SDG 5 (Gender Equality), SDG 8 (Decent Work and Economic Growth), and SDG 17 (Partnerships for the Goals). The event aimed to generate actionable recommendations for governments and stakeholders to help restore trust, expand opportunity and accelerate SDG implementation through inclusive, people-centered policy innovation.
Reimagining Blended Finance: Aligning Capital with the SDGs
On the margins of the Fourth International Conference on Financing for Development (FFD4) in Sevilla, Spain, the UN Department of Economic and Social Affairs (UN DESA) held a side event entitled “Reimagining Blended Finance: Aligning Capital with the SDGs.” This high-level discussion brought together members of the UN High-level Advisory Board on Economic and Social Affairs to explore the urgent need to reimagine existing blended finance models to accelerate the achievement of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).
Converging crises, shared solutions: Applying lessons from Asia and the Pacific to Global Challenges
In May 2025, the UN High-level Advisory Board on Economic and Social Affairs (HLAB)—comprising thought leaders and practitioners from across regions and disciplines—convened in Bangkok, Thailand, to explore emerging global socioeconomic trends, risks, and opportunities.
To bring this high-level conversation to a wider, global public, the UN Department of Economic and Social Affairs (UN DESA) hosted a Global Policy Dialogue on “Converging crises, shared solutions: Applying socioeconomic lessons from Asia-Pacific to global challenges” on the margins of the HLAB meeting.
Using Foresight Tools to Prepare for What’s Ahead
Join UN DESA and experts on economics and demography for a discussion about how high-quality analyses and forecasting tools can help countries create strategic foresight plans that aid in their sustainable development. This Global Policy Dialogue launched the “Future in Focus: Preparing for What Lies Ahead” review of the Department’s foresight and preparedness efforts.
Our event was free and open to all. It was held in English with International Sign Interpretation. This event was made possible by the United Nations Peace and Development Trust Fund.
Making the SDGs Work for and with Persons with Disabilities: A UN DESA Global Policy Dialogue
In support of the "UN Disability and Development Report 2024", UN DESA held a Global Policy Dialogue on 17 December 2024 with stakeholders involved in developing the report as well as voices that elevate the issues of persons with disabilities in the context of sustainable development. The report presented the most recent global analysis based on an unprecedented amount of data, legislation and policies from all countries to understand the socio-economic circumstances of persons with disabilities worldwide, progress made so far and the challenges and barriers they still face.
Financing for the Future: A UN DESA Global Policy Dialogue with HLAB Members
This Global Policy Dialogue was held on 2 December 2024 as part of the "Financing for Development Dialogues: from Evidence to Action" programme of events, seeks to engage academia in the preparations for the fourth International Conference on Financing for Development (FFD4).
Preparing the Most Vulnerable for Future Shocks: A UN DESA Global Policy Dialogue for the Classroom on the World Social Report 2024
The new World Social Report 2024 from the United Nations Department of Economic and Social Affairs (UN DESA) illustrates how shocks hit the most vulnerable people and societies the hardest, with both short- and long-term impacts on social development.
Leveraging Digital Technologies for SDG Action: A UN DESA Global Policy Dialogue
To support the UN in its efforts to achieve the SDGs amid interconnected crises, UN DESA will host a Global Policy Dialogue on 7 November, on "Leveraging Digital Technologies for SDG Action." The dialogue will be divided into two panels that will draw on the key findings and recommendations of the UN E-Government Survey 2024 and to ensure transformations at the necessary scale and speed.
New Pathways to End Poverty Amid Converging Crises: A UN DESA Global Policy Dialogue
The new "World Social Report 2024" from the United Nations Department of Economic and Social Affairs (UN DESA) illustrates how shocks hit the most vulnerable people and societies the hardest, with both short- and long-term impacts on social development.
Meeting Our Commitments to the World’s Women and Girls: A UN DESA Global Policy Dialogue on Gender Equality
After the United Nations’ Summit of the Future, where world leaders highlighted the need to deliver a better present and safeguard the future, it was clear that women and girls will need to be at the heart of the new Pact for the Future. However the report, “The Progress on the Sustainable Development Goals: The Gender Snapshot 2023,” shows there is much work to be done.
Engaging Youth and Academia with Data for the Future: “The Sustainable Development Goals 2024” (Session 2)
Join the UN Department of Economic and Social Affairs (UN DESA) and the UN Academic Impact for a special Global Policy Dialogue for the Classroom focused on breaking down the recent "2024 Sustainable Development Goals Report."
Engaging Youth and Academia with Data for the Future: “World Population Prospects 2024” (Session 1)
UN DESA partnered with UN Academic Impact in August 2024 for a two-part series that will bring two new, data-driven reports to an academic and youth audience. In this event, authors of the "World Population Prospects 2024" presented, in-depth, the major findings of this critical report, highlighting its relevancy for people working or studying in colleges and universities.
Delivering the Future We Want: A UN DESA Global Policy Dialogue with the UN High-level Advisory Board on Economic and Social Affairs (HLPF 2024 Side Event)
UN DESA held a special edition of the UN DESA Global Policy Dialogue series featuring the members of the United Nations High-level Advisory Board (HLAB) on Economic and Social Affairs at the UN High-level Political Forum on Sustainable Development (HLPF) in July 2024 to share their latest suggestions in addressing global challenges and accelerating SDG implementation.
The Demographic Prospects of SIDS: a UN DESA Global Policy Dialogue
On 30 May 2024, UN DESA held a stock-taking and discussion of the current demographic outlook for small island developing States, using the latest data from the “Population Prospects of Countries in Special Situations” report. With issues such as ageing populations, youth migration, and changing family structures, SIDS face complex demographic challenges that necessitate tailored policy responses.
The Economic Prospects of SIDS: a UN DESA Global Policy Dialogue
UN DESA held on 27 May 2024 on the sidelines of the Fourth International Conference on Small Island Developing States (SIDS4), happening in St. John’s, Antigua and Barbuda, a discussion of the current economic outlook for small island developing States (SIDS).
Accelerating Innovation and Data Management for Forests: A UN DESA Global Policy Dialogue
In March 2024, UN DESA held 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 21 March. This year, the United Nations is celebrating the theme, "Forests and Innovation: New Solutions for a Better World," and this session will highlight some of these solutions, as well as better ways to improve monitoring and data-gathering related to forests.
Advancing partnerships in support of the new Programme of Action for Small Island Developing States
UN DESA held on 23 February 2024 a conversation on how multi-stakeholder partnerships can drive implementation of sustainable development in small island developing states (SIDS). This event also served as the final segment of the SIDS Partnership Symposium, an associate event to the 2024 Asia-Pacific Forum on Sustainable Development (APFSD), held at the United Nations Conference Center in Bangkok, Thailand.
Future-forward Development Planning in Asia and the Pacific
UN DESA and UN ESCAP held a hybrid stock-take on 20 February 2024 and discussed the current economic outlook for Asia and the Pacific, using data from the “World Economic Situation and Prospects 2024” (WESP) report launched in January.