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.