United Nations Department of Economic and Social Affairs

__NOTOC__ {{Short description|International organization in New York, United States}} {{Use dmy dates|date=September 2020}} {{Infobox organization | image = | image_size = | name = United Nations Department of Economic and Social Affairs | map = Logo for the United Nations Department of Economic and Social Affairs.png | type = Department | abbreviation = UNDESA | headquarters = New York City | leader_title = Head | leader_name = Li Junhua <small>(since 2022)</small> <br/> {{CHN}} | status = Active | formation = {{start date and age|1948}} | website = {{Official URL}} }} {{United Nations series}} The '''United Nations Department of Economic and Social Affairs''' ('''UNDESA''')<ref name=un>{{citation |last= |first= |contribution-url=https://unterm.un.org/unterm2/en/view/ced34520-e544-4794-94d4-f672ecd128a9 |contribution=UNTERM{{nbsp}}{{ndash}} Department of Economic and Social Affairs |title=The United Nations Terminology Database |url=https://unterm.un.org |location=New York |publisher=UN Department for General Assembly and Conference Management }}.</ref>{{efn|Official UN policy is to avoid this acronym or its variant '''DESA''' in official contexts.<ref name=un/>}} is part of the United Nations Secretariat and is responsible for the follow-up to major United Nations Summits and Conferences, as well as services to the United Nations Economic and Social Council and the Second and Third Committees of the United Nations General Assembly.<ref name="bio2007">{{cite web|url=https://www.un.org/esa/desa/ousg/#bioSection|title=About Mr. Wu Hongbo, Under-Secretary-General|access-date=2007-09-21|archive-date=10 December 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161210013832/http://www.un.org/esa/desa/ousg/#bioSection|url-status=live}}</ref> UNDESA assists countries around the world in agenda-setting and decision-making with the goal of meeting their economic, social and environmental challenges. It supports international cooperation to promote sustainable development for all, having as a foundation the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development and the 17 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) as adopted by the UN General Assembly on 25 September 2015. In providing a broad range of analytical products, policy advice, and technical assistance, UNDESA effectively translates global commitments in the economic, social and environmental spheres into national policies and actions and continues to play a key role in monitoring progress towards internationally agreed-upon development goals. It is also a member of the United Nations Development Group.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.undg.org/index.cfm?P%3D13 |title=UNDG Members |website=UNDG |access-date=15 May 2012 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110511144047/http://www.undg.org/index.cfm?P=13 |archive-date=11 May 2011 }}</ref> Since 2007, leadership positions in UNDESA have been held by representatives from the People's Republic of China (PRC).<ref name=":0">{{Cite web |last=Lynch |first=Colum |date=2018-05-10 |title=China Enlists U.N. to Promote Its Belt and Road Project |url=https://foreignpolicy.com/2018/05/10/china-enlists-u-n-to-promote-its-belt-and-road-project/ |access-date=2023-09-29 |website=Foreign Policy |language=en-US |archive-date=28 September 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230928101049/https://foreignpolicy.com/2018/05/10/china-enlists-u-n-to-promote-its-belt-and-road-project/ |url-status=live }}</ref> UNDESA has been used to promote the PRC's Belt and Road Initiative.<ref name=":0" /><ref>{{Cite web |last=Cheng-Chia |first=Tung |last2=Yang |first2=Alan H. |date=April 9, 2020 |title=How China Is Remaking the UN In Its Own Image |url=https://thediplomat.com/2020/04/how-china-is-remaking-the-un-in-its-own-image/ |access-date=2023-09-29 |website=The Diplomat |language=en-US |archive-date=29 May 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230529020051/https://thediplomat.com/2020/04/how-china-is-remaking-the-un-in-its-own-image/ |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=Zhenmin |first=Liu |date=2020-04-18 |title=Statement High Level Symposium on the Belt and Road Initiative and 2030 Agenda {{!}} Under-Secretary-General Liu Zhenmin – United Nations Department of Economic and Social Affairs |url=https://www.un.org/development/desa/statements/mr-liu/2018/06/hl-on-belt-road-2030-agenda.html |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200418044602/https://www.un.org/development/desa/statements/mr-liu/2018/06/hl-on-belt-road-2030-agenda.html |archive-date=April 18, 2020 |access-date= |website=United Nations}}</ref>

UNDESA was formerly known as the '''UN Department of International Economic and Social Affairs'''<ref name=un/> ('''DIESA'''). It resulted from the merger of the Departments for Policy Coordination and Sustainable Development, for Economic and Social Information and Policy Analysis, and for Development Support and Management Services<ref name=un/> (DDSMS) in 1997.<ref name=un2>{{citation |last= |first= |contribution-url=https://unterm.un.org/unterm2/en/view/d145a459-3ada-4687-8193-b23bf1a56d51 |contribution=UNTERM{{nbsp}}{{ndash}} Department for Development Support and Management Services |title=The United Nations Terminology Database |url=https://unterm.un.org |location=New York |publisher=UN Department for General Assembly and Conference Management }}.</ref> The DDSMS in turn was formerly known as the '''Department of Technical Cooperation for Development''' ('''DTCD''') from its founding in 1978 until 1993.<ref name=un3>{{citation |last= |first= |contribution-url=https://unterm.un.org/unterm2/en/view/74d2cb0c-0307-4b36-afc8-f8f9f939023d |contribution=UNTERM{{nbsp}}{{ndash}} Department of Technical Cooperation for Development |title=The United Nations Terminology Database |url=https://unterm.un.org |location=New York |publisher=UN Department for General Assembly and Conference Management }}.</ref>

==Notes== {{Noteslist}}

==References== {{Reflist|30em}}

==Further reading== * Records of [https://search.archives.un.org/department-of-economic-and-social-affairs-desa-1955-present the Department of Economic and Social Affairs (DESA) (1955–present)] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230728111224/https://search.archives.un.org/department-of-economic-and-social-affairs-desa-1955-present |date=28 July 2023 }} at the United Nations Archives

==External links== * {{Official website}} {{International human rights organizations}} {{United Nations}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:United Nations Department Of Economic And Social Affairs}} Category:Organizations established in 1948 * Category:United Nations Secretariat Category:United Nations organizations based in North America Category:Population Category:Sustainable development Category:Development economics