United Nations Department of Economic and Social Affairs#Population Division

{{Short description|Government organization in New York, United States}}

{{Infobox UN

| 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 = UN DESA

| num_employees=889https://unsceb.org/hr-organization PERSONNEL BY ORGANIZATION

| num_employees_year=2022

| headquarters = New York City, New York, U.S.

| leader_title = Head

| leader_name = Li Junhua since 2022
{{CHN}}

| status = Active

| formation = {{start date and age|1948}}

| website = {{Official URL}}

}}

The United Nations Department of Economic and Social Affairs (UN DESA) 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.{{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}} UN DESA 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, UN DESA 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.{{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 }} Since 2007, leadership positions in UN DESA have been held by representatives from the People's Republic of China (PRC).{{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 }} UN DESA has been used to promote PRC's Belt and Road Initiative.{{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 }}{{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}}