25 April 2025 - As the United Nations marks its 80th anniversary this year, the world continues to face a daunting set of challenges that require innovative and bold solutions. Amidst the current strained context of global cooperation, April 2025 also marks the fifth anniversary of the launch of the latest phase of UN DESA¡¯s .
The current phase - released under the ¡°Future of the World¡± theme ¨C features 115 published Policy Briefs over five years. They have helped identifying emerging risks, issues and megatrends, while highlighting policies, tools and institutions that can foster innovation to achieve sustainable development and meet the promise of the 17 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).
Originally launched in the wake of the COVID-19 global health crisis, this phase has provided timely research, analysis and policy advice cutting across social, environmental and economic fields, initially focused on supporting responses to the immediate impacts of the pandemic ¨C including its effects on older persons, youth and Indigenous Peoples.
Since 2020, the Policy Briefs have maintained a spotlight on ensuring a sustainable global recovery from the crisis, examining a wide range of issues, from SDG implementation progress and challenges, population and migration trends, sustainable financing frameworks, social protection policies, climate action approaches, capacity strengthening and many more.
The Series has also served to complement the Decade of Action to deliver the SDGs, proposals outlined in Our Common Agenda and various commitments made by Member States, including in the landmark September 2024 Pact for the Future agreement.
Through the concise message-oriented format of the Policy Briefs, UN DESA experts have been able to both inform the general public and support decision makers around the world with original research and strategic recommendations to navigate tough choices and prepare for the complex and compounded risks in today's interconnected world.
Looking ahead to the busy UN calendar this year, the Series will provide key insights to inform the in June, and the in November, while also examining opportunities to further harness digital technologies ¨C including AI ¨C to help achieve the SDGs.
Against a backdrop of interlinked crises, the thoughtful analysis and policy guidance offered through the Series will continue to serve as a reliable resource to support Member States to address emerging challenges, alert the public of innovative research and promote multilateral efforts towards accelerating implementation of the SDGs.
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photo credit: UNICEF / Pierre Holtz