UN DESA Monthly Newsletter for April 2026

Monthly Newsletter: Vol 30, No. 4 – April 2026

Download this issue as a PDF: DESAVoiceApril2026.pdf

Youth are innovating, uniting and transforming, shaping the road to 2030

From 14 to 16 April 2026, young people will take center stage at the United Nations Headquarters in New York during the ECOSOC Youth Forum, considered the UN’s largest annual gathering of young people.

Expert Voices

Yumiko Kamiya in UN DESA’s Population Division

Population, technology and research: Advancing landmark population agenda in a changing world

The digital revolution was only just beginning, when the Programme of Action of the International Conference on Population and Development (ICPD) was adopted in 1994. Today, rapid technological advances, from digital communication and data systems to artificial intelligence and biotechnology, are fundamentally reshaping societies and development pathways. We spoke with Yumiko Kamiya in UN DESA’s Population Division about the focus of this year’s Commission on Population and Development and why it matters.

Things You Need To Know
Scene at the FFD4 Conference in Sevilla

6 things you should know about the world’s commitment to realizing financing for sustainable development

Last year, the international community came together in Sevilla, Spain, uniting behind a landmark agreement to secure financing for sustainable development. This month, Member States will gather at UN Headquarters in New York for the inaugural Financing for Development Week to follow up on the commitments made. The 2026 edition of the Financing for Sustainable Development Report will also be launched. Here are 6 things you should know.

UN DESA Monthly Newsletter for January 2026

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Monthly Newsletter: Vol 30, No. 1 – January 2026
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ECOSOC at 80: A milestone for global cooperation and sustainable development

The Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC) will commemorate its 80th anniversary by holding a special event on 23 January 2026. The event will be an opportunity to celebrate the Council’s many milestone achievements in improving people’s lives around the world. “We need to reflect on the legacy of ECOSOC and reaffirm its central role in shaping a more inclusive, resilient, and forward-looking multilateral system,” says H.E. Mr. Lok Bahadur Thapa (Nepal), President of ECOSOC.

Expert Voices

Delivering better through partnerships

“Delivering better is how we rebuild trust in multilateralism and make the SDGs real for every person, in every place,” said ECOSOC President Lok Bahadur Thapa, as we spoke with him ahead of the 2026 ECOSOC Partnership Forum on 27 January 2026. “The Partnership Forum is where we test whether our commitment to partnership is real and where we turn good ideas into change that benefit people around the world.”

Things You Need To Know

5 things you need to know about the global economy in 2026

The global economy showed notable resilience in 2025, performing better than anticipated despite repeated shocks and heightened uncertainty. Trade flows continued to expand, and overall activity held up more strongly than many expected. The key question now is whether this resilience will persist into 2026. The World Economic Situation and Prospects 2026 report — to be released on 8 January 2026 — offers some early answers. Here are five main points to know: