On the 23rd of November 2016, the DPAD/DSP unit organized a Development Policy Seminar where the draft report of the International Panel on Social Progress (“Rethinking society for the 21st century” – working title) was presented by Professor Marc Fleurbaey (Professor of Public Affairs and the University Center for Human Values at Princeton University and Member of the UN Committee for Development Policy). Ms. Diana Alarcon (Chief, DPAD/DSP) chaired the seminar.

On 16 November, DSP/DPAD organized a side event at the COP22 in Marrakesh entitled Modelling Tools for Sustainable Development Policies: building national capacity to address the economic, social and environmental dimensions of development. The objective of the event was to present on-going work on capacity development to inform national policies. Diana Alarcon introduced DESA's vision of capacity development as a tool to strengthen countries' capacity to estimate the inter-linkages across development dimensions and the options countries have to improve policy impacts.

UN DESA | Development Policy and Analysis DivisonIn the context of the COP22 in Marrakesh, DPAD organized a side event to present the World Economic and Social Survey 2016: Building Climate Resilience, an Opportunity for Reducing Inequalities. The event was well attended by a diverse group of people from government delegations, civil society and the private sector.

Perhaps no other word has been repeated more frequently than “integrated” to describe the 2030 Agenda and its Sustainable Development Goals. Yet policymaking is approached sector-by-sector. The allocation of resources and the political accountability at the national level lie with sectoral ministries.

So what does “integration” mean for national policymaking in the context of the 2030 Agenda? Does an integrated perspective really lead to any changes in policy decisions?

UN DESA | Development Policy and Analysis DivisonDPAD conducted the 2nd Training Workshop in the Water Evaluation and Planning System (WEAP) in Kampala, Uganda (31 October- 4 November).

Our Assistant Secretary-General for Economic Development, Lenni Montiel, and the team of authors behind the World Economic and Social Survey 2016: “Climate Change Resilience – An opportunity for reducing inequalities” in UN DESA's Development Policy and Analysis Division, organized a Facebook Live event to discuss the findings of the Survey and answer questions from all over the world.

UN DESA | Development Policy and Analysis Divison

UN DESA | Development Policy and Analysis DivisonOn 24-27 October, 2016, UN/DPAD conducted the first training workshop for analysts of Costa Rica’s Government, in San José, in close collaboration with the Ministry of Planning (MIDEPLAN). A total of 17 analysts from different government institutions initiated their training in the use of an economy-wide model with which they will develop scenarios delineating implementation strategies for national development plans and public policies.

UN DESA | Development Policy and Analysis Divison

On 19th October 2016, the DSP unit organized a Development Policy Seminar on “Deviant Development? Lessons from the Rhino Poaching and Charcoal Trades in Mozambique”, presented by Dr. Julie Silva, Associate Professor in the Department of Geographical Sciences in the University of Maryland. The presentation delved on what has been defined as deviant development or the improvement of income and living standards from illegal activities.