Publications | Economic Analysis and Policy Division

Displaying 1 - 6 of 6

17 November 2021

Frontier Technology Issues: Frontier technologies for smallholder farmers: addressing information asymmetries and deficiencies

Introduction While fertilizers, genetically modified crops, and biotechnology have brought substantial benefits for farmers in recent decades, the accelerated application of smart, digital, and precision agricultural technologies offers a historic opportunity to improve farm productivity going forward. Such technologies are wide-ranging, including small mobile applications for decision support, field sensors and remote sensing technologies for data collection, drones and robots for automation of processes, and digital platforms for market access and sales. Use of these technologies helps address information asymmetries and deficiencies facing farmers, particularly smallholders, which can… Frontier Technology Issues: Frontier technologies for smallholder farmers: addressing information asymmetries and deficiencies

20 September 2021

Sustainable Development Outlook 2021: From anguish to determination

The COVID-19 pandemic has renewed the global awareness that we are all in this together. The pandemic has set back progress on achieving the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), but it has also made it possible for the international community to see the pursuit of sustainable development in a new light, and to learn from both successes and challenges of the pandemic to reinvigorate efforts towards achieving the SDGs. The Sustainable Development Outlook 2021 charts a way forward for the world community to achieve the SDGs, despite the setback caused by COVID-19. In doing so, it focuses on SDG 1 (poverty), SDG 2 (hunger), SDG 3 (health and well-being), SDG 8 (growth and employment), SDG 10 (… Sustainable Development Outlook 2021: From anguish to determination

12 July 2021

What did the 2020 Voluntary National Review (VNR) reports still not tell us?, by the CDP subgroup on VNRs (CDP Background Paper No. 52)

The fourth in a series of annual analyses of voluntary national reviews (VNRs) by the Committee for Development Policy (CDP), this paper analyses the 2020 reports. It consists of an introductory chapter with general conclusions and recommendations for consideration by governments and other stakeholders participating in future VNRs; and a short series of authored thematic chapters. The document revisits issues addressed in the previous editions, such as the pledge to leave no one behind, inequalities, gender inequality, COVID-19 and pandemic preparedness, and SDG 17, and includes new topics of analysis, such as how countries have treated the issue of structural transformation and sustainable… Download

08 July 2021

Frontier Technology Issues: Lithium-ion batteries: a pillar for a fossil fuel-free economy?

Download Frontier Technology Issues: Lithium-ion batteries: a pillar for a fossil fuel-free economy? (PDF) Introduction In 2019, the Royal Swedish Academy of Sciences awarded the Nobel Prize in Chemistry to three scientists for the development of lithium-ion (Li-ion) batteries that, according to the Academy, have laid the foundation for a fossil fuel-free economy. Li-ion batteries can safely store large amounts of energy, ensuring stable and predictable flows of electricity even in decentralized immobile (i.e., stationary) or mobile modes in remote areas. The increasing popularity of passenger electric vehicles and electric buses is largely a result of the capacity improvement of Li-ion… Frontier Technology Issues: Lithium-ion batteries: a pillar for a fossil fuel-free economy?

03 May 2021

World Social Report 2021: Reconsidering Rural Development

New approaches made possible through improved access and Internet connectivity can raise the standard of living for approximately 3.4 billion people living in rural areas, without them having to migrate to cities, according to the newly released 2021 World Social Report “Reconsidering Rural Development.” The COVID-19 pandemic, together with already persistent high levels of poverty and inequalities, are threatening to stall progress for the world’s rural populations. But the pandemic has also proven that new technologies can enable rural populations to flourish, ending the rural-urban divide. UN Secretary-General António Guterres said the new technologies opened up new opportunities for… Download (PDF)

29 January 2021

CDP Plenary 2021

Date and location 22 - 26 February 2021 Virtual meeting Documents Agenda Report of the Committee for Development Policy (E/2021/33, Supplement No. 13)
عربي, 中文, English, Français, Русский, Español Opening statements Statement by H.E. Ambassador Munir Akram, President of United Nations Economic and Social Council Statement by Elliott Harris, Assistant Secretary-General for Economic Development and Chief Economist Statement by Jose Antonio Ocampo, Chair of the Committee for Development Policy Open session on ECOSOC interaction Statement by Jose Antonio Ocampo, Chair of the Committee for Development Policy Recording of the session Briefing to delegates on LDC issues Recording of…