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About DSPD

About DSPD

Who We Are

The Division for Social Policy and Development (DSPD) is part of the Department of Economic and Social Affairs (DESA) of the United Nations Secretariat. The Division seeks to strengthen international cooperation for social development, particularly in the areas of poverty eradication, productive employment and decent work and the social inclusion of older persons, youth, family, persons with disabilities, indigenous peoples, persons marginalized from society and development. 

Mission Statement

The main objective of the Division for Social Policy and Development (DSPD) is to strengthen international cooperation for social development, in the context of the comprehensive and detailed framework of commitments and policies for action by Governments, intergovernmental and nongovernmental organizations provided by the Copenhagen Declaration on Social Development and Programme of Action of the World Summit for Social Development, with particular attention to the three core issues of poverty eradication, employment generation and social integration, in contributing to the creation of an international community that enables the building of secure, just, free and harmonious societies offering opportunities and higher standards of living for all. The Division’s work is vital for the social pillar of sustainable development. 

Watch below our e-brochure: Ms. Daniela Bas, Director, DSPD-DESA

The Division is functionally structured into the following:

bullet Social Perspective on Development Branch
bullet Social Integration Branch
bullet Secretariat for the Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities
bullet Secretariat of the Permanent Forum on Indigenous Issues
bullet The Civil Society and Outreach Unit
bullet Technical Cooperation Unit 

arrow DSPD Brochures (in English): Brochure 1 | Brochure 2

arrowOur Organization Chart (in JPG format. Click below on the image to enlarge) 

DSPD Organization Chart

What We Do

The Division monitors national and global socio-economic trends, identifies emerging issues, and assesses their implications for social policy at the national and international levels. To this end, the Division:

bullet Promotes common norms and develops policies, programmes and cooperative actions to facilitate the implementation of the Internationally Agreed Development Goals, including the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs).

bullet Provides support and servicing to intergovernmental processes by facilitating agreement on resolutions, strategies and international standards and norms through the Commission for Social Development, the Economic and Social Council, the General Assembly and other intergovernmental forums, such as theConference of State Parties to the Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities.

bullet Promotes the rights of indigenous peoples by servicing the United Nations Permanent Forum on Indigenous Issues (UNPFII) and promoting its mandate and recommendations, supporting the work of the General Assembly and the Economic and Social Council on Indigenous Issues, promoting coordination in the UN system and preparing and disseminating information on indigenous peoples’ issues.

bullet Undertakes global comparative studies on policy and programme design, implementation, monitoring and evaluation as well as on issues and social groups related to the work of the Division.

bullet Assists developing countries and countries with economies in transition, at their request, to strengthen their capacity to plan and manage their socio-economic development through advisory services and field projects.

bullet Stresses the promotion of full, productive, appropriately and adequately remunerated and freely chosen employment as a central objective of economic and social policies.

  • Poverty social.un.org/poverty
  • Employment - social.un.org/employment
  • Cooperatives - http://social.un.org/cooperatives
  • Ageing - social.un.org/ageing
  • Youth - social.un.org/youth
  • Family - social.un.org/family
  • Social Integration - http://social.un.org/index/SocialIntegration.aspx
  • Disabilities - www.un.org/disabilities
  • Indigenous - www.un.org/indigenous
  • Civil Society - social.un.org/ngo

Our Flagship Services

We provide the primary support and servicing to the:

bullet Commission for Social Development: social.un.org/csocd

bullet United Nations Permanent Forum on Indigenous Issues (UNPFII): social.un.org/unpfii

bullet Conference of States Parties to the Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities and the Committee on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities, jointly with the Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights: social.un.org/crpd

Our Flagship Reports

On a biennial basis, we produce:

bullet The Report on the World Social Situation (RWSS): social.un.org/rwss

bullet The World Youth Report (WYR): social.un.org/wyr
 

DSPD Brochures

DSPD Brochure
Brochure 1

UNDESA DSPD Brochure
Brochure 2

 

Social Summit +5

 Social Summit +5
Social Summit +5: The United Nations General Assembly convened a special session in Geneva in June-July 2000 to assess the achievements made at the World Social Summit of Copenhagen 1995 and to discuss new initiatives.