At the 2026 ECOSOC Operational Activities for Development Segment, the UN Secretary-General highlighted key findings from the UNSDG Chair Report, including progress made due to reforms in the UN development system and four areas where action is essential.
Young leaders across the globe are solving environmental and human development challenges by improving how people interact with nature, valuing diverse ways of thinking and enabling more inclusive participation in shaping solutions.
As AI increasingly affects Small Island Developing States, they must have a say in who will shape it, under what rules and in whose interest. Through frameworks, programmes and assessments, the UN is supporting Jamaica and its youth to thrive in a technical world.
Nestled in the Ring of Fire, Tonga is the world's second most at-risk country to natural hazards. Under the leadership of the Resident Coordinator, the UN is working with partners to chart a future for the island that is not only resilient, but also sustainable.
Contending with unreliable electricity, a hospital in Zimbabwe is receiving support from the Joint SDG Fund and partners to implement clean energy installations that will ensure service continuity and offer a model to other health facilities.
At the Plenary Meeting of the General Assembly, the Secretary-General outlines how GDP, while important, fails to capture the progression and regression of indicators vital to sustainable development, such as human and planetary well-being.
As Buenos Aires and Guatuso territories contend with food insecurity, a programme supported by the UN and the Joint SDG Fund is engaging local communities and leveraging broad partnerships to strengthen agricultural governance, sustainable production practices and eating habits.
With an energy system facing longstanding challenges, the Philippines and the UN are working together both nationally and in local communities to implement clean energy solutions, improve efficiency, strengthen resilience and ensure an inclusive green transition.
Amid obstacles in the global financial architecture, UN teams are supporting Small Island Developing States to broker deals, build the case for investment and move from isolated projects to scalable solutions, driving both national and regional impacts.
Countries are managing global shocks and declines in official development assistance by finding practical ways to finance development, from new investment models to debt relief tools and stronger partnerships.