UNRIC Library Backgrounder: Development

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Many people associate the United Nations with the issues of peace and security, but most of Organization’s resources are devoted to advancing the pledge of its Charter to “promote higher standards of living, full employment, and conditions of economic and social progress and development”. UN development efforts have profoundly affected the lives and well-being of millions of people throughout the world. UN endeavours are guided by the conviction that lasting international peace and security are possible only if the economic and social well-being of people everywhere is assured.

Basic Facts about the United Nations, 42^nd Edition © 2017

UN Websites

• Support Sustainable Development and Climate Action: https://www.un.org/en/our-work/support-sustainable-development-and-climate-action

UN Bodies and Offices working on development

• General Assembly
  • Second Committee (Economic and Financial): https://www.un.org/en/ga/second/index.shtml
  • Third Committee (Social, Humanitarian and Cultural): https://www.un.org/en/ga/third/index.shtml
• Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC): https://www.un.org/ecosoc/en/
  • Subsidiary Bodies of ECOSOC: https://www.un.org/ecosoc/en/content/ecosoc-subsidiary-bodies
• United Nations Development Programme (UNDP): https://www.undp.org
  UNDP works in about 170 countries and territories, helping to eradicate poverty, reduce inequalities and exclusion, and build resilience so countries can sustain progress. As the UN’s development agency, UNDP plays a critical role in helping countries achieve the Sustainable Development Goals.
• United Nations Capital Development Fund (UNCDF): https://www.uncdf.org
  The UN Capital Development Fund makes public and private finance work for the poor in the world’s 46 least developed countries (LDCs). With its capital mandate and instruments, UNCDF offers “last mile” finance models that unlock public and private resources, especially at the domestic level, in support of households, localities and small enterprises that are underserved, where development needs are greatest and where resources are scarcest.
• United Nations Sustainable Development Group: https://unsdg.un.org/
  The UNSDG guides, supports, tracks and oversees the coordination of development operations in 162 countries and territories.

Research & Documentation

• UN Dag Hammarskjöld Library – Research Guide on various development topics:
  https://research.un.org/
• UNOG Library & Archives – Research Guides – Economics, Trade & Development:
  https://libraryresources.unog.ch/
• UN Dag Hammarskjöld Library – Research Guides – UN Resources – Development:
  https://research.un.org/en/un-resources/topic/development
• UNRIC Library Backgrounders
  • Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) – Selected Online Resources:
    https://unric.org/en/unric-library-backgrounder-sdgs/
  • Other development topics:
    https://unric.org/en/info-point-library/backgrounders/
• Ask Dag: Where can I find the first General Assembly resolution setting 0.7% of GDP as the target for development assistance? https://ask.un.org/faq/273591