Financing for Development, United Nations Department for Economic and Social Affairs

2012 ECOSOC Substantive Session: Financing for development
(UN Headquarters, ECOSOC Chamber, 12 July 2012)

The Economic and Social Council, during its 2012 substantive session, considered agenda item 6(a) entitled “Follow-up to the International Conference on Financing for Development” during the 27th and 28th meeting of its coordination segment. The morning session featured a panel discussion on “Innovative mechanisms of financing for development” followed by a general discussion on the item in the afternoon. Read more >>

UN Model Double Taxation Convention: 2011 Update

The 2011 update of the UN Model Double Taxation Convention between Developed and Developing Countries, authored by the UN Committee of Experts on International Cooperation in Tax Matters, replaces the 1999 version of the Convention, published in 2001. The updated version aims to provide assistance to developing countries in negotiating modern bilateral double-tax treaties, in support of their development goals. The main objective of this revision has been to take account of developments in international tax policies in the last decade. Read more >>

Special high-level meeting of ECOSOC with the Bretton Woods institutions, the World Trade Organization and the United Nations Conference on Trade and Development

The Economic and Social Council held its Special high-level meeting with the Bretton Woods institutions, the World Trade Organization and the United Nations Conference on Trade and Development on 12–13 March 2012 at United Nations Headquarters, New York. The overall theme of the meeting was “Coherence, coordination and cooperation in the context of Financing for Development”. The UN Secretary-General addressed the meeting. Following a short opening plenary with brief statements by the President of ECOSOC and the heads of relevant intergovernmental bodies, the meeting included informal thematic debates on the following topics:

“Promoting sustained, inclusive and equitable economic growth, job creation, productive investment and trade";
“Financing of sustainable development".

The thematic debates on the above topics were held consecutively in an informal plenary setting of the whole, in order to facilitate greater engagement of all participants and to promote an open exchange of views and experiences among all stakeholders, including civil society and the business sector. At the closing of the meeting, the President of ECOSOC made concluding remarks. The full summary by the President of ECOSOC was issued as an official document (A/67/81–E/2012/62). Read more >>

Fifth High-level Dialogue on Financing for Development

In accordance with General Assembly resolution 65/314, the fifth High-level Dialogue on Financing for Development was held on 7 and 8 December 2011 at UN Headquarters. The Dialogue's overall theme was “The Monterrey Consensus and Doha Declaration on Financing for Development: status of implementation and tasks ahead”. The two-day event included a series of plenary meetings chaired by the Acting President of the General Assembly, at which ministers and high-level officials made formal statements. The second day included three interactive multi-stakeholder round tables in the morning followed by an informal interactive dialogue in the afternoon, with the participation of all relevant stakeholders. Read more >>

Calendar of Events

Upcoming events

15-19 October 2012, GenevaCommittee of Experts on International Cooperation in Tax Matters—eighth session

Past events

12 July 2012, New YorkECOSOC special event on "Innovative mechanisms of financing for development"
18 May 2012, New YorkExpert Group Meeting on "Sovereign Debt Restructuring" (closed meeting)
17–18 May 2012, New YorkGA High-Level Thematic Debate on the State of the World Economy and Finance
15 March 2012, New YorkECOSOC special meeting on "International cooperation in tax matters"
14 March 2012, New YorkExpert Group Meeting on "Transfer Pricing and Capacity Development in Tax Matters"
12-13 March 2012, New YorkSpecial high-level meeting of the ECOSOC with the BWIs, WTO and UNCTAD
7 March 2012, New YorkECOSOC panel discussion on global governance
3 February 2012, New YorkSpecial event on "Financing social development"
16 December 2011, New YorkGeneral Assembly 66th session—Item 123(b) "Central role of the United Nations system in global governance"
7-8 December 2011, New YorkFifth GA High-level Dialogue on Financing for Development
6 December 2011, New YorkCivil Society Forum on Financing for Development
10 November 2011, New York Panel Discussion on "Donor accountability—in increasing international financial and technical cooperation for development"
24-28 October 2011, GenevaCommittee of Experts on International Cooperation in Tax Matters—seventh session
14 October 2011, New YorkBriefing by the World Bank and IMF on the outcome of the 2011 Annual Meetings of the Bretton Woods institutions
13 October 2011, New YorkGA 66th session—Second Committee: Item 18 "Financing for Development"
10 October 2011, New YorkGA 66th session—Second Committee: Item 17(b) "International financial system and development"

View all FfD Events »

Outcome of the 66th session of the General Assembly in the area of Financing for Development

FfD issues featured prominently in the work of the Second Committee of the 66th session of the General Assembly, including its general debate and consideration of agenda item 17 on Macroeconomic policy questions and 18 on Follow-up to and implementation of the outcome of the 2002 International Conference on Financing for Development and the 2008 Review Conference. Deliberations resulted in the adoption of the following resolutions:

"International trade and development" (A/RES/66/185),

"International financial system and development" (A/RES/66/187),

"Addressing excessive price volatility in food and related financial and commodity markets" (A/RES/66/188),

"External debt sustainability and development" (A/RES/66/189),

"Commodities" (A/RES/66/190),

"Follow-up to the International Conference on Financing for Development" (A/RES/66/191),

"Follow-up to the International Conference on Financing for Development"
(A/RES/65/145)

Multi-stakeholder Consultations

Pursuant to the Monterrey Consensus and the Doha Declaration on Financing for Development, the Financing for Development Office (FfDO) organized multi-stakeholder consultations on:

Multi-stakeholder consultations section Click here for reports »

Ad Hoc Open-ended Working Group on Financial Crisis

By its resolution 63/305 of 11 August 2009, the General Assembly established an ad hoc open-ended working group to follow up on the issues contained in the Outcome of the Conference on the World Financial and Economic Crisis and Its Impact on Development. The Co-Chairs of the Working Group (Ambassador Morten Wetland of Norway and Ambassador Lazarous Kapambwe of Zambia), in consultation with all regional groups and key stakeholders, organized a series of six substantive meetings of the Group from April to June 2010. The outcome of these meetings was included in the report of the Working Group (A/64/884), which was presented by the Co-Chairs to the President of the 64th General Assembly.

Doha Review Conference

The Follow-up International Conference on Financing for Development to Review the Implementation of the Monterrey Consensus (Doha, Qatar, 29 November - 2 December 2008) resulted in the adoption by consensus of the Doha Declaration on Financing for Development. Officials from more than 160 countries, including nearly 40 Heads of State or Government, attended the four day conference. The Doha Declaration reaffirmed UN Photo/Eskinder Debebethe Monterrey Consensus and called for a United Nations conference at the highest level on the world financial and economic crisis and its impact on development.

Doha Declaration

Report of Doha
Conference (A/CONF.212/7)

Doha Review Conference site »

Financial Crisis Summit

By its resolution 63/303 of 9 July 2009, the General Assembly endorsed the Outcome of the Conference on the World Financial and Economic Crisis and Its Impact on Development, held in New York from 24 to 30 June 2009. The 59-paragraph document sets forth a global consensus on the causes, impacts and responses to the current crisis; prioritizes the prompt, decisive and coordinated actions that are required; and defines a clear role for the United Nations.