Division for Inclusive Social Development

The Division seeks to strengthen international cooperation for achieving social inclusion and the reduction of inequalities, by fostering effective policy impact and intensified global dialogue on social development issues. The Division is the main vehicle for promoting the social dimensions of the 2030 Agenda, particularly in the areas of inequality, poverty eradication, productive employment and decent work, family, cooperatives and the social inclusion of older persons, youth, persons with disabilities, indigenous peoples, and persons marginalized from society.

The Division is responsible for coordinating the entire scope of social development progress and implementation including support to follow-up and implementation of the outcome of the World Summit for Social Development (the Copenhagen Declaration and Programme of Action on Social Development), the World Programme of Action on Youth, the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples and Outcome document of the World Conference on Indigenous Peoples, the Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities and the Outcome document of the High Level Meeting on Disability and Development, the Madrid International Plan of Action on Ageing, the objectives of the International Year of the Family and the International Year of Cooperatives, and the 3rd United Nations Decade for the Eradication of Poverty. The Division further leads preparation of the Report on the World Social Situation, a flagship report of the United Nations, and other major reports such as the World Youth Report, the Disability and Development Report, and the State of the World’s Indigenous Peoples Report.

The Division takes an integrated and multidimensional approach to its work to address and analyze policy issues, working at the interlinkages and overlaps of the social, economic and environmental dimensions of sustainable development, as well as at the intersections of development, rights and peace-building, to provide coherent, evidence-based policy advice.

Ms. Daniela Bas, Director

Main Activities

  • Facilitate implementation of the internationally agreed development goals and commitments, including the SDGs;
  • Undertake global comparative studies on policy and programme design, implementation, monitoring and evaluation, and identify emerging trends in the areas of social policy and social development;
  • Support to intergovernmental processes through the Commission for Social Development, the Economic and Social Council, the General Assembly and other intergovernmental forums, such as the Conference of State Parties to the CRPD and the Open-ended Working Group on Ageing;
  • Serve as Secretariat to the United Nations Permanent Forum on Indigenous Issues (UNPFII), and promote the rights of indigenous peoples in the context of development;
  • Provide advisory and capacity development services to Member States, for formulating effective and inclusive development policy;
  • Promote the effective inclusion of older persons in society and development, including through promotion of the three priority directions of the Madrid International Plan of Action on Ageing (MIPAA);
  • Strengthen participation of youth in decision-making processes at all levels;
  • Foster dynamic partnerships with civil society in achieving social development;
  • Promote the objectives of the International Year of the Family (1994) and its follow-up processes;
  • Support the development of cooperatives at the national and international levels.
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