2015

• From 3-6 November 2015 the Committee for Development Policy (CDP) Secretariat of the UN Department of Economic and Social Affairs held a four-day workshop in Geneva to help LDCs benefit more from international support measures (ISMs) and to prepare for possible graduation from the category. Senior policymakers attended from Bhutan, The Gambia, Lesotho, Nepal, Timor Leste, Uganda and Vanuatu, along with officials from UN agencies and other international institutions. The workshop focused on how to strategically orient the economy to develop productive capacity for trade, defined as the productive resources, entrepreneurial capabilities and production linkages which together determine the capacity of a country to produce goods and services and enable it to grow and develop sustainably. Read the Workshop Summary and Resource Package
• On 26-28 August, UNDESA will gather researchers and government policy analysts taking part of DESA capacity development country projects, as well as experts in integrated assessments for sustainable development, in the workshop "Integrated Modelling Tools to Support National Sustainable Development and SDG Strategies". The workshop will bring together government officials from economic, energy and environment ministries from Bolivia, Brazil, Cuba, Nicaragua, and Uganda, and experts from several UN agencies and research institutions engaged in integrated methodologies such as the Water, Energy and Food Security Nexus and the Climate, Land, Energy and Water Systems model (CLEWS) among others.

2014

• On 3-5 June 2014 in Amman, Jordan, DPAD led the final training workshop under its capacity development activities in the country. During the workshop participants received guidance on how to, using the economy-wide model known as MAMS, simulate policies that were specifically designed to inform the country’s economic development plan (EDP). These exercises included: (i) an increase in direct tax rate for the 20% of households at the top of the income distribution, (ii) an elimination of subsidies for bakery products and/or refined oil, and (iii) an increase in public spending and investments in tertiary education. An additional analysis of the effect of an increase in FDI was also conducted. Results from said policy simulations from MAMS were also used to implement a microsimulation model using the Household Income and Expenditure Survey (HEIS) for 2010. In this way, poverty and inequality indicators were estimated for all scenarios. Read more about the event
• On 22 May 2014, the Minister of Planning & Development (MPD) of Bolivia, Ms. Viviana Caro Hinojosa, expressed her gratitude for DPAD’s capacity development activities as these are helping to “support the ministers in policy decision-making by measuring the economic and social impacts of external shocks and policies using the modelling tools developed by UN-DESA”. Ms. Caro Hinojosa considers that “this work has also provided the first indications of the additional spending required to achieve the MDGs, the best source of financing to cope with this cost, and the specific policy priorities needed to implement this agenda and align it with the country's Agenda Patriótica 2025.” The Minister also expressed her satisfaction with the increased technical capacities of Bolivian technicians as a result of the most recent UN-DESA project, following two other similar projects, noting that this has benefitted national authorities by improving the quality of the advice they rely on for policy decisions.

• On 15 April, 2014, Dr. Albert Musisi, of the Ministry of Finance, Planning and Economic Development, presented a paper titled "Uganda Public Sector Borrowing Requirements, Financing Options and the Implications for Economic Performance", highlighting Uganda's need for significant additional investment capital in the next 6 years to finance the country's investment plans. Dr. Musisi's presented his work at the National Development Policy forum, held at the office of the president of Uganda, where experts discussed financing options to meet the country's infrastructure plans.

  Dr. Musisi was the leader of a technical team in Uganda formed by a capacity development project led by UN-DESA, which transferred knowledge to government staff to analyze economic and policy changes and provide advice to policy-makers. In his paper, Dr. Musisi uses the modelling tools imparted by DESA's capacity development activities to highlight the implications that the investment projects and their financing have on the general macroeconomic stability of the country. With total government spending expected to increase to an average of 24 per cent of the GDP between 2014/15 and 2017/18, there is fear that commercial borrowing could crowd-out private sector investments.

  The policy dialogue and the successful transfer of knowledge are key accomplishments of DESA’s capacity development project “Strengthening Macroeconomic and Social Policy Coherence through Integrated Macro-Micro Modelling”. 

• On 5 May 2014, the Minister of National Planning and Economic Policy of the Republic of Costa Rica, Mr. Roberto J. Gallardo, expressed his gratitude for DPAD’s capacity development activities that have benefited colleagues at the Ministry and other government agencies.

  Mr. Gallardo considers that “the importance of these exercises demands from us continued work with them with a view of building more capacities and generating a multiplier effect that benefits other colleagues of the Ministry, as well as continuing improving the analytical work on issues of national interest and contributing key information for decision making”.

  The Minister has also expressed his satisfaction with the policy recommendations he is receiving on issues of taxation, investments in infrastructure and government transfers. The recommendations are prepared by government staff using policy simulation analyses that have been developed as part of the project “Strengthening Macroeconomic and Social Policy Coherence through Integrated Macro-Micro Modelling”.

2013

• On 5 and 6 December 2013, an Expert Group Meeting on "Macroeconomic challenges to development policies post-2015: lessons from recent country experiences", organized by DPAD, examined the implications of the global macroeconomic environment on the achievement of a sustainable development agenda and highlighted lessons learned from MDG achievements in a selected number of country studies to assess the challenges that a more ambitious agenda will pose on policymakers. The first day featured discussions on the global macroeconomic environment and financing a sustainable development agenda as well as three presentations on the macroeconomic challenges in Brazil, China and India. In the second day, country teams who participated in DPAD's capacity development activities presented the simulation results obtained in the modelling of the prospects of achieving the MDGs and possible use of this methodology to inform the policy options countries could take to advance an agenda for sustainable development.
• On 30 October 2013 in Tegucigalpa, Honduras, DPAD led the final workshop and activities under its capacity development activities in the country. During the workshop participants presented a final summary of the project’s accomplishments in Honduras and the work produced by experts from the Central Bank of Honduras trained in the framework of the project. Read more about the presentation
• On 16 October 2013 in Kampala, Uganda, DPAD led the presentation of the final of policy research papers prepared under its capacity development activities in Uganda. DPAD also participated in the launch of the country's MDG report and held meetings with high level policy officials on future collaboration in preparing the Second National Development Plan.Read more about the workshop
• On 10-13 September 2013 in Managua, DPAD lead the presentation of two policy research papers and three policy notes produced by government experts trained in the framework of the project, and worked to fine-tune policy simulations. The results were presented to 150 experts at the Central Bank, and to 30 experts from different government institutions at the Ministry of Finance. DPAD also held meetings with high level policy officials on the impact of the policy notes will have on informing policy makers and follow-up activities. This marks the successful completion of activities conducted in Nicaragua under the project "Strengthening Macroeconomic and Social Policy Coherence through Integrated Macro-Micro Modelling".Read more about the presentation
• On 27 August 2013 in La Paz, Bolivia, DESA/DPAD staff held a working meeting and took part in the final workshop to discuss policy notes to be presented to government officials. The notes reported simulation results and recommendations by government experts from UDAPE and the Central Bank of Bolivia covering three areas of analysis: economic growth and financing scenarios for MDG achievement by and post 2015, the impact of remittances on economic growth and poverty, and the impact of food price crises on food security and poverty. This marked the successful completion of training activities in Bolivia, but DESA/DPAD will continue to provide technical backstopping to the participating institutions if needed to ensure the sustainability of capacities. Read more about the workshop
• On 21-22 August 2013 in Manila, Philippines DPAD held working meetings and a workshop. During the workshop, DPAD's technical team discussed the objectives of the project with Government officials and described the integrated macro-micro modelling framework to workshop participants. During the workshop participants presented their policy simulation results to over 20 attendees from various institutions of the Philippines's Government, including policymakers. The group engaged in substantive discussions and focused on how to transmit the messages to policymakers. Read more about the workshop
• On 8-9 August 2013 in San José, DESA/DPAD staff conducted hands-on sessions on policy modelling for members of the Forecasting Unit of the Ministry of Planning. The sessions included a refresher on modelling methodologies, marking the successful completion of the Development Account Project "Strengthening Macroeconomic and Social Policy Coherence through Integrated Macro-Micro Modelling" in Costa Rica. The Chief of the Forecasting Unit, Mr. Mario Robles, expressed his and the Minister's gratitude for DESA/DPAD's support and the accomplishments of the project. DESA/DPAD will continue to provide technical backstopping to the Ministry and other participating institutions if needed beyond the time span of the project to ensure the sustainability of capacities. Read more about the project
• On 16-18 July 2013 in Tegucigalpa, DPAD, in collaboration with UNDP-Honduras, conducted the second intensive training workshop for representatives of the Honduran government and UNDP. The workshop provided substantive training on how to identify the effects of macroeconomic policy on poverty, income distribution, employment, and many other micro-level variables. Participants also presented their modeling proposals for validation and discussion. Read more about the workshop
• On 7-10 May 2013 in Tegucigalpa, DPAD, in collaboration with UNDP-Honduras, conducted the first intensive training workshop for representatives of the Honduran government and UNDP. The workshop provided substantive training on the methodology, and hands-on training on how to run policy scenarios. Read more about the workshop
• On 22-25 January 2013 in Managua, Nicaragua, DPAD conducted the final intensive practical training workshop on the use of the macro-micro modelling framework to conduct development policy analysis and assess human development strategies for achieving the Millennium Development Goals, as well as to evaluate other policies and external shocks. Read more about the workshop.
• On 22-25 January 2013 in Managua, Nicaragua, DPAD conducted the final intensive practical training workshop on the use of the macro-micro modelling framework to conduct development policy analysis and assess human development strategies for achieving the Millennium Development Goals, as well as to evaluate other policies and external shocks. Read more about the workshop.
• On 22-25 January 2013 in Managua, Nicaragua, DPAD conducted the final intensive practical training workshop on the use of the macro-micro modelling framework to conduct development policy analysis and assess human development strategies for achieving the Millennium Development Goals, as well as to evaluate other policies and external shocks. Read more about the workshop.
• 

  On 28 January 2013 in San José, members of Costa Rica's technical national team participating in capacity development activities presented policy notes to their government officials . The policy notes present assessments of issues of national interest, including: the generation of fiscal space through conversion of domestic debt into foreign debt and other fiscal reforms; the impact of external shocks on the economy and the MDGs; and the achievement of targets for the promotion rate in primary education through scaling up public spending using alternative financing mechanisms. These notes are the result of the activities led by DESA/DPAD, UNDP and the Ministry of Planning and Economic Policy of Costa Rica. The notes will be released as part of a single official policy bulletin of the Government in the coming weeks. Read more about the project.

• On 15-18 January 2013 in Quito, Ecuador, DPAD conducted the second intensive practical training workshop on the use of the macro-micro modelling framework needed to conduct development policy analysis and assess human development strategies to attain the Millennium Development Goals. The workshop was followed by technical meetings to identify ongoing data requirements and to address methodological questions. Read more about the workshop.
• On 15 January, 2013 in San José, DESA/DPAD representative Marco V. Sanchez-Cantillo briefed the President of Costa Rica, Her Excellency Ms. Laura Chinchilla, and the Council of Ministers of the Government of Costa Rica on the implementation of the capacity development activities and on the main findings of the UN-DESA assessment of strategies to achieve the MDGs in Costa Rica. Read more about the event.

2012

• On 17 December, 2012, UN-DESA staff presented the Minister of Planning and Economic Policy (MIDEPLAN) of Costa Rica, Mr. Roberto Gallardo, in San Jose, the main findings of UN-DESA's assessment of strategies to achieve the MDGs in Costa Rica. The presentation has followed the final training workshop held on 10-14 December, 2012. Read more about the workshop.
• In the continuous effort to develop capacities of the government experts of Honduras, DPAD has provided an expertise in building a Social Accounting Matrix to the expert team from the Central Bank of Honduras as part of the project "Strengthening Macroeconomic and Social Policy Coherence through Integrated Macro-Micro Modelling". Read more about the workshop.
• On 10 and 12 December 2012 in Tegucigalpa, DPAD and UNDP-Honduras held technical meetings and conducted a training course for government officials on statistical tools used to estimate the impact of socio-economic and policy factors on Millennium Development Goals. Read more about the workshop.
• On 28 November 2012, DPAD, MIDEPLAN and UNDP Costa Rica held working meetings and training sessions with the Government representatives of Costa Rica to discuss the progress of the capacity development activities and support the on-going work on simulation analysis. Read more about the workshop.
• On 13-16 November, in Managua, Nicaragua, DPAD representatives presented the preliminary results of a study on the determinants of MDGs to a group of experts. The study on education, health, water and sanitation was shared with 27 members of various Nicaraguan government institutions. The study is part of CDAS' ongoing capacity development activities in Nicaragua. Read more about CDAS activities in Nicaragua. Read more about the event (UNDP site).
• DPAD and the Government of Jordan jointly organized practical training on November 12-14 for fifteen government experts on the use of modelling tools needed to evaluate MDG financing strategies, other public policies, and external shocks. The training was followed by technical coordination meetings with counterparts at the Ministry of Planning and International Cooperation of Jordan. The workshop is the latest in a series of activities conducted under the project "Strengthening Macroeconomic and Social Policy Coherence through Integrated Macro-Micro Modelling". Read more about the workshop.
• In Bishkek, Kyrgyzstan, DPAD continues its ongoing series of practical training activities for policy makers on the use of the modelling tools needed to evaluate policy options and the impact of external shocks on attaining the Millennium Development Goals. The training activities are conducted by a DPAD-trained national consultant and are attended by representatives of different institutions of Kyrgyzstan's Government and is organized in close collaboration with UNDP's Office in Kyrgyzstan and the Ministry of Economy and Antitrust Policy (MEAP). Read more about the project. Read more about the latest training workshop.
• On 26 October in Managua, at the request of the Mr. Alberto Guevara (President of the Central Bank), DPAD presented the integrated macro-micro modelling framework to the entire Economic Division of the Central Bank of Nicaragua, over 150 experts. The framework is used to conduct development policy analysis and assess human development strategies to attain the Millennium Development Goals, and is at the center of CDAS' capacity development activities in Nicaragua. Read more about CDAS activities in Nicaragua. Read more about the event (UNDP site).
• On 25 October 2012 in Managua, Nicaragua, DPAD met with high level representatives of the Government of Nicaragua and of the UNDP country office to brief officials on the ongoing training efforts, and to ensure close coordination with the project organizers and the country stakeholders. The meetings were attended by Mr. Alberto Guevara (President of the Central Bank), Mr. Ovidio Reyes (Chief of Research, Ministry of Finance), Mr. Francisco Abea (Chief Tax Official, Minister of Finance), Mr. Pablo Mandeville (UNDP Resident Representative), and Mr. Benigno Rodríguez (UNDP Deputy Resident Representative). High level meetings were also held with representatives from UNICEF and the Inter-American Development Bank to inform them about DPAD's capacity development activities and exchange ideas on future collaborations. Read more about CDAS activities in Nicaragua.
• On 23-26 October 2012 in Managua, Nicaragua, DPAD conducted the second intensive practical training workshop on the use of the macro-micro modelling framework needed to conduct development policy analysis and assess human development strategies to attain the Millennium Development Goals. The workshop was followed by technical meetings to identify ongoing data requirements and to address methodological questions. Read more about the workshop.
• On 2-3 October in Manila, Philippines, DPAD conducted an inception workshop to discuss the objectives of the project with government officials and describe the integrated macro-micro modelling framework to workshop participants. Read more about the workshop.
• On 11-14 September in Kampala, Uganda, DPAD conducted an intensive practical training workshop to enhance capacities of policy makers to assess and maximize the use of support measures and human development strategies through the application of an integrated macro-micro modelling framework. Read more about the workshop.
• On 28-30 August 2012 in Quito, DPAD conducted training to introduce government officials to modelling tools needed to evaluate human development strategies and how these can be influenced by economic shocks. Read more about the workshop.
• On 24-27 July 2012 in La Paz, Bolivia, DPAD and UDAPE provided intensive practical training on the use of the modelling tools needed to evaluate the impact of external shocks on attaining the Millennium Development Goals, among other objectives. Read more about the workshop.
• On 10 and 11 July 2012 in Tegucigalpa, DPAD conducted a workshop to introduce government officials to modelling tools needed to evaluate the impact of external shocks on attaining the Millennium Development Goals. Read more about the workshop.
• A training workshop on "Strengthening Macroeconomic and Social Policy Coherence through Integrated Macro-Micro Modelling" was conducted by DPAD on 28 May – 1 June 2012 in San-Jose, Costa Rica. Read more about the workshop.
• Second Intensive Training Workshop and Working Meetings on "Strengthening Macro-Micro Modelling Capacities to Assess Development Support Measures and Strategies" will be organized by DPAD/DESA in collaboration with UNDP Country Office and the Government of Costa Rica, in San Jose, Costa Rica, 28 May – 1 June, 2012.
• Inception and first intensive training workshop on "Strengthening Macroeconomic and Social Policy Coherence through Integrated Macro-Micro Modelling" will be organized by DPAD/DESA in collaboration with UNDP Kyrgyzstan and the Ministry of Economy and Antitrust Regulation of Kyrgyzstan, in Bishkek, Kyrgyzstan on 18-19 April 2012.
• Inception Workshop on "Strengthening Macroeconomic and Social Policy Coherence through Integrated Macro-Micro Modelling" will be organized by DPAD/DESA in collaboration with UN-ESCWA and the Ministry of Planning and International Cooperation, in Amman, Jordan, 28-29 March 2012.
• First Intensive Training Workshop on "Strengthening Macro-Micro Modelling Capacities to Assess Development Support Measures and Strategies" will be organized by DPAD/DESA in collaboration with UNDP Uganda, in Entebbe, Uganda, 7-9 March 2012.

2011