Despite ongoing efforts, Asia and the Pacific's progress towards our UN 17 global goals for a better world remains insufficient, according to the latest SDG Progress Report 2026 for the region. The document shows that while these countries have achieved notable success in reducing poverty, improving health and well-being, and driving rapid industrialization, these gains are being undermined by failures to protect the environment and reduce inequality in areas such as education and justice. At the current pace, 88% of measurable targets will be missed.

With global wealth abundant but unevenly connected, investing in human capital through solidarity, domestic resources and private financing is both the smartest and most effective way to close development gaps and achieve the SDGs.

The 2026 ECOSOC Coordination Segment takes place on 28–29 January at UN Headquarters in New York. It brings together Member States, UN bodies and partners to review progress on sustainable development and strengthen coordinated efforts within the UN. As ECOSOC marks its 80th anniversary, the segment will reflect on its role over eight decades in bringing communities together to address shared global challenges, while sharing lessons, innovations and policy guidance to build a better world. Learn more about ECOSOC and follow the segment on UN Web TV.

A new UNV–ILO study reveals that informal, direct person-to-person help makes up nearly 70 per cent of global volunteering, yet remains largely invisible, shaped by age, gender, income, location, and gaps in formal services.

Each 20 December, International Human Solidarity Day renews the United Nations’ founding promise: our shared future is secured not by standing apart, but by acting together. Rooted in the UN Charter and affirmed by the General Assembly, it calls for cooperation across economic, social, cultural and humanitarian fronts. It also spotlights the Sustainable Development Goals, helping the poorest communities, and invites governments, civil society, business and citizens to turn the 2030 Agenda into tangible progress.

A child born in 1995 may have had better prospects than her parents, yet she faces contemporary challenges such as climate change and inequality. The Second World Summit for Social Development in Doha, Qatar, sought to address these issues by promoting inclusive social development. Leaders from various sectors engaged in dialogue and cooperation to confront deepening inequalities, climate-related hazards, and rapid technological change. The summit adopted the Doha Political Declaration, which emphasizes social justice, peace, security, and sustainable development. It identifies poverty eradication, decent work, and social inclusion as key pillars for progress.

World Science Day for Peace and Development highlights science’s role in supporting peace, sustainability, and informed public understanding. The Day highlights how scientific knowledge can help address global challenges, improve decision-making, and strengthen resilience. In 2025, the observance focuses on building trust in science, encouraging transparent and responsible research, and collaboration among institutions, policymakers, and communities. The Day also stresses inclusive participation and long-term planning to ensure science continues to meet societal needs and future development goals.

Three decades after the landmark Copenhagen Summit, the UN holds the Second World Summit for Social Development in Doha, Qatar, from 4–6 November. The event renews global commitment to eradicating poverty, promoting decent work, and advancing social inclusion. Alongside panels and workshops, the Doha Solutions Forum showcases impactful policies and initiatives. The Summit is also expected to adopt the Doha Political Declaration and present the Doha Solutions Platform—a hub to register, spotlight, and scale innovative initiatives and partnerships that drive transformative progress worldwide.

Ahead of the World Summit for Social Development (Doha, 4-6 November), the International Labour Organization (ILO)  is launching a special podcast series. In this first episode, Sabina Alkire of Oxford University and ILO’s Manuela Tomei discuss progress and gaps since the 1995 commitment to advance social development for all.

Half of the global population is 30 years old or younger, making up the largest and most educated youth generation in history. Yet, young people continue to face systemic barriers to participating in decisions that affect their lives. Empowering this demographic is essential, not only to uphold their rights, but also as a global strategy to promote conflict prevention, social cohesion, and a sustainable future. Since 2022, with support from the UNDP’s Corredores de Paz (Peace corridors) programme and funding from Sweden, several youth-led proposals have been incorporated into the Cauca Development Plan, and young leaders have been elected as municipal councilors.

For 60 years, United Nations Development Programme has partnered with governments and communities to reduce inequalities, create jobs, support crisis recovery, and promote inclusive, sustainable development worldwide.

Colombia’s SSE-based care model, supported by the ILO and Sweden, advances gender equality, decent work, and community-led services under national and global frameworks.

Home to over 600 million people, the 32 Landlocked Developing Countries (LLDCs) face a highly challenging pathway to sustainable development due to the lack of sea access, geographical isolation, and trade costs that are 30% higher than those of coastal countries. To raise awareness, the UN General Assembly proclaimed 6 August as the International Day of Awareness of the Special Development Needs and Challenges of Landlocked Developing Countries. The first celebration of this day coincides with the Third UN Conference on Landlocked Developing Countries, currently being held in Awaza, Turkmenistan.

On World Rural Development Day, we meet Khmayes from rural Tunisia, whose life was transformed by an IFAD-supported project that gave him the freedom to transport and sell his goods with a motorized tricycle.

In a world frayed by conflict, poverty, and fear, the International Day of Friendship (30 July) calls on us to remember a quiet truth: that peace begins not in grand gestures, but in the gentle weaving of trust between souls. Friendship, in its simplest form, becomes a defiant act of hope—bridging cultures, nurturing understanding, and planting the seeds of reconciliation. Through shared bonds and open dialogue, especially among the young, we are invited to imagine a world not fractured, but joined—stitched together by the enduring thread of human solidarity.