Sustainable Cities and Communities

To power data-driven development across its vast archipelago, Indonesia is leveraging the Small Area Estimation statistical method, with the Resident Coordinator’s Office bringing together UN agencies to support the joint effort.

In Zaječar, Serbia, retired women gather at digital literacy workshops—learning to email, pay bills, and support each other in mastering new technologies.

A UN programme, funded by the joint SDG Fund is transforming lives for seaweed farmers in Zanzibar and beyond.

In 2025, the urgency of climate action is undeniable. Spotlighting ten solutions that prove that scaling action now can drive justice, jobs, resilience and still bend the curve towards the 1.5-degree limit.

The stakes are clear: digital transformation can either widen divides or bridge them. Through its work with UN agencies and the Resident Coordinators, the Joint SDG Fund has been investing in digital transformation across the world, shaping interlinked policies and channeling investments to country-led initiatives.

In Guatemala, a UN-backed programme has trained public officials and civil society leaders in conflict resolution and empowered Indigenous women to take on leadership roles, strengthening the foundations for peace and inclusive development.

The reality is that change is happening, and it affects our everyday lives. From grassroots initiatives to national policy, we are seeing progress that is real, measurable, collective and worth scaling up. 

With the Amazon at the crossroads of climate action, biodiversity, and inclusive development, UN Resident Coordinator in Brazil Silvia Rucks reflects on how community-driven solutions, backed by the Brazil–UN Fund with support from Canada, are fostering resilience, equity, and hope across the region. 

A joint programme, "Localize to Realize" (L2R),  spearheaded by the United Nations Philippines is empowering Sama Bajau and informal settler families in Surigao City to drive progress for the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and pave the way for a better future.

As the world marks the International Day of the World’s Indigenous Peoples on 9 August, the 2025, it is a powerful reminder to seize indigenous knowledge and wisdom to forge a path to a sustainable digital future.

Ahead of the upcoming Third UN Conference on Landlocked Developing Countries (LLDC3), DCO Regional Director for Europe and Central Asia Gwi-Yeop Son

The UN Food Systems Summit +4 Stocktaking Moment (UNFSS+4) in Addis Ababa has reignited global momentum for transforming food systems.

On the sidelines of the 2025 Food Systems Summit +4 Stocktake, Resident Coordinators are driving global progress on food system transformation; leading efforts in countries like Ethiopia, Guyana, Indonesia, Jordan, Kyrgyzstan, Togo, and the Central Sahel.

Local action is powering global progress on decent work, as UN Resident Coordinators lead Country Teams in driving transformative initiatives worldwide.

Amidst recent attacks and ongoing challenges in Iran, the UN Resident Coordinator emphasizes the UN's unwavering commitment to delivering critical aid and supporting long-term recovery.