Rethinking Poverty - Report on the World Social Situation 2010

The Department of Economic and Social Affairs of the United Nations Secretariat
is a vital interface between global policies in the economic, social and environmental
spheres and national action. The Department works in three main interlinked areas:
(i) it compiles, generates and analyses a wide range of economic, social and environmental
data and information on which States Members of the United Nations draw
to review common problems and to take stock of policy options; (ii) it facilitates the
negotiations of Member States in many intergovernmental bodies on joint courses of
action to address ongoing or emerging global challenges; and (iii) it advises interested
Governments on the ways and means of translation policy frameworks developed in
United Nations conferences and summits into programmes at the country level and,
through technical assistance, helps build national capacities.