As the world grapples with complex challenges such as climate change, economic inequality, and the COVID-19 pandemic, it has become increasingly clear that a sustainable future can only be achieved through economic transformation.  

In response to this pressing need, the United Nations System Staff College (UNSSC) has launched a new programme on Transforming Economies for a Sustainable Future. 

Equipping Participants with Knowledge and Skills for Economic Transformation 

The programme is designed to help participants understand the key drivers of economic transformation and develop the knowledge and skills needed to promote sustainable and inclusive growth. It will explore topics such as the role of innovation, the importance of digital transformation, and the need for green growth. 

"The challenges we face today require bold, innovative and above all transformative solutions," said Patrick van Weerelt, Head of Office of the UNSSC Knowledge Centre for Sustainable Development. "This new programme will equip participants with the knowledge and tools they need to drive economic transformation and create a more sustainable future for all." 

Online Learning for a Diverse Group of Participants 

The programme will be delivered online and will be available to participants from a range of backgrounds, including policymakers, business leaders, and civil society organizations. The first cohort of participants will begin in May 2023. 

"We are excited to launch this new programme and look forward to working with a diverse group of participants to explore how we can transform our economies for a sustainable future," said Sandhya Balasubrahmanyam, UNSSC Learning Portfolio Manager. 

The UNSSC's Transforming Economies for a Sustainable Future programme is a timely response to the urgent need for economic transformation. By equipping participants with the knowledge and skills needed to promote sustainable and inclusive growth, it has the potential to drive real change and help create a more sustainable future for all. 

The course is intended for people engaged in policy development, advisory, research, and programming roles. These can include policy influencers at national planning ministries, national bodies, ministries of economy, finance and related domains, UN staff engaged in economic policy advisory and programming roles, researchers from academia and think-tanks, and university/college faculty in domains related to public/economic policy from developing countries. 

Transforming Economies for a Sustainable Future: Notable Experts 

We are excited to announce that our new programme on transforming economies also includes exclusive insights from some of the most renowned experts in the field of development economists.  

Prof. Michael Spence, who is a co-recipient of the Nobel Memorial Prize in Economic Sciences, shared his valuable insights as we developed the course, and he will be a speaker in one of the course webinars.  

"The old model of economic development won't work anymore. We need to focus on creating inclusive, sustainable growth and reducing inequality. We need to build greater resilience in economies to deal with shocks and changing circumstances, rather than focusing solely on growth." 

Prof. Jayati Ghosh, a distinguished economist and a member of the High-level Advisory Board on Economic and Social Affairs at the United Nations, will also be sharing her experiences and views on this course.   

“A fragile global economy, growing environmental impacts to life and livelihood, and ever-widening inequalities, are creating significant dysfunctions. Tinkering on the margins with minor changes without fundamentally redesigning our thought and approaches to economics, will not help” 

Dr. Kunal Sen, a noted development economist and the Director of UNU- World Institute for Development Economics Research, will also be sharing his insights in this course on topics related to multidimensional inequalities, structural transformations and the emerging configuration of states and markets in the economies.   

“Economic growth is important as a means to fuel progress in social terms – including increasing well-being and equity – rather than increasing economic output as an objective in itself” 

Prof. Adil Najam, the Dean Emeritus of the Pardee Centre at Boston University, and a former Lead Author of the IPCC, will also be sharing his valuable insights on how to develop environmentally sustainable economies. He will also feature as a keynote speaker in the webinar for the module.  

“Economies, societies and institutions need to transform, not just to limit future damages, but build resilience against those already here.” 

Furthermore, this course will also feature the rich insights of Max Lawson, Head of Inequality Policy for OXFAM International, on economic justice and inequality that will be featured in the course content, as well as during one of the webinars.  

Course Eligibility for Interested Individuals 

The course is free-of-charge and UNSSC adopts a concrete methodology in its selection process that considers the scope, objectives, and expected outcomes of the course, as well as specific selection criteria for its course participants to increase course impact.  

Interested individuals are encouraged to sign up for the course and provide a clear and well-crafted motivation statement in the online application form, with a short explanation of the benefit they can derive from the course as well as their possible contribution to enriching the course. 

For more information on the course and registration details, please visit https://www.unssc.org/courses/transforming-economies-sustainable-development

For inquiries, please send an email to sustainable-development@unssc.org.