The United Nations Department of Economic and Social Affairs (UN DESA) serves is a central entity within the UN Secretariat that supports international cooperation on economic, social, and sustainable development issues. UN DESA plays a pivotal role in advancing the global development agenda by providing substantive support to the General Assembly, the Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC), and other related bodies.

UN DESA combines analytical work, inter-governmental support, and capacity development. It generates authoritative research and statistical data on global trends in population, economics, social development, and the environment, which inform evidence-based policymaking. The department also provides technical assistance to Member States, particularly developing countries, in strengthening governance, institutional capacity, and public administration.

Specifically, the Division for Public Institutions and Digital Government (DPIDG) undertake substantive work in the areas of public administration and governance, with one of its flagship contributions being the United Nations E-Government Development Index (EGDI). Presented in the biennial E-Government Survey, the EGDI systematically evaluates the state of digital governance across Member States. By offering a comparative benchmark grounded in the assessment of online services, telecommunication infrastructure, and human capital, the index enables governments to identify institutional strengths, capacity gaps, and emerging opportunities. In doing so, it provides an evidence-based framework that advances the development of more inclusive, effective, and transparent systems of governance.