Nations gathering at the UN for the 59th session of the Commission on Population and Development are confronting two major obstacles: a lack of funding and a widening gap between those with access to new technology and those without.

Digital tools such as IOM’s Displacement Tracking Matrix, now used in 91 countries, are transforming how governments respond to crises, but they are also creating new challenges including a growing digital divide, data-privacy risks and technology-facilitated violence.

Reports from the Secretary-General highlight how medical technologies are extending life expectancy while warning that people in low-income countries, rural areas and marginalised communities still lack access to basic digital services.

Funding for international development has dropped sharply since 2023, with the Secretary-General warning that current levels are insufficient to meet sustainable development goals, and calling for stronger financing focused on sexual and reproductive health, population data and research, especially in the poorest countries.