About UNCTAD
- Globalization, including a phenomenal expansion of trade, has helped lift millions out of poverty. But not nearly enough people have benefited. And tremendous challenges remain.
- UNCTAD supports developing countries to access the benefits of a globalized economy more fairly and effectively and help equip them to deal with the potential drawbacks of greater economic integration.
- Together with other UN departments and agencies, UNCTAD measures progress by the Sustainable Development Goals, as set out in Agenda 2030.
- UNCTAD also supports implementation of Financing for Development, as mandated by the global community in the 2015 Addis Ababa Agenda, together with four other major institutional stakeholders: the World Bank, the International Monetary Fund, the World Trade Organization, and the United Nations Development Programme.
UNCTAD Working at the national, regional, and global level, our efforts help countries to:
- Comprehend options to address macro-level development challenges
- Achieve beneficial integration into the international trading system
- Diversify economies to make them less dependent on commodities
- Limit their exposure to financial volatility and debt
- Attract investment and make it more development friendly
- Increase access to digital technologies
- Promote entrepreneurship and innovation
- Help local firms move up value chains
- Speed up the flow of goods across borders
- Protect consumers from abuse
- Curb regulations that stifle competition
- Adapt to climate change and use natural resources more effectively
UNCTAD in the UN system
- UNCTAD is a permanent intergovernmental body established by the United Nations General Assembly in 1964.
- Our headquarters are located in Geneva, Switzerland, and we have offices in New York and Addis Ababa.
- UNCTAD is part of the UN Secretariat.
UNCTAD produces a number of topical reports, including:
- The Trade and Development Report
- The Trade and Environment Review
- The World Investment Report
- The Economic Development in Africa Report
- The Least Developed Countries Report
- UNCTAD Statistics
- The Information Economy Report
- The Review of Maritime Transport
- The International Accounting and Reporting Issues Annual Review
- The Technology and Innovation Report
Source: unctad.org
