UNCTAD

Workers at a car assembling factory.

UNCTAD report emphasizes the need to foster domestic value-addition to critical minerals in producing developing countries to increase supply chains resilience, and sustainability as evidenced in Democratic Republic of Congo.

A woman sorts through waste in Balikpapan, Indonesia.

New data released by UNCTAD highlights the limitations of Gross Domestic Product (GDP) as an all-encompassing metric for progress, underscoring that higher economic output doesn’t equate to more inclusive and sustainable growth.

UNCTAD presents eWeek to explore how to turn digital opportunities into shared development gains and close existing divides for a sustainable future. Registration is open to all.

A new report by UNCTAD highlights the urgency of crisis-resilient development finance for Least Developed Countries (LDCs).

Against a backdrop of heightened political tensions, the Palestine economy continues to operate below potential, rendering the population in dire need of humanitarian assistance, according to UNCTAD's latest report.

A famer holding a harvest of eggplants.

Transforming agrifood systems will contribute not only to eradicating poverty, ending hunger and improving nutrition, but also ensure that they are more efficient, inclusive, resilient and sustainable.

A miner at work in a Bolivian mine.

Agriculture, energy and mining dependence can leave an economy vulnerable and people poor, especially in developing countries.

A line of people receiving donations.

The global economy is at a crossroads, where divergent growth paths, widening inequalities, growing market concentration, and mounting debt burdens cast shadows on its future.

Ship at sea next to wind turbines.

UNCTAD launches Review of Maritime Transport 2023 highlighting the pressing need for cleaner fuels and digital solutions in the shipping industry.

people in boats seen from above

Over the last six months, UNCTAD has crunched the numbers on nearly 50 SDG indicators across 90 countries. The timely data underscores the pressing need for swift and targeted action.

Farmers working the land

UNCTAD holds the World Investment Forum 2023 (16-20 October) to mobilize financing for climate action, clean energy, health care, food security and other development needs. According to UNCTAD's World Investment Report 2023, overlapping crises such as the war in Ukraine, high food and energy prices, and debt pressures led to a 12% decline in global foreign direct investment in 2022. More than 7,000 stakeholders from 160 countries will convene in Abu Dhabi for the Forum (programme). Dr. Thani Al Zeyoudi, UAE's minister of state for foreign trade, said UNCTAD can play a major role in addressing and ultimately mitigating these interlocking issues.

A woman small business owner sits next to her goods in a street market

UNCTAD publishes new guidelines to collect data to help policymakers tackle gender inequalities in trade.

UNCTAD logo

This episode of the Weekly Tradecast looks at the illegal wildlife trade with David Vivas, a United Nations Conference on Trade and Development (UNCTAD) legal officer working on trade and environmental issues.

Every year, huge numbers of animals and plants are bought and sold illicitly as food, medicine, clothing, furniture and even musical instruments.

Wildlife is big business. The illegal trade is estimated to be worth at least $7 billion but it could be much larger.

Trafficking is driving some species – especially rhinos, elephants, tigers, lions and pangolins – towards extinction. Many others are at risk.

Image credit: UNCTAD

Mother holding a crying baby

UNCTAD reports global public debt has reached colossal levels, standing at $92 trillion in 2022. This five-fold surge in public debt levels since 2000 demands immediate action to tackle the escalating crisis affecting developing countries. On average, African countries pay four times more for borrowing than the United States and eight times more than the wealthiest European economies. A total of 52 countries – almost 40 percent of the developing world – are in serious debt trouble with half of all developing nations spend a minimum of 7.4% of their export revenues on servicing external public debt.

Agricultural worker sorting grains in Ethiopia

UNCTAD data shows that the COVID-19 pandemic, the war in Ukraine and the climate crises are having a devastating effect on progress towards the SDGs, according to its annual SDG Pulse.