UNCTAD website
UNCTAD website£ºhttps://unctad.org
About UN Trade and Development (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.
We support developing countries to access the benefits of a globalized economy more fairly and effectively. And we help equip them to deal with the potential drawbacks of greater economic integration. To do this, we provide analysis, facilitate consensus-building, and offer technical assistance. This helps them to use trade, investment, finance, and technology as vehicles for inclusive and sustainable development.
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
Together with other UN departments and agencies, we measure progress by the Sustainable Development Goals, as set out in Agenda 2030.
We also support 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.
While we work mainly with governments, to effectively deal with the magnitude and complexity of meeting the Sustainable Development Goals, we believe that partnerships and closer cooperation with the private sector and civil society are essential.
Ultimately, we are serving the citizens of the 195 countries that make up our organization. Our goal is prosperity for all.