The objective of UNCTAD's work on competition and consumer policies is to ensure that partner countries enjoy the benefits of increased competition, open and contestable markets, private sector investment in key sectors and ultimately that consumers achieve improved welfare.

The Competition and Consumer Policies Programme services the Intergovernmental Group of Experts (IGE) on Competition Law and Policy and the Ad-hoc Expert Group meeting on Consumer protection policies annually, undertakes competition policy peer reviews, publishes the UNCTAD Model law on competition and the Handbook on competition legislation and implements sector specific and economy-wide competition and consumer policies reforms that create a level playing field amongst companies and consumers, increasing the effectiveness of antitrust and consumer protection policies.

The highest intergovernmental body is the United Nations review Conferences to Review the Set on Competition policy which is held every five years.

The Research Partnership Platform work stream are circulated and feed into to the IGE and inform their discussions.

• Why competition and consumer protection matter
• Competition and Consumer Policies Programme - its strategy and fit with UNCTAD's overall objectives
• Consultations on the UN Guidelines on Consumer Protection