UNCTAD provides competition authorities from developing countries and economies in transition with a development-focused intergovernmental forum for addressing practical competition law and policy issues.

UNCTAD is also engaged in technical cooperation with countries seeking capacity-building and technical assistance in formulating and/or effectively enforcing their competition law. As part of its technical cooperation activities, UNCTAD has successfully developed a Voluntary Peer Review mechanism. Furthermore, UNCTAD acts as a depository of international competition legislations, the Model Law on Competition and the United Nations Set of Principles on Competition. From November 2012, UNCTAD will begin the process of revising the UN Guidelines for Consumer Protection.

Every year, UNCTAD hosts the Intergovernmental Group of Experts on Competition Law and Policy for consultations on competition issues of common concern to member States and informal exchange of experiences and best practices, including Voluntary Peer Reviews of Competition Law and Policy.