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Angolan woman small trader.

Services are transforming least developed economies – but jobs and productivity lag behind

A worker handles shredded plastic on a processing line at a recycling plant in Nairobi, Kenya.

How trade data is reshaping the fight against plastic pollution

A horizontal bar graph showing that new tariffs are eroding developing economies competitiveness

Who wins and who loses as trade policies shift?

Various money of African countries

Digital innovation supporting debt transparency in Africa

Gender dimensions of the critical minerals boom

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Gender dimensions of the critical minerals boom

Read the article

Angolan woman small trader.

Services are transforming least developed economies – but jobs and productivity lag behind

A worker handles shredded plastic on a processing line at a recycling plant in Nairobi, Kenya.

How trade data is reshaping the fight against plastic pollution

A horizontal bar graph showing that new tariffs are eroding developing economies competitiveness

Who wins and who loses as trade policies shift?

Various money of African countries

Digital innovation supporting debt transparency in Africa

Featured publications

A cover image of the Global Trade Update for February 2026

Global Trade Update (February 2026): Who wins when trade policies shift?

Cover for The implications of critical energy transition minerals for women’s participation in the mining sector

The implications of critical energy transition minerals for women’s participation in the mining sector

Cover for The cumulative economic cost of occupation for the Palestinian people (2000–2024) and the long road to recovery

The cumulative economic cost of occupation for the Palestinian people (2000–2024) and the long road to recovery

Cover for The Least Developed Countries Report 2025: Are services the new path to structural transformation?

The Least Developed Countries Report 2025: Are services the new path to structural transformation?

Cover for Global Investment Trends Monitor, No. 50

Global Investment Trends Monitor, No. 50

More publications

More news

Port Louis, Mauritius.

09 Mar 2026

UN project powering smart, sustainable ports in Africa

27 Feb 2026

Amid shifting global trade dynamics, Saudi Arabia to host second UN Global Supply Chain Forum, 29 November – 1 December 2026

27 Feb 2026

From compliance to impact: Making enquiry points work better for trade facilitation

25 Feb 2026

Strategic trade, strategic partnerships: Japan and UN Trade and Development in Southern Africa

20 Feb 2026

From minerals to manufacturing: UN Trade and Development supports Africa’s value addition drive

16 Feb 2026

How AGOA renewal shapes Africa’s trade future

13 Feb 2026

How trade data is reshaping the fight against plastic pollution

All news

Data stories

A horizontal bar graph showing that new tariffs are eroding developing economies competitiveness

Who wins and who loses as trade policies shift?

A line graph showing trade growth in different ICT goods

Chips and other electronic components power digital trade, with Asia as the global hub

A bar chart showing that global foreign investment rises 14% in 2025, but underlying activity remains weak

Global foreign investment up 14% in 2025, with growth concentrated in developed economies

A bar chart showing that tariffs rose significantly in 2025, especially in manufacturing

10 trends shaping global trade in 2026

A horizontal bar graph showing foreign investment in data centres is concentrated in a handful of countries

Data centres are reshaping the global investment landscape

More data stories

Meetings and events

Critical Minerals, Critical Choices

9 March 2026

International Women’s Day: Critical minerals, critical choices

11 March 2026

Breaking the debt cycle: Digitalization and structural reforms as drivers of growth and debt reduction – the Greek experience

Palais des Nations, Geneva, Switzerland

12 – 13 March 2026

National workshop on enhanced statistics for evidence-based climate action in maritime trade, transport and fisheries in Belize

Belize City, Belize

16 – 24 March 2026

Capacity-building workshops on trade facilitation and non-tariff barriers

Livingstone, Zambia (16-17 March); Kasane, Botswana (19-20 March); Katima Mulilo, Namibia (22-24 March)

16 – 29 March 2026

Science, technology and innovation parks: Policies and practices e-learning course, spring session

Global

18 March 2026

Online closing workshop : Statistical measurement of tax and commercial illicit financial flows to enable more targeted policy action in Ghana, Namibia and Zambia

Online

23 March 2026

Webinar on the Primer on data for trade in services and development policies: Asia-Pacific

Online

All meetings and events

Videos

Advancing Africa’s economic transformation: UNCTAD's mission to Ethiopia, Namibia and Zambia

Who wins when trade policies shift?

Least Developed Countries Report 2025: Are services the new path to structural transformation?

Secretary-General statements

Rebeca Grynspan, Secretary-General of UNCTAD from 13 September 2021

Geneva, Switzerland

Rebeca Grynspan

Rebeca Grynspan of Costa Rica was appointed the eighth Secretary-General of UNCTAD on 13 September 2021. She is the first woman to hold this position in the history of the organization.

Read more about Rebeca Grynspan, Secretary-General

19 February 2026

Launch of the rapid assessment for Namibia on value addition and diversification within and beyond the critical energy transition minerals value chain

17 February 2026

Launch of the rapid assessment for Zambia on value addition and diversification within and beyond the critical energy transition minerals value chain

16 February 2026

Africa Business Forum 2026 Presentation of Major Initiatives: Launch of the Least Developed Countries Report 2025

4 February 2026

Trade and Development Board, 78th executive session