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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.

Explore our topics of work

Download our logo (all languages)

Secretary-General

Rebeca Grynspan of Costa Rica is the first woman and Central American to serve as UNCTAD’s secretary-general.

Ms. Grynspan is a renowned advocate of human development, who has helped to focus the world’s attention on relevant issues such as the reduction of inequality and poverty, gender equality, South-South cooperation as a tool for development, and the achievement of the UN Sustainable Development Goals, among others.

A former vice president of Costa Rica, Ms. Grynspan joins UNCTAD from the Ibero-American Conference where she also led the organization as secretary-general.

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Deputy Secretary-General

UNCTAD Deputy Secretary-General Pedro Manuel Moreno

Pedro Manuel Moreno of Spain was named Deputy Secretary-General of UNCTAD by the United Nations Secretary-General on 4 November 2022.

He has over 20 years of experience of working for multilateral and intergovernmental organizations in programme, management and strategic positions both in the field and in headquarters.

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Featured publications

Annual Report 2023

Annual Report 2023
English

UNCTAD15 Outcome

UNCTAD15 Outcome
(All languages)

UNCTAD at a Glance

UNCTAD at a Glance
English

Trade and Development Board

The Trade and Development Board serves as our governing body between the quadrennial Conferences, overseeing activities and addressing policy, management and institutional matters.

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6  UNCTAD facts and figures
Promoting development
60
years

Membership
195
members States

People in our team
700+
Regular budget for 2023
79+
million
technical cooperation expenditure
59
million

Projects
219
in 74 countries

UNCTAD in the UN system

UNCTAD is a permanent intergovernmental body established by the United Nations General Assembly in 1964. Our headquarters are located in Geneva, Switzerland, and we have offices in New York and Addis Ababa.

UNCTAD is part of the UN Secretariat. We report to the UN General Assembly and the Economic and Social Council but have our own membership, leadership, and budget. We are also part of the United Nations Development Group.

See our place in the UN family.