Debt and development finance

We support effective debt management in countries as an intrinsic part of sound public financial management and overall good governance.

Debt and Debt Sustainability

Responsible Sovereign Lending and Borrowing

Sovereign Debt Restructuring

Debt Management and Financial Analysis System

News

UNCTAD supports Palestine to update its debt management system

A new technical assistance project will modernize the Palestinian debt management system and train officials.

19 Aoû 2022

UNCTAD spells out actions to curb cryptocurrencies in developing countries

The global reach of private digital currencies makes national regulatory responses challenging but developing countries are not without choices.

10 Aoû 2022

A healthcare worker in Uganda administers a COVID-19 vaccine.

New deal to boost debt management in Eastern and Southern Africa

Renewed partnership will help governments in the region produce and publish reliable, comprehensive and timely debt information.

20 Juil 2022

The central market in Paramaribo, Suriname

UNCTAD welcomes Paris Club debt agreement with Suriname

The organization calls for all debt relief and restructuring to be consistent with the achievement of Agenda 2030.

5 Juil 2022

External debt sustainability and development

Every year, UNCTAD prepares the United Nations Secretary-General´s report to the General Assembly on external debt, which reviews the most recent developments and analyses key issues related to the external debt of developing countries.

Some additional topics raised in the General Assembly report include the role of credit rating agencies, the need to develop an international sovereign debt workout mechanism, the risks posed by the shift towards greater accumulation of domestic debt, the need for improved data reporting, progress in debt relief initiatives, delivery of ODA.

Featured publication

External shocks and financial stress post the global financial crisis - UNCTAD financial conditions indicators and financial vulnerabilities in emerging markets

The objective of this paper is to measure and track financial stress in these six fragile emerging economies in the aftermath of the global financial crisis of 2008, using UNCTAD financial conditions indicators.

The paper argues that there is a need for better tools to measure financial stress in the context of growing instabilities and complexities in international and domestic financial markets.

Featured podcast

In our sixth episode of The Weekly Tradecast, we're talking about cryptocurrencies with economist Marina Zucker of UNCTAD's debt and development finance branch.

PSI-UNCTAD Briefs on Workers and Debt

This five-part series on sovereign and public debt examines what happens when public spending leads to indebtedness, why indebtedness of the state is perceived to be a problem, what debt means for the sovereignty of the state, and how all this impacts workers.