Data stories

A sharp drop in international project finance raises concerns about sustainable development funding and highlights the need for countries to diversify strategies to attract and sustain investment.

Foreign direct investment was down by an estimated 8% in 2024, challenging progress on the Sustainable Development Goals that heavily rely on international project finance.

The rise of services prompts developing countries to look beyond manufacturing-led exports and enable productivity growth across the economic system.

A new UN Trade and Development (UNCTAD) report examines trade’s role in reducing food insecurity and preventing famine.

World trade is on track to hit a record $33 trillion in 2024, but risks of rising trade tensions and ongoing geopolitical challenges cast uncertainty over the outlook for 2025.

A global shift towards non-plastic materials holds significant potential to deliver economic opportunities for the developing world.

Cutting CO2 emissions while building a sustainable future requires urgent and decisive action to separate economic prosperity and energy access from CO2 emissions.

In 2023, the market value of carbon credits from these vulnerable economies sat at $403 million – just 1% of total bilateral development aid.

Global climate finance needs a quantum leap in both quantity and quality to address developing economies’ needs for a just transition towards sustainability and resilience.

Shifts in the car industry, which relies on extensive and complex supply chains, highlight the global economy’s evolution, where cost efficiencies and regional demand are reshaping traditional manufacturing hubs.