News

The pandemic has posed challenges but also created opportunities for workers and businesses producing and selling biodiversity-based goods and services.

By Kweku Attafuah-Wadee, Lalen Lleander and Henrique Pacini, UNCTAD Economists

The world’s poorest nations face many obstacles, including soaring debt, export marginalization, energy poverty and climate vulnerability.

UNCTAD’s rapid assessment of the war’s impact on trade and development shows a rapidly worsening outlook for the world economy, with the situation especially alarming for African and least developed countries.

Graduation presents an opportunity for the countries to develop strategies that can position the textile and clothing sector higher up the global value chain.

The Global Commodities Forum 2021 tackles the many facets of commodity dependence and the vulnerabilities of countries whose economies rely on primary goods exports.

Heavy dependence on commodities has increased globally, leaving about two-thirds of developing countries vulnerable to economic shocks such as sharp commodity price fluctuations.

Between the start of the COVID-19 pandemic and mid-2021, commodity prices increased across the region, with varied impacts on countries.

About 64% of developing economies rely on exporting primary goods, and most risk continuing down a path of commodity dependence unless they embrace technology-enabled structural transformation.

UNCTAD supports efforts to add value to cotton by-products in eastern and southern Africa to make the crop more profitable for farmers.