UNCTAD/UN Trade and Development
1.In the past year, has the governing body of your organization taken any decisions to advance sustainable, inclusive, science and evidence-based solutions for the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development and ensure that no one is left behind? If yes, please briefly mention these decisions taken by your governing body in 2024 and provide the respective symbols. (max 200 words)
In 2024, the Trade and Development Board adopted the following recommendations and conclusions:
The theme for the 16th session of the United Nations Conference on Trade and Development: “ Shaping the future, driving economic transformation for equitable, inclusive, and sustainable development”;
The conclusions on investment facilitation for sustainable development; harnessing blockchain technologies for sustainable development at https://unctad.org/system/files/official-document/ciid53_en.pdf;
The conclusions on trade and development implications of key aspects of the energy transition at https://unctad.org/system/files/official-document/cid58_en.pdf;
The conclusions on building digital readiness: from assessments to implementation at https://unctad.org/system/files/official-document/tdb_ede7d4_en.pdf
The conclusions on the action by the Intergovernmental Group of Experts on Competition Law and Policy
The conclusions on the action by the Intergovernmental Group of Experts on Consumer Protection Law and Policy at https://unctad.org/system/files/official-document/cicplpd42_en.pdf
The conclusions on the review of practical implementation of and recent developments in sustainability reporting requirements and on the accounting and reporting needs of microenterprises and small and medium-sized enterprises and the role of accounting and reporting in facilitating the formalization of businesses in the informal sector at https://unctad.org/system/files/official-document/ciiisard107_en.pdf
The conclusions on delivering development finance to achieve the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development: Making development finance contribute to environmentally sound industrialization at https://unctad.org/system/files/official-document/tdb_efd7d3_en.pdf
2. During 2024, what actions have your entities taken to improve coordination among UN system entities across policy and normative activities as well as with ECOSOC subsidiary bodies with a view to increase impact and accelerate the implementation of the 2030 Agenda? Please provide any relevant links. (max 200 words)
The Commission on Science and Technology for development (CSTD) ensures coordination with the STI Forum (Technology Facilitation Mechanism) by sharing of agendas, participation of Chairs in the respective sessions and collaboration of the secretariats in the preparation of substantive background documentation.
The CSTD regularly invites representatives of other subsidiary bodies of ECOSOC to participate in its discussions relevant to their respective mandates, particularly with regard to the Commission on the Status of Women and the Commission on Social Development.
Coordination is also undertaken with the Regional Economic Commissions, particularly with regard to the CSTD’s mandate in the follow-up to the World Summit on the Information Society (WSIS).
3. In the past year, has your organization organized any intergovernmentally mandated conferences, forums or events that contributed to the achievement of the SDGs, or has been in the process of planning and organizing any such mandated events to be held next year?
Please copy the below table to fill out for each event:
Event Name | UNCTAD 16 |
|
Event Dates | October 2025 |
|
Event Location (City, Country) | To be determined |
|
Relevant SDGs | All |
|
Description (max 150 words): please include a short summary of the event’s mandate and contributions to the SDGs, including its main outcome(s) | UNCTAD 16 will be the 16th quadrennial session of the United Nations Conference on Trade and Development. Its theme has been agreed as : “Shaping the future, driving economic transformation for equitable, inclusive, and sustainable development.”
The outcomes of the Conference will define the mandate and the areas of work for UNCTAD for the period 2025-2029. |
|
Website (if applicable) | Not available yet |
|
Event Name | Revisiting development strategies for small island developing states in the post-pandemic competitive landscape |
Event Dates | 24 October 2024 |
Event Location (City, Country) | Geneva, Swizerland |
Relevant SDGs | SG1, SDG8, SDG9, SDG10, SDG17 |
Description (max 150 words): please include a short summary of the event’s mandate and contributions to the SDGs, including its main outcome(s) | The changes to the structure of the global economy, provoked by the pandemic, represent a disproportionate threat to developing countries with poor integration in global value chains (GVCs) and low technology adoption rates, such as small island developing States (SIDS). Most SIDS struggle to compete in higher-value industries, especially those based on exporting physical goods, due to their limited productive capacity, small size, narrow resource base and geographic isolation. As a result, SIDS rely on external aid and borrowing to finance public investments and spending. In this context, experts concluded that: - SIDS could improve the chances of success by stepping up efforts to form partnerships with likeminded nations, both large and small, through trade agreements, regional strategies and information sharing, as well as by coordinating their engagement with the multilateral system, following the successful examples of Mauritius and Singapore. - the lack of access of small island developing States to concessional finance from multilateral institutions, places them at increased risk of debt distress, and in agonizing choices on how to allocate scarce fiscal resources between emergency support to their populations and investments in long-term priorities. - vulnerability indices, such as the economic and environmental vulnerability index maintained by the Committee for Development Policy of the United Nations, the universal vulnerability index of the Commonwealth Secretariat and the new multidimensional vulnerability index for small island developing States being developed by the United Nations, could serve as useful tools in a revised set of conditions for concessional finance. |
Website (if applicable) |
4. In the past year, has your organization published or planned to publish any analytical work, guidance or reference materials, or toolkits to guide and support the implementation of SDGs at national, regional and global levels? Please select up to three to highlight, especially those that address interlinkages among the SDGs.
Please copy the below table to fill out for each resource:
Resource Name | UNCTAD SDG Pulse 2024 |
Relevant SDGs (list all relevant goals) | Goals 1, 2, 8, 9, 10, 12, 16, 17 |
Publishing entity/entities | UNCTAD |
Target audience | Member States |
Description (max 150 words) | This report serves three main purposes: firstly, to provide an update on the evolution of selected official SDG indicators and complementary data and statistics; secondly, to report on progress in developing new concepts and methodologies for SDG indicators for which UNCTAD serves as a global custodian; and, thirdly, to showcase UNCTAD’s support to member States in implementing the 2030 Agenda. Building on the previous edition, SDG Pulse continues to track progress according to four transformations identified at UNCTAD’s intergovernmental meeting in Bridgetown (UNCTAD, 2021) |
Language(s) | English |
Website (if applicable) |
Resource Name | A world of debt 2024 |
Relevant SDGs (list all relevant goals) | Goals 1, 8, 17 |
Publishing entity/entities | UNCTAD |
Target audience | Policy makers member States |
Description (max 150 words) | Public debt can be vital for development. Governments use it to finance their expenditures, to protect and invest in their people, and to pave their way to a better future. However, it can also be a heavy burden, when public debt grows too much or too fast. This is what is happening today across the developing world.
This report aims to provide with an accessible and comprehensive platform to understand the critical issues of public debt in developing countries. |
Language(s) | English |
Website (if applicable) |
Resource Name | Beyond plastics: A review of trade-related policy measures on non-plastic substitutes |
Relevant SDGs (list all relevant goals) | Goals, 1, 8, 13, 17 |
Publishing entity/entities | UNCTAD |
Target audience | Policy makers member States |
Description (max 150 words) | This study analyses trade related policy measures that currently apply to a relevant set of non-plastic substitutes that can replace plastics in various functions. These include, but are not limited to, wood pulp and paper, aluminium, glass, and natural fibres such as cotton and bamboo.
By looking in-depth at policies regulating sustainability aspects of plastic substitutes, such as environmental and health risks, the study addresses three main objectives:
|
Language(s) | English |
Website (if applicable) |
5. The United Nations has defined six key transitions, or transformative entry points, that can have catalytic and multiplier effects across the SDGs and which have been guiding the UN development system work since the 2023 SDG Summit. In the past year, how has your organization contributed to these transformative actions and how various actors are being rallied behind them to mobilize further leadership and investment to bring progress to scale? Please provide any relevant links. (max 200 words under each transition)
1) Food systems
CropWatch Innovative Cooperation Programme – Food security through Earth Observation Data
Earth observation and crop monitoring on a massive scale are neither easy nor inexpensive exercises, but both hold immense potential for better food security planning and progress towards the Sustainable Development Goals. Yet, many developing countries simply do not have access to the required tools, either due to technology deficits or costs.
Objective
The CropWatch-ICP Programme, launched and implemented in the context of the United Nations Commission on Science and Technology for Development, aims to facilitate and stimulate agricultural monitoring of 14 developing countries for the advancement of the SDG goal of zero hunger.
CropWatch is a system that uses satellite data to monitor crop conditions and integrates this with other climate-related data on drought, pest and disease for better farm management.
The CropWatch-ICP will allow developing countries that need CropWatch to access the technology directly and use it for crop monitoring and food security purposes, both during and after the programme. The programme will also provide developing countries with trainings on the system, its underlying techniques, as well as customization and localization for specific requirements.
Link: https://unctad.org/project/cropwatch-innovative-cooperation-programme
2) Energy access and affordability
Technology assessment in the energy and agricultural sectors in Africa to accelerate progress on science, technology and innovation
Technology assessment (TA) is a problem-oriented process that examines the societal effects when a technology is introduced, extended or modified. TA is an interactive, communicative, and scientific process which aims to contribute to the formation of public and political opinion on the social aspects of science and technology, risks and opportunities, providing effective, pragmatic and sustainable options for policy action.
Objective
The objective of this project is to strengthen capacities of national STI policymakers and other stakeholders in selected developing countries in Africa in designing and implementing policies that support the learning, diffusion and adoption of technologies in the energy and agricultural sectors.
Link: https://unctad.org/project/technology-assessment-energy-and-agricultura…
3) Digital connectivity
4) Education
Young Scientist PhD Programme
Science, technology and innovation (STI) play a central role in the achievement of the sustainable development goals (SDGs) under the 2030 Agenda. Technology is a means of implementing the Global Goals and is one of the areas for partnerships under SDG17. Moreover, strengthening STI research capacity is also critical to enhancing the sustainability of the national STI system and a country's ability to exploit the benefits of emerging technologies. This is in line with SDG Target 9.5, which calls for enhancing scientific research in developing countries - in turn driving the development of productive capacities and sustainable economic growth in those countries.
In this context, UNCTAD as the secretariat of the Commission on Science and Technology for Development (CSTD) joined hands with the University of Okayama (Japan) by launching the Young Scientist PhD Programme, which offers PhD courses at the University for young scientists from developing countries. After returning to their own countries, participants will able to build on the knowledge, skills and networks acquired through the programme in their research, further contributing to the implementation of the 2030 Agenda.
Objective
The programme aims at enhancing scientific research capabilities in developing countries through building human capital in science, technology, and innovation-related fields in these countries.
Link: https://unctad.org/topic/science-technology-and-innovation/young-scient…
5) Jobs and social protection
6) Climate change, biodiversity loss and pollution
Project on harnessing space technological applications in sustainable urban development
Countries need STI tools to address sustainable development challenges, for example, through adequate early disaster warning and water quality monitoring and control, which depend on quality data. Such data will also be helpful to improve their STI capacity and implement coherent and sustainable STI policies to make progress on SDGs, including SDG 6 on clean water and SDG 11 on sustainable cities.
Geospatial technologies have recently gained much attention as a potential solution to fill data gaps and improve data quality, as well as to increase the SDG reporting rate of developing countries.
This project responds to the need to further support STI experts in developing countries, in particular female scientists, in using geospatial technology (GST) as a catalyst for sustainable urban development and for SDGs.
The project will focus on the open-source and relatively new programming language named Julia, developed at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) that is particularly suitable for geospatial analysis. Julia is well-suited for earth observation due to its unique combination of high performance and user-friendly syntax.
Objective
The project aims to assist STI experts, with particular attention to female scientists, to use geospatial technology to increase resilience to sustainable development challenges, such as natural disasters and access to safe water.
Link: https://unctad.org/project/harnessing-space-technological-applications-…
6. Please provide strategies (policies, guidance, plan) and/or collective actions taken to implement the 2024 Ministerial Declaration of the Economic and Social Council and the high-level political forum on sustainable development convened under the auspices of the Council. Please note any challenges foreseen and provide any relevant links. (max 200 words)
UNCTAD developed in consultation with Small Island Developing States (SIDS), a strategy to support these countries. The strategy aims to address SIDS’ multiple and systemic vulnerabilities by sustainably harnessing their comparative advantages and overcoming key development constraints. It outlines a new development model combined with a revamped global partnership to support their development efforts.
The strategy seeks to maximize synergies and exploit a paradigm shift in development policy to build socioeconomic resilience. It focuses on fostering productive capacities, achieving structural economic transformation, and enhancing SIDS’ international economic engagement to achieve inclusive growth and sustainable development.
The new development model discussed in this strategy blends robust sectoral and economy-wide actions. It is framed along a pillar intervention strategy, which includes:
- Building productive capacities
- Enhancing connectivity, reducing transport costs and promoting sustainable and resilient transport
- Facilitating customs modernization (the Automated System for Customs Data programme – ASYCUDA)
- Facilitating digital transformation
- Supporting investment, including foreign direct investment
- Taping the potential of the ocean economy
- Supporting private sector development
- Supporting the mobilization of external financial resources
- Advancing South-South cooperation to enhance development strategies and economic integration
- Implementing trade facilitation reforms.
These interventions will be mapped and realigned with sectoral actions covering tourism, the blue economy, agriculture, manufacturing and other services sectors – including financial intermediation, banking, ICTs and real estate – through a new generation of revamped international support mechanisms.
The Strategy is available at https://unctad.org/publication/unctad-strategy-support-small-island-dev…
7. What collective efforts is your entity undertaking to support countries in accelerating the achievement of the Sustainable Development Goals, especially in the areas of Goal 3 (Good health and well-being), Goal 5 (Gender equality), Goal 8 (Decent work and economic growth), Goal 14 (Life below water) and Goal 17 (Partnerships), which will go under in-depth review at the HLPF in 2025? Please note any achievements, challenges and gaps and provide any relevant links. (max 200 words)
If your organization has been part of any initiatives or multi-stakeholder partnerships in the past year that support these goals, please copy the below table to fill out for each initiative/partnership.
Initiative/Partnership Name | STI Capacity Building Programme for Female Researchers and Entrepreneurs to Promote the Bio-Circular-Green Economic (BCG) Model |
Partners (please list all partners) | Thailand Science Research and Innovation |
Relevant SDGs (list all relevant goals) | Goal 5 (Gender) |
Member States benefiting from it | Algeria, Botswana, Burundi, Cameroon, Egypt, The Gambia, India, Malaysia, Oman, The Philippines, Rwanda, Saudi Arabia, South Africa, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan, United Republic of Tanzania and Viet Nam. |
Description (max 150 words) | The Government of Thailand has developed the Bio-Circular-Green Economic Model (BCG Model) as a new economic model for inclusive and sustainable growth. The BCG model employs technology and innovation to add value to an economy. The model conforms with the UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and is also intended to align with the Sufficiency Economy Philosophy (SEP) which is the key principle of Thailand’s social and economic development. Following the success of the side event on the Bio-Circular-Green Economic Model (BCG Model) in Thailand at the 25th United Nations Commission on Science and Technology for Development (CSTD), the Government of Thailand expressed its interest in diffusing the model in developing countries, including by organizing capacity building, through cooperation with UNCTAD. In line with that commitment, at the 26th annual meeting of the CSTD UNCTAD joined forces with the Government of Thailand to enable such diffusion and launched a the “STI Capacity Building Programme on Female Researchers and Entrepreneurs to Promote Bio-Circular-Green Economic (BCG) Model.” |
Website |
Initiative/Partnership Name | Project on Science, Technology and Innovation Parks for Sustainable Development: Building expertise in policy and practice in selected Asian and African countries |
Partners (please list all partners) | UNECA, UNESCAP, UN Resident Coordinator Offices in beneficiary countries, China, 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development Sub-Fund of the United Nations Peace and Development Trust Fund (UNPDF) |
Relevant SDGs (list all relevant goals) | Goal 17 (Partnerships) |
Member States benefiting from it | Ghana, Mongolia, Mozambique, Uzbekistan. |
Description (max 150 words) | Science, Technology and Innovation parks, incubators and accelerators are an important and practical element in improving a nation's technology and innovation performance. However, attempts at using STI parks to generate positive socio-economic outcomes often fail to deliver optimal results due to insufficient local capabilities for project design, implementation and/or management.
This project sets out to strengthen these capacities in four developing countries through direct interaction among the most relevant policymakers and STI park managers from beneficiary countries and those that have achieved a good track record and good practice in similar developing country contexts. The goal is to enable the flow of both systemic and tacit knowledge, the second often representing a key missing component, while ensuring that policy considerations take into consideration the entrepreneurial challenges and perspectives of women and youth.
|
Website |