United Nations Conference on Trade and Development

1.From November 2024 to October 2025, has the governing body of your organization taken any decisions, including in the context of the Pact for the Future implementation and/or the UN80 Initiative, that are related to the implementation of the 2030 Agenda for sustainable development and its 17 Sustainable Development Goals? If yes, please briefly mention these decisions and provide their respective symbols and links. (Max 200 words)

The 16th session of the United Nations Conference on Trade and Development (UNCTAD) took place in Geneva between 20 and 23 October 2025, under the theme “Shaping the future: Driving economic transformation for equitable, inclusive, and sustainable development.

This quadrennial Ministerial Conference convened at a critical juncture for the global economy and international cooperation. At a time of subdued economic growth marked by persistent inequalities between and among countries, it offered an opportunity for a renewed commitment to multilateral efforts to place development back at the heart of the global economic and trade policy debate.

As a main outcome of the Conference, UNCTAD’s 195 member States delivered an agreement called “The Geneva Consensus for a Just and Sustainable Economic Order”, recommitting to sustainable development in its three dimensions—economic, social, and environmental—and reaffirming UNCTAD’s central role in advancing multilateral cooperation for shared prosperity.

The Trade and Development Board (TDB) at its seventy-second session (September 2025) adopted a decision on UNCTAD’s contribution to the follow-up and review of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development, which included a specific request for UNCTAD to continue its work on the measurement and costing of the SDGs, particularly through its statistical products and technical assistance to Member States. The decision also requested the secretariat to strengthen its analytical and capacity-building work on the interlinkages between trade, investment, finance, and the SDGs, with a focus on vulnerable economies.

Also, in the context of the Pact for the Future implementation, one key element is the establishment of the Commission on Science and Technology for Development (CSTD) Multi-Stakeholder Working Group on Data Governance at All Levels under Objective 4 of the Global Digital Compact. This Working Group is composed of 27 state members and 27 non-state members. All intergovernmental and international organizations that expressed interest in joining the Working Group are accepted as observers.

Since November 2024 to October 2025, the Working Group has held three plenary meetings in May, July, and September 2025. The Working Group has finalized work plan and terms of reference on the work of the group. In addition, the working group decided to have intersessional tracks led by co-facilitators from state and non-state members, which include: 

1. Fundamental principles of data governance at all levels as relevant for development.
2. Proposals to support interoperability between national, regional and international data systems.
3. Considerations of sharing the benefits of data. 
    

Options to facilitate safe, secure and trusted data flows, including cross-border data flows as relevant for development (all SDGs).

All tracks have held intersessional meetings and workshops. Members and Observers has provided input to the work of each track and a synthesis report for each track will be prepared by the secretariat.

2. From November 2024 to October 2025, 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 increasing impact and accelerating the implementation of the 2030 Agenda? Please provide any relevant links.  (Max 200 words)

UNCTAD served as Vice-Chair of the Global Digital Compact’s Working Group on Digital Technologies (WGDT) and co-led two substantive workstreams: Objective 2, on expanding inclusion in and benefits from the digital economy (together with UNIDO), and Objective 4, on advancing responsible, equitable and interoperable data governance (together with UNU).

As co-lead of the dedicated subgroup for Objective 2, UNCTAD coordinated the preparation of a detailed work plan that set out milestones, deliverables, and modalities for supporting countries in building an inclusive digital economy. It also worked closely with the Office for Digital and Emerging Technologies (ODET) to support the development of a Digital Cooperation Platform, designed to improve system-wide transparency and coherence on digital initiatives. Together with UNIDO, UNCTAD co-organized a Global Call for Solutions for an Inclusive Digital Economy, aimed at identifying and scaling up innovative approaches from across sectors.  

UNCTAD, in its capacity as the secretariat of the CSTD, strengthened coordination across the UN system by engaging other UN entities as panel members during the twenty-eighth session of the CSTD, held from 7 to 11 April 2025. The session focused on two priority themes: “Diversifying economies in a world of accelerated digitalization” and “Technology foresight and technology assessment for sustainable development,” while also discussing the implementation of the 20-year review of the World Summit on the Information Society (WSIS). Panelists included the International Telecommunication Union (ITU), Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC), United Nations Industrial Development Organization (UNIDO), United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO), and United Nations Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific (ESCAP).

Since July 2025, and for one year, UNCTAD has served as the Chair of the UN Group on the Information Society (UNGIS).

Also, UNCTAD is regularly participating in the meetings of UN-Oceans, the inter-agency mechanism that seeks to enhance, strengthen, and promote coordination, coherence, and effectiveness of the activities of the UN system and the International Seabed Authority (ISA) on ocean and coastal issues.

UNCTAD, as co-lead with the United Nations University (UNU) on substantive workstreams under Objective 4 of the Global Digital Compact, advanced coordination on responsible, equitable, and interoperable data governance. Under the auspices of the CSTD Working Group on Data Governance at All Levels, UNCTAD convened a multi-stakeholder dialogue involving 27 state members and 27 non-state members, as well as engagement with other UN entities as observers, including the United Nations Statistical Commission, FAO, WHO, ILO, UNESCO, UNICEF, UNDP, ODET, WIPO, ITU, and the regional commissions.

UNCTAD has launched two Sevilla Platform for Action (SPA) initiatives during the FfDF4 in July 2025 to increase stakeholder-wide coordination and support to implementing the 2030 Agenda in Member States:  

1. The “Community of practice to track the hidden: Leveraging data and technology to combat illicit financial flows,” together with Africa-Europe Foundation, AUDA-NEPAD, and UNODC.  
2. The “Community of practice to leverage South-South Data: solidarity at the core of sustainable development” with ECA and ECLAC.

In addition, in October 2025, UNCTAD drafted the report to the 2nd Committee of the UNGA on illicit financial flows together with UNODC to support further implementation of and support for the 2030 Agenda. The report’s title is “Promotion of international cooperation to combat illicit financial flows and strengthen good practices on asset return to foster sustainable development: Achievements, challenges, and way forward.” Document prepared by UNCTAD, in consultation with UNODC, in compliance with A/RES/79/234.

Furthermore, UNCTAD Statistics co-leads a major inter-agency effort on SDG costing with UNDESA and UNDP, which aligns with the UN Secretary-General's "Rescue Plan for People and Planet" and supports the implementation of Integrated National Financing Frameworks (INFFs). This collaboration involves numerous UN agencies (including UN Women, IFAD, ILO, UNESCO, UNICEF, and others) to pool tools and methodologies, ensuring a coordinated, system-wide approach to estimating the financing needs for the SDG transition pathways.

3. From November 2024 to October 2025, 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? 

4. From November 2024 to October 2025, 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. 

5. What collective efforts is your organization undertaking to support countries in accelerating the achievement of the Sustainable Development Goals, especially in the areas of Goals 6 (Clean Water and Sanitation), 7 (Affordable and Clean Energy), 9 (Industry Innovation and Infrastructure), 11 (Sustainable Cities and Communities), and 17 (Partnerships for the Goals), which will go under in-depth review at the HLPF in 2026? Please note any achievements, challenges and gaps and provide any relevant links. (Max 200 words)  

• Investment Policy Reviews (IPRs): These help countries attract and manage foreign direct investment (FDI) in sectors like clean energy, water infrastructure, and sustainable urban development.  
• Capacity Building: UNCTAD trains national agencies to collect and analyze FDI data, enabling better planning for infrastructure and energy projects (SDGs 6, 7, 9).  
• Sustainable Investment Promotion: Through the World Investment Forum and Sustainable Stock Exchanges Initiative, the Division fosters partnerships (SDG 17) and promotes responsible investment aligned with urban sustainability and innovation goals (SDGs 9, 11).  
• Guidance Tools: Frameworks like the Principles for Responsible Agricultural Investment and Entrepreneurship Policy Framework support inclusive and sustainable enterprise development.  

Challenges:

• Limited financing for SDG sectors
• Fragmented global investment governance
• Need for stronger partnerships and inclusive approaches

UNCTAD is actively undergoing support to Member States in achieving SDGs, specifically with methodological capacity building and enhancing analytical capacities on SDG indicators 16.4.1 on illicit financial flows and 17.3.1 on South-South cooperation through collaborative approach with stakeholders, such as the UN Regional Commissions, UNSD, UNOSSC (for South-South cooperation), through SPA initiatives and its regular and ongoing methodological work.

SDG 6: ASYCUDA and customs administrations from more than 100 countries and territories implement automated controls in compliance with the Basel, Rotterdam, and Stockholm international conventions.

SDGs 9&11: ASYCUDA, in cooperation with governments and customs administrations, supports the upgrade of the ICT infrastructure for the implementation of its technology and software. It also contributes to build high-tech customs and trade infrastructure (ports, terminals, warehouses, supply chains in cities).

SDG17: ASYCUDA collaborates with national authorities, UN agencies, international trade agencies, trade associations, regional blocs and universities to develop and implement technology that helps facilitate trade and increase it efficiency. ASYCUDA’s capacity building program that includes training and study tours contributes and enforces North-South and South-South international and regional cooperation.

If your organization has been part of any initiatives or multi-stakeholder partnerships from November 2024 to October 2025 that support these goals, please copy the table below to fill out for each initiative/partnership.  

6. Please provide strategies (policies, guidance, plan) and/or collective actions taken to implement the 2025 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). 

• Policy Guidance: The Division provides cutting-edge analysis and technical assistance to align investment and enterprise development with the SDGs, particularly SDGs 1, 4, 8, 9, 10, 12, 16, and 17.  
• Capacity Building: Through discussions at the Investment, Enterprise and Development Commission, UNCTAD promotes best practices in digital economy investment, sustainability reporting, and entrepreneurship.
• Global Coordination: The Division contributes to ECOSOC’s coordination segment, fostering inclusive, science-based solutions and supporting intergovernmental processes like the Beijing+30 and WSIS+20 reviews.  
• Challenges Foreseen:
• Declining FDI in SDG sectors
• Fragmented global cooperation
• Limited financing for sustainable development 

A key strategy is the continued refinement and application of the UNCTAD-led SDG Costing Methodology, which directly addresses the Declaration's call for innovative and coordinated actions to mobilize finance. By providing credible, globally comparable cost estimates for SDG transition pathways, UNCTAD is supporting the shift from 'billions to trillions' in development finance and informing the global discussion on the SDG Stimulus. Collective actions include the ongoing inter-agency collaboration with UNDESA, UNDP, and others to integrate the costing tools into national planning processes, particularly through INFFs.

The project “Mainstreaming Climate-Resilient Blue Economy in the BCLME Region” (2025–2031) contributes to SDGs 8, 9 and 14 – and through that SDGs 1, 2 and 5 – by promoting sustainable and inclusive economic growth through climate-resilient marine resource management and Blue Economy development in Angola, Namibia and South Africa. In the lines of the Ministerial Declaration, it advances SDG 8 by creating decent jobs, fostering entrepreneurship and diversifying livelihoods in marine-based sectors; supports SDG 9 by driving innovation, technological upgrading and sustainable industrialization through the development of value chains and innovative financing models; and strengthens SDG 14 by ensuring the conservation and regenerative use of marine ecosystems. Through strategies such as sustainable value chain development, economic diversification, capacity building, and regional cooperation under the Benguela Current Commission, the project enhances ecosystem, social and economic resilience while aligning economic growth with environmental sustainability.  

As a result of the implementation of the project “Developing Integrated Programmes to Alleviate Binding Constraints to Development by Fostering Structural Transformation, Building Productive Capacities and Enhancing Investment Opportunities and Linkages with China” concrete policy recommendations for the beneficiary countries were formulated to address their respective shortcomings in productive capacities. These were divided into national actions and international community’s interventions.  Moreover, Holistic Productive Capacities Development Programmes were drafted for beneficiary countries, depicting necessary broad pillar interventions to address their development challenges.

In paragraph 116 of the Declaration, member States commit to “continue to take action to bridge the digital divides and spread the benefits of digitalization [and] expand participation of all countries, in particular developing countries, in the digital economy […]”. UNCTAD’s programme on E-commerce and the Digital Economy aims to enhance inclusive and sustainable development gains from e-commerce and the digital economy for people and businesses in developing countries, particularly LDCs. The Programme provides a unique platform for: generating research and better statistics to enable governments and other stakeholders to understand the implications of economic digitalization for sustainable development; providing assistance to policymakers in developing countries as they seek to prepare for and adapt to digital disruptions; and fostering intergovernmental consensus-building and global multi-stakeholder dialogue for a more coordinated approach on e-commerce and the digital economy from a development perspective.

In paragraph 166 of the 2025 ECOSOC Ministerial Declaration, member States commit to “bridging the science, technology and innovation divides and the responsible use of science, technology and innovation as drivers of sustainable development […].” In line with this commitment, UNCTAD, through its role as the secretariat of the Commission on Science and Technology for Development (CSTD), has facilitated the establishment of the CSTD Multi-Stakeholder Working Group on Data Governance at All Levels, to promote inclusive dialogue on data governance at all levels as relevant for development.

UNCTAD also completed the WSIS+20 Review process, resulting in the report Implementing World Summit on the Information Society Outcomes: A Twenty-Year Review, and a draft resolution on WSIS for ECOSOC consideration. These outcomes identify priority actions to close digital divides, strengthen governance frameworks for emerging technologies such as AI, and align digital transformation with the SDGs.

In addition, the Ministerial Segment of the twenty-eighth session of the Commission on Science and Technology for Development (CSTD), held under the theme “The role of science, technology and innovation in advancing sustainable, inclusive, science- and evidence-based solutions for the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development and its Sustainable Development Goals for leaving no one behind,” explored ways to implement the 2025 ECOSOC Ministerial Declaration which commits to bridging digital and STI divides. During the Ministerial Segment, ministers and high-level policymakers shared national and global perspectives on current challenges, as well as STI-driven solutions being applied or considered to advance sustainable development.

Across the Working Group on Data Governance, the WSIS+20 Review, and the annual session of the CSTD, the main challenges identified remain persistent inequalities in access to frontier technologies and innovation, fragmented global governance, and limited capacity in developing countries to harness the benefit of emerging and frontier technologies.